The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-07-13
COMMERCIAL CLUBS PART
IN PROMOTING PENAL FARM

reported the state penal farm bill ha
been presented in the senate, but wa
fearful that on account-of4thea pprt
priation which it demanded that tn
bill would not pass this session, bu
he hoped that it would result in tn
of commission by tn
governor to make investigation of COZ
ditfons for the next two years and re
port to the 1913 legislature.
Oct. 10, 1911-State meeting of tn
Federated Commercial club held at II
diana Harbor attended by the secre
rotary, who presented the question @
state penal farm, and being chairma
Of the committee on resolutions, ha
the following resolution embodied l.
the report of the committee on resolr
tons:
Adopt Resolutions.
Be it Resolved, BY the Fedora
ton of Commercial Clubs of In
diana in regular annual session as
sembled,
That we recognize the great and
unnecessary burden which the tax
payers of this state are bearing in
maintaining in demoralizing idle
ness the short-term prisoners
serving time in county jails for
petty offenses, while at the same
time their families are an object
of public charity, and
That we recommend to all civic
and charity organizations and pub
lie officials that they work in har-
monious conjunction to secure
such legislation at the 1913 session
of our state legislature as will
provide and secure the establish
ment of such correctional and Pc
nal institution as will compel these
violators of our common law, that
are now committed to county jails,
to perform such labor as will COM
pensate the state for their mainte-
nance, and at the same time as
sist in providing for their families,
and
In order that we may cooperate
in this movement we suggest that
efforts be pursued to secure the
enactment of a bill into law SINH
lar to the bill which was before
the 1911 legislature for considera-
ton.
Commission Chosen.
Dec. 5, 1911-Letter received from
Governor Thomas r. Marshall Stain,
hat he had appointed his commission
% study the state penal farm question
he members being Senators Meter
Vile and Hubberd and Representative
Corr and Carter.
Sept. "a, 1912-State penal farm
question presented to Federation O.
labor in it's state convention.
Sept. Is, 1912-State penal farm
question presented to county commits
,iOners in their state convention.
December 2, 1912-Committee or
egislation, George E. Seidel, chair
nan, reported they were ready to re
lew the fight for the state penal farm
before the 1913 legislature.
1912 meeting of the state charities
attended by the secretary, who gave a
ak on the state penal farm.
Dec 9, 1912-Messrs. Seidel anC
eupe and the secretary attended the
Meeting of the state conference OF
charities and corrections in the inter
st of the state penal farm.
Jan. 10, 1913-The commission ap
pointed by the governor authorized
~ the 1913 legislature, made report
o the sixty-eighth general assembly
# Indiana recommending the estab
ishment of the state penal farm.
Order Five Hundred Copies.
Referred to the committee on af
airs of the state prison, and five
hundred copies ordered printed and
to the members of the leg
stature. s...-...D
The Commercial club had printed
opies of the bill and placed in the
lands of the members of the legisla
ure, commercial clubs and charity or
over the state with the
equest for action favorable to penal
arm and urged them to place the
natter before our representatives in a
avorable light.
Meetings were held before the legis-
alive committees at various times, at
,hich meetings the matter was urged
and on the last day of the
913 legislature, the bill having been
ushed aside through the rush of clos
1g business, President S. E. Swayne
f the Commercial club, called up the
overnor over long-distance telephone
nd reminded him of the assurance
hat he had given Of his friendliness
D the measure, and urged him to make
a personal matter to see that the
ill was acted upon. The governor
romised Mr. Swayne he would do so,
18th the result that the state penal
arm bill became law on March IA,
913.
Letter to Governor.
March 10, 1913-The following Pc
ton was presented to the governor
l the interest of having Mr.. Seidel,
'ho had acted as chairman of the
,gislative committee through the long
appointed as one of the
'ustees:
Richmond, Ind, March 10, 1913.
o Governor S. w. Ralston,
Indianapolis, Ind.
We the undersiEnsA citizens Of