Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-01-18
Asserts On Floor That Insli-
tutiOn Receiving State
Money Barred Her
CREDENTIALS AS MEMBER
OF HOUSE IGNORED
Bill Is Passed Refusing
Further State Support to
Sectarian Institutions

Startling disclosures Of the fact that
Mrs. Thompson, representative in the
house from Hood River and Waseo
counties, when armed with her creden-
tials as representative-elect was de-
MED admission to sectarian institution
wherein wards of the state are kept nm
der commitment from the various eoun-
ty courts, which institutions receive an
nual appropriation from the state treas
ury, was made this morning when she
spoke against re-referring the bill pro-
viding that no more dependent children
be committed to o sectarian institution
TO the ways and means committee after
1t had been reported back favorably by
the committee on health and public
morals.
She declared that she went to this
sectarian institution and asked admis-
sion in order to inspect the condition
of the children committed there, and
that she was denied, even though che
stated who she was and for what pur-
pose she had. This institution she said
was receiving $700 month from the
state and she believed the state repre-
sentatives had right to visit it and
see what was going on and h0w tao
wards were being cared for.
Bill Is Reported.
This bill, which provoked general
| discussion as to the proposed change
lin the policy of the state in caring for
its dependent children, provides that NO
more money shall be appropriated for
children who may be committed DO seq
tartan institutions and forbirds further
commitment unless with specific per-
NIT of the parents. Appropriations for
children at present committed are TO be
continued, but in the future it is plan
ned for the state to take care on its
dependents in the institutions now erect
cd and in use
The committee brought in O favorable
report and the discussion was preeipitat-
ed when Representative Stott of Mutt
nomah county filed a minority report
recommending that the bill do not pass.
He moved that the bill be referred to
the ways and means committee as ik
carries an appropriation. He declared
it absolutely tied the. hands Of the ways
and means committee.
Means Change of Policy.
| Representative Bowman, Of Washing
! ton county, father of the measure de-
clared that it did not carry any new
appropriation and did not prohibit the
appropriation of money for present com
mittments. He stated that the measure
proposed to change the policy of the
state Of Oregon in regard to farming
cut its wards to seetarian institutions
and he wanted fair and candid discus
sion of its provisions. He did not want
il to be side tracked in the ways and
means committee.
Representative Mueller was OF the
opinion that it was futile to attempt to
pass ON the measure without it going
through the hands Of the ways and
mtans committee.
4 II was the opinion Of Represents
tive Elmore that the question was now
up to the state as to whether it should
care for its dependents or allow it to bo
done BY the cheapest institution that
viii take them. The sentiment of the
house at the last session he said was
tremendously in favor of the state TAX
ing care of its dependents He declared
the question would have to be settled
sooner or later.
MRS. Thompson Tells Experience.
Tt was then that Mrs. Thompson made
her startling statement concerning be-
ing refused admission to the institu-
tion where the state wards were COM
mitted.
Representative Gordon, of Multnomah
em7nfv stated that when the proposition
of caring for the insane came up lobby
lists worked against it. He did not be-
Continued on page three.1