Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-06-14
OF
REFORMATORY
STILL IN AIR
Commission, After Long Ses-
sion, Fails to Agree on
Site.

The question Of where the new Indiana
rekormatory will be located is still un
settled, although the relocation commits
sion held a meeting lasting several hours
lats yesterday.
II is understood that there is a sharp
difference Of opinion among the members
Of the commission as to whether the re-
formatory should be located at Putnam
vile as the Legislature contemplated, or
whether an effort should be made to cir
cumvent the provisions of the law and
establish il at some other place. 1t is
understood Governor Warren T. AIcCray
faEors the first course.
MIDDLE MAY REQUIRE
SOME LEGISLATION.
The reformatOry situation is in such
middle that some legislative action may
ees necessary eventually TO straighten it
out. There are indications that the ac
ton OF the State in Immediately dispOs
: ing of the property of the present re-
formatory was precipitated in view Of
the tangle that has developed. The con
tract OF sale provides that the State will
give possession in October of next year
In a recent conversation regarding the
bin which provides for the relocation Of
the institution Senator Estes Duncan of
Cioverdale, who has been acting with the
commission in an advisory capacity, said
that while a bill for the removal Of the
institution to the State Farm was being
prepared another bill was presented and
passed on short notice. He said it was
the original idea that it would be more
economical to combine the two institu-
tons. He did not say that there IS any
thing in the act to prevent the combin-
ing of the two institutions.
NOT ADVISABLE
TO COMBINE.
Investigation showed, Senator Duncan
said, that it would not be advisable to
combine the two institutions because 1t
would mean that prisoners must neees-
sarily be kept together. He said penal
institution heads and directors Of long
standing have advised against this plan.
He said one such institution was visited
and it was found that hardened criminals
were mingling with petty offenders.
Il is still not exactly clear how some of
the relocation commission expects to get
around the law, but it was stated that
this phase was discussed and it was
agreed that it was necessary to locate
the institution at PuInamville, the site
of the farm This contention is rein
forced. however, by an opinion Of Attor
new General [. S. Lesh that the commits
sion has broad powers because one sec
ton of the law says the institution shall
bebuilt adjacent" TO the farm
ACT SPECIFIES
PUTNA3IVILLE.
The first section Of the reformatory
, removal law. however. stated specifically
A>~that the Indiana reformatOry now 10
Gated at GAINESVILLE. in the County Of
1 Clark, shall be moved TO Putnamville in
the county of Putnam" None of the
sites being considered is even near Put
namville.
4 The second section contradicts the
81 first to some extent in that it says eff
Il deemed practicable by said commission
said reformatory shall be located on or
adjacent TO the Indiana State Farm at
Putnamville'
The construction of an entirely new in
stftutiOn under separate management
and connected in no way with the farm
viii undoubtedly mean the expenditure
Of much more money than originally was
q intended and will mean the establish
ment Of two distinct penal institutions in
Aone county.