The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-24
Amos w. Butler, Head OF the
Department, in His Annual
Report Tells What He
Wants of Legislature.
MORE ACCOMMODATIONS
FOR INSANE PEOPLE
He Also Wants Fee System in
County JaiIs Abandoned
And Receiving Station for
Small Dependents.
palladium Specially

palladium Specially
Indianapolis, Dec. 24.-The next
legislature will be asked by Amos w.
Butler, secretary of the board OF state
charities to make seventeen changes
in the laws relating to the work OF
his department. Here are the recon-
mendations he will make, as set out
in his annual report. just completed:
That some elastic provision be
made for caring for the states insane
so as to relieve the crowded condi-
tions of the state hospitals for this
class of unfortunates. The plan pro-
posed is to purchase a farm, or farms
near a state hospital and to establish
a colony thereon for the treatment
of the milder patients. Other states
have tried the plan successfully, Mr..
Butler says.
That the fee system in the county
iails be abolished and the jails be
maintained on q basis similar to that
which obtains in the management OF
county poor asylums.
District Warehouses;.
That district warehouses; be estab-
lished for the incarceration of persons
found guilty of infractions of the
state laws when the offense Is not
sufficient to call for a prison SEN
tence.
That the state establish central
receiving station and school for de-
pendent children. from which disposi-
tion OF such children may be made
and where they can be properly cared
for while locations for such placings
are being sought.
That the Juvenile court law. which
applies to boys under sixteen and
girls under seventeen be extended to
boys and girls up to eighteen years
of age.
That a law be enacted requiring
Judges of circuit and crimina! courts
to visit the penal and reformatory
institutions of the state from time to
time.
No Women in JaiIs.
That a law be enacted that will pre-
vent the Incarceration OF women In
county jails and similar county in
stitutions. Mr.. Butler recommends
that the correctional department OF
the woman's prison in this city be
enlarged to care for such persons.
That the law concerning feeble
minded youths be changed SO that q
prosecuting attorney may bring action
for placing child in the state school
for such persons when proper infor.
nation is filed.
That thu Iow ooncorniup fr,lSfena nj
all state institutions be amended SO
that the members Of such boards will
be required to serve without compen
sation other than legitimate expenses
That commission be appointed to
investigate the condition of the adult
blind of the state and to make a re
port to the proper officials.
That the state adopt some measure
for deporting pauper non-residents.
County Child Adoption.
That a law be enacted providing
that a county may adopt, with the
consent of its legal guardian. an!
child made public ward by a juve
nile court
That the law prescribing a sentenc,
of from one to eight years for peti
larceny and from ten to twenty year,
for burglary be amended SO as t.
guard against reaction which now fol
lows because of the severity Of tn
penalty.
That the law concerning life pris
oners be amended so as to provid
that none of them shall be sent to tn
reformatory.
That the general assembly provid
adequately for the future growth @
the village for epileptics at New Cas-
tie on the cottage plan.
That provisions be made for a
increased number of field agents fo
supervising children under the dire,
tion of the various agencies certifie
by the board of state charities fo
caring for dependent children.
That provision be made for reno,
ing from penal and correctional inst
tutions all feeble-minded, epilepti
insane and like persons.