The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-04
POOR FARM IS
AWFUL SAY
LEGISLATORS
State Lawmakers Brand
Conditions 'DepIorabIe'
After Visit.
LABELED AS FIRETRAP
Best Argument | Know for
Old Age Pensions
Saws Evans.
LABELED AS FIRETRAP

Plight of inmates in the Marion
county inf1rmary and Julietta in
sane asylum was described as Jaw
full" and "a he'll on earth" by state
representatives who were taken on
an inspection of the institutions
Tuesday by Representative Albert F.
WalSman Oem., MarionJ.
Walsman is author of a bill pend
ing in the legislature which would
authorize the state to take over the
Marion county infirmary and trans
fer the Julietta asylum's inmates to
the Central State hospital, making
Julietta available for the county's
poor.
my God, those places are in an
awful condition" declared Repre-
sentative H. H. Evans (Rep., Henry
commenting on the inspection OF
the inf1rmary and Julietta.
In "DeplOrabIe" Condition
Il never have in my life seen In
situations in such deplorable condi-
tionS," ne added. "All of the rep
resentativeS who made the trip agree
in this view"
Evans described the institutions
as "f1retraps" and the condition OF
the inmates at both institutions as
needing instant remedy"
II never saw county inf1rmary
in such an appalling condition as
the Marion county poor farm,
Evans said.
ut 10 the best argument I know
for old age pensions"
Expresses Others Opinions
Evans echoed expressions of the
others on the tour, Walsman said
IF there is any hell on earth II
is the Marion county infirmary!" de-
clared Representative Edward E
Eikenbary Dem, Wabash). Moth
ing can be done with the infirmary
and the old people there should BIZ
moved to Julietta, which should bt
repaired and made flreproof."
Eikenbary added that in hi:
opinion the infirmary is a fire trap
of the worst sort, and immediate
steps should be taken to move the
inmates to Julietta, which could be
made habitable.
He was supported by Represen-
tative j. Frank Smith (Rep., Tip
pecanoe), who declared the condi-
lions at the "infirmary are awful.
"The overcrowding is a very BAG
feature of the Marion county insti-
tuition and immediate steps to rem
edy this, situation should be taken,
he said.
II hope to take three members OF
the budget committee: Representa-
tive Sam Farrell, and Senator Thur
man Gottschalk and Byron HUFF
on a tour of the institutions today,
Walsman declared.
Hopes for Senate Action
An attempt by Walsman to ado
100000 to the biennial appropria.
ton for the Central State hospita
in the state appropriation bill failec
Tuesday, but he declared that HI
hopes the senate will add tha'
amount. The added amount woulc
pay for the new structures and i'm.
provementS at the state asylum
which are needed to house the in.
mates from Julietta.
The Julietta asylum would ht
made the county poor farm aftel
improvements are made.
Conditions, structurally at JUL
eta, are at least much better thar
at the infirmary, and better housing
conditions would be afforded" Walls
man said.
Described by Times
He declared that the representa-
tives commented on the fact that
the superintendent of the Julietta
hospital, Benjamin Morgan, is not
a physician, and thus not able to
give the patients the necessary at
tention.
Appalling conditions at the coun-
ty infirmary were described by The
Times last summer when civic or
CARNATIONS joined in the movement
to bring about improvement. Al
though the structure was con-
demmed as fire trap It's continued
use has been permitted with but