The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-12-14
PRISON BILL
May MEET
OPPOSITION
Passage Will Not Be Accom-
plished Without Some Dif-
ficulty, Indication at Open
ing of Special Session.
ELECT SMITH SPEAKER
(By Associated PressD

OF the bill amending the act of the
1871 general assembly. providing for
removal of the Indiana reformatory
from JeffersonvilIe. will not be accom-
plished without some opposition. it
was indicated today as the legisla-
ture began its special session, called
by Governor McCray TO consider the
reformatory remopal proposition
Consideration of the bill was begun
in the house in the forenoon soon
after Governor McCray had concluded
his message to a joint session of the
house and the senate, explaining the
necessity of calling the legislature to-
gether at this time.
The senate held brief morning
session and recessed until o'clock
this afternoon pending action by the
house.
Informal discussions in the senate
corridors indicated that the removal
bill as prepared by a committee ap-
pointed by the governor might en-
counter not a little opposition.
Offers Amendment
As consideration was begun in the
house after. the bills Introduction
Representative Willis E. Gill Demo
crat, of Putnam county, offered ar
amendment, the purpose of which was
TO preserve the provision of the bill
passed at the last regular session,
fixing Putnam county as the site for
the reformatory
Points Out Saving.
Representative Gill declared that
the Putnam county residents did no;
consider the reformatory desirable
institution, but said his constituents
believed there would be a great saving
10 the state if the reformatory was
built in connection with the state
penal farm, as was intended in the
original measure.
Pass Amendment
! Several Republicans in the house
supported Mr. Gill, the Democratic
member, in proposing that the new
reformatory go to Putnam county
! but there was no record roll call,
"There is no telling what a new
| reformatory is going TO cost" declared
! Gill But a location near the penal
farm would save the state from
! s2,0O0,000 to $4,000, 600"
The first amendment to the bill TO
! be adopted was one offered by Repre-
sentative Baker. of Posey county, the
! Democratic floor leader. who ampli-
! fled a section of the bill so as to in
clude every person connected off
cially with the removal project with
in the bar against financial interest
! in the project The amendment was
adopted unanimously, after which the
/ house recessed.
The house organized by electing
Representative Claude Smith, Repub-
lican, of Gibson county, speaker, thus
confirming the action of the Repubu-
can caucus of last evening. Lieuten-
and Governor Emmett Branch presid-
ed in the senate.
Resolutions of sympathy and regret
over the death of John F. Mcclure,
speaker of the house of representa-
tives, who died since the last regular
session of the Indiana general assem-
bly,, were adopted in the senate today
at the opening of the special session.
] Hear Governor
| The senate held a perfunctory ses-
sion and appointed committees TO
notify the house it was ready to hold
the joint session to hear the address
of Gov. McCray. The two houses then
Joined and heard the governors mes
sage.
Facts which he declared necessi.
tated the calling of a special session
to amend the bill providing for re
moval of the state reformatory from
Jeffersonville to a more central loca
ton, were recited by Governor McCray
in his message.
The executives message consisted
of a simple review of the negotiations
for sale of the old reformatory to Col
gate and company. the legislation pas
sed at the last regular session of the
assembly providing for relocation and
erection of new reformatory in con
nection with the state penal farm a.
Putnamville and the unavoidable diff
ficulties discovered in connection with
that program.
Explains Mistake
The governor attributed the mistake
in the bill passed at the regular ses
sion to "the unfortunate necessity un
der our constitution of inducing
newly elected executive into officr
, after the assembly has convened ant
before he has had any opportunitl
to acquaint himself with the grea
problems which Immediately confron
him and upon which he must prompt,
declare himself
Governor McCray also told of th,
recent proposition of Colgate and com
pany TO increase its original offer 70
the old reformatory by 100000 con
tingent upon legislation by Feb.
1922, that would enable the remova
commission to proceed with the 10
!, cation and construction OF the nev
institution and also dependent upo,
delivery of the property at Jefferson
!. vile TO the company by Sept Is, 1925
,, The total sum to be paid for the oil
reformatory would thus amount Il
l $451 ,101.01
The governor concluded with an ap
peal to the assemblymen to confin,
the business of the special session Il
the one subject of reformatory remoy
al.
"As the responsible head in whom
$ the constitution reposes the sole re
sponsibility for calling the member
4 of the assembly together" the goyei
. nor said, i earnestly hope and re
. spectfully ask that you will favor n.
e other legislation at this time. but vii
t agree with me that all other matter
d however seemingly important, shoui,
1 be delayed until the next regular ses
sion"