Year: 1869

Mr.. SPEAKER THE immediate ques-
tion before the House is on the motion
topostpone, for one week, the further con-
sideration of the substitute offered by
myself to the resolution offered by the
gentleman from Putnam county. =


The substitute provides that "the trus,,
tees ofthe Central Ohio LunaticAsylum be
and they are hereby authorized and di-
rected to proceed under the laws now in
force in regard to the construction of
public buildings, to advertise for propo-
sails and make contracts for the recon-
struction of said Asylum on its present
site. Each wing, in its reconstruction,
to be finished suitable for the accommo-
dation of patients, without waiting the
reconstruction of other parts of the
building"


As the reasons against the postpone
ment of this subject connect themselves
necessarily with some of the arguments
in favor of its reconstruction on its
present site, / shall consider both to-
gether.


Upon the assembling of the Legiala-
ture at its adjourned session in Novem-
Der, Immediately after the terrible ca
lamity that destroyed one ofthe proudest
monuments erected to the humanity and
benevolence of its citizens by our State
that deprived hundreds of poor unfor-
tunates of an asylum provided by its
munifcence-the first and paramount
question was: "What shall we do in this
emergency, How can we soonest and
best provide for these unfortunates thus
suddenly thrown back upon the locali-
ties from whence they came by the burn
ing of the Central Lunatic Asylum?"-
To that end and for that purpose main
ly a committee was appointed to make
investigations, take testimony if need
be, and report to this second adjourned
session Of this General Assembly.


A great mass of testimony has geen
taken, part of it germain to the subjects
upon which the committee We're in
structed to report. and part of which
has nothing in the world to do with it.
The matter was brought up and dis
cussed on previous day of this session,
then postponed and made the special or
der for another day, and again postponed
and made the order for % o'clock this
afternoon @


/ think members on this floor are as
well advised by this time on this ques-
tion as they can be two or three days, or
or a week hence. .al sas5.a


This matter appeals directly to us in
behalf of the necessities of an unfortu-
nate class 1t appeals to our sympathies
and to our benevolence as legislators
We are able. and trust willing, at this
time, to come to vote on this PROPOSE
ton. 1 would, perhaps, have taken more
time than now intend to on this ques-
tion, but other gentlemen have kindly
quoted the law now on the statute books
in reference to the construction of public
buildings. They have correctly repre-
sented the scope and effect of that law.
1t protects, as far as the Legislature of
the State can protect, the Statefrom dis
honest architects, or frauds in the con-
struction of our public buildings. -


The resolution we are considering
provides that the Asylum shall be re-
built upon its present site. The gentle
man from Warren objects that that is
not sufficiently definite. He claims that
the Trustees might under its terms re-
build upon any portion of the sixty
eight acres owned by the State. That
is one of the subtleties .thatperhaps, may
be characteristic of the "specialties'
that assume all the knowledge upon the
subject under consideration. Certainly,
such construction of language would
never enter into the head of right
minded, practical man. To rebuild
upon the present "site," is to rebuild
upon the present foundation, and es-
pecially SO, when that language is con-
sidered in connection with the other re-
quirements of the resolution. To change
the word "site" to the word '.founda-
ton" might raise the objection-and no
one would sooner do so than the gentle
man from Warren-rhat in its recon
struction the exact plan of the old build
ing would have to be followed. Whereas,
in accordance with the views of 'spe-
cialists" on this floor and in the lobby,
a different arrangement might and would
be desirable.


But the carping at the wording of the
resolution grows out of different motive
from any fear that any advantage might
be taken of it by those who may be en-
trusted with the reconstruction of the
Central Lunatic Asylum. 1t is one Of
the tricks by which it is hoped to delay
action on this most important matter;
one of the means by which it is propos-
ed to make tennis ball of it, to be tossed
and batted about the State, after the
manner of the Agricultural College
travelling from one point to another seek.
ing propositions for location. If the
proposition to remove the asylum from
the present site is once carried, various
other portions of the State will compete
forts location, the building be long delay.
ed and the interests of an unfortunate
class, for whom it is our highest duty to
provide, postponed for an indefinite
period.


There are in our jails to-day numbers
of those sufferers whom the gentleman
from Warren very properly calls Goods
unfortunates." They should be provided
for Immediately. How? Not by taking
a year to find new location and then
three years more to build an institution
upon it. But by taking the present site
of the old asylum and rebuilding upon
the walls still standing, in connection
with that portion which the fire did not
reach. One wing could be reconstructed
and put in condition to receive patients
in four to five months, the entire build
ing in one year, and the claims of hu.
manity, as also the interest of the State,
in the highest degree subserved.


Gentlemen who vote in favor of this
proposition to change the site must re-