AFTERNOON SESSION--2 P. M.
HOUSE OF REFUGE INVESTIGATION.
The Committee pointed to investigate the affairs of the Indiana House of Refuge for Juveniles reported that they deemed it unadvisable to proceed against the institution for the reason that the charges contained in anonymous communications published in a newspaper in the city of Indianapolis could not be established.
The report was concurred and the Committee was discharged.
GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr. MILES moved to amend the general appropriation bill by fixing the appropriation for the House of Refuge at $45,000 for the year ending October 31, 1882, and $52,000 for the year ending October 31, 1883.
On motion by Mr. HINTON the amendment was laid on the table.
Mr. NEFF said the Committee acted upon advice that that amount would be sufficient. He hoped the House would not increase the recommendation of this Committee.
Mr. FANCHER--I hope this amendment will not prevail. As the law now stands, that school has a standing appropriation of $15,000 for that Institution, and with the amount recommended by the Committee makes $20,000. During the last year in that Institution they have only 420 students, besides about 200 from the city of Terre Haute. Under the law the have a right to send their children there. The standing appropriation is enough for that Institution. I am opposed to even $5,000 appropriation. I believe that $15,000 is enough, which is the standing appropriation that they have been receiving from year to year.
Mr. COLE hoped the amendment would prevail. He said a large number ofthe ablest school teachers have attended that school and graduated there. Its usefulness can not be overestimated, as it was particularly fitted and intended for the education of the Common School teachers of the State. It is, perhaps, the nearest institution to the people and nearer a collegiate institution than any other class of educational institutions.
Mr. MOODY said: "I offered this amendment to the bill, and I desire to ask the indulgence of the House a short time that I may briefly call attention to some facts that induced me to offer it. In the first place, Mr. Speaker and gentlemen of the House, the Committee on Ways and Means recommended, among other things, that there be appropriated for the State University at Bloomington $20,000; that there be appropriated to the Purdue University, located at Lafayette, $4,500, and that there be appropriated to the 8tate Normal School, located at Terre Haute $5,000. What did we witness yesterdaty on this floor, Mr. Speaker, after three long hours of debate be best talent in the House? Why, sir, not only did we witness the House concur in the report recommended by the Committee as to the appropriations for the two Universities, but we said to the old University, "You shall have $25,000," and to Purdue University, we said, "You shall have $20,000." These appropriations were made with a magnanimity and philanthropy worthy the noble cause sought to be aided, and, in my judgment, does great honor to the head and heart of every Member of this House who voted for them. And now, Mr. Speaker and Members of the House, I ask in behalf of that noble band of teachers, numbering over 13,000 in this State representing a calling second to none, save, possibly, the sacred ministry; I ask, sir, in behalf of the common people all over this State; I ask in behalf of common justice to our free school, the very foundition of our Republican Government, your careful and generous consideration of this proposed amendment.
The friends of this Institution have not asked an unreasonable appropriation; they have only asked what they deemed absolutely necessary. Previous to 1878 the regular annual appropriation made by the Legislature for the incidental expenses of this Institutin was $3,000. The last Legislature reduced this to $2,000. I visited this Institution and carefully examined the building and Library, being a member of the Committee on Public Buildings, and I state to you, gentlemen, in my judgment, they need and should have page: 256[View Page 256] every dollar asked for by this amendment. The steam heating apparatus utterly fails to furnish heat for the buildings and the boilers should be abandoned and a boiler house erected outside to obviate any danger from an explosion. This would require nearly one-half of the present appropriation asked for. Now, as to the Library, they only have the one donated to the school by the late Chauncy Rose, consisting in all of about 1,800 volumes. I submit that there should be furnished a professional library for the use of this school. No appropriation has ever been made by the State for the purchase of books for this school. The lawyer, the doctor and the minister all have their lbraries at hand, and could not get along without them. When we know that school-teaching has become a science, should we not furnish for the use of those who have sought this noble calling the fresh and invigorating literature of the great teachers of the world; the principles and methods of teaching that are the result of thought and experience? These are as necessary to the professional teacher of Common Schools as is the law library to the law student or the medical library to the student of medicine. Gentlemen, in acting upon this appropriation we ought to consider that persons are prepared for performing service for those who pay the taxes which support the school. This school benefits the common people more directly than any other school in the State. Ninety-two Counties in the State and ten States in the Union have been and are to-day represented in this Instituton, and the amount of influence of this school in our own State is evidenced by follwing statement of the State Superintendent, in his last report:
"Wherever I go I find the Normal graduates are doing the best kind of work, and I think that to their efforts is due in a large measure the rapid advancement which our schools have made during the lsat ten years."
The school has slowly but steadily grown since its organization, from a handful of scholars, numbering only 135, until now she is regarded as a power in the Common Schools in the State, having this year nearly 500 teachers in attendance.
When we take into consideration the fact that in the year 1877 the school population was 694,706, and that of this number 498,726 were enrolled in the schools, and that to teach this number of children 13,574 teachers were employed, and that the amount of money paid to these teachers was $2,967,539, and that the total cost of our Common Schools of the State, including repairs aparatus, and other expenses, was more than $4,000,000, I ask you in all seriousness, whether we ought not to feel a just pride in educating these teachers and thereby place our Common Schools on as high a plane as possible? I trust, gentlement, this amendment will meet your indorsement.
On motion by Mr. THOMPSON, the amendment was laid on the table.
Mr. FANCHER moved to amend by striking out in the proviso for the appropriation of the State Normal School the words, "repairs and improvements." He said the object of the amendment was to compel Terre Haute to do its share toward the repair and improvement of the Normal. The proviso requires them to keep up one-half of the repairs of the building, ground, etc., and this amendment would make it a duty incumbent upon the city of Terra Haute to comply with that condition.
Mr. CARTER--It seems, in the absence of the Representatives from Vigo County, the gentleman from Lake (Mr. Fancher) has constituted himself the guardian of that Institution. It is also evident that the guardian is unfriendly to his ward; therefore I move to lay the amendment on the table.
The motion to table was rejected.
Mr. FRAZIER--The appropriation provides that the city of Terre Haute shall be held to maintain and keep up half the repairs of the building and ground. This very bill provides that the city shall so do, therefore that section should be left as it is.
The amendment was rejected.
Mr. RYAN moved to amend the bill so as to increase the appropriation to the State Normal School to $9,000.
Mr. RYAN--I can not see the consistency of the opposition manifested to these educational institutions, and particularly the State Normal at Terre Haute. I can not conceive that there should be such opposition to these institutions. Gentlemen on this floor have expressed themselves that they were in favor of the Common School system and believers in popular education. If that be so there can be no reason why there should be such hostility manifested to this Institution. Whenever a gentleman on this floor makes an attack upon the Common School system and upon that Institution, he makes a thrust at the poor people of the State. Three-fourths of the poor children of this State depend upon the Common School system as an element of their education. An Agricultural School has been ordained and instituted by the State. Money has been appropriated and a large property has been created there, and that property is deteriorating every day. It is in danger of being burned by the heating appurtenancies, and is suffering for the want of painting and other repairs. The parties interested have asked for a liberal appropriation. They ask you for $5,000, simply to aid in the repair of the building. One gentleman says he is not in favor of voting a single penny to the Institution until the people of Terre Haute shall contribute their portion of the expenses necessary for these repairs. The gentleman presumes that the city of Terre Haute has complied with her condition. I submit from trustworty information that the city has complied with every single requirement placed upon her by the law, and she stands here with her hands clean in this matter. Gentlemen, if we would vote a little more money and make more generous appropriations to the educational institutions of the State, we would not be called upon to vote hundreds and thousands of dollars every session to the maintenance of Penitentiaries and Reformatories. [Applause.] All the money that has been devoted to the educational institutions in the State of Indiana falls far below what is asked for by the Penitentiaries in the State and yet gentlemen stand on this floor and deny the pitiable sum of $5,000 to one of the educational institutions of the State. The Common School system owes more of its success and benefit to the State Normal School than to any other one thing. I want to say, as a parting word, as the Representative from Vigo is not here to say it, and for the additional reason of coming from Deleware County, every Member on this floor knows that each and every person attending the State Normal have the same right, and receive the same treatment and benefit, as the people of Terre Haute. It is necessary and essential to the proper carrying out of the Common School system of the State of Indiana that we have well-educated teachers. They must be educated for their profession in the same way that other professional men are educated. While there is an overwhelming argument in favor of this appropriation, there is one thing that it seems to me ought to appeal to the magnanimity of this Assembly, when you come to realize the fact that in the noonday of nineteenth century 76,000 of your people can not read or write--more than in all six of the New England States together. It seems that that fact alone ought to make every man's heart open at once to the wants and needs of these Institutions, to the extent of puttiug them on a respectable and successful basis.
Mr. BERRYMAN--It seems to me that we are growing wild on this question of educaation. page: 257[View Page 257] There is a golden mean upon which we all should meet. It is proper that this Institution should have its due allowance, but let us not do as we did yesterday--give more than the Institution demanded itself. When we called at Purdue University they only asked for $17,000, and this House in its liberality of soul gave $20,000. Where is this thing going to end? Why can not school teachers educate themselves as other professional men educate themselves? But since the State has undertaken to do this, let us give them a proper appropriation, but let us not go beyond that.
Mr. FANCHER thought if an Institution was located in the center of the State, where it could be easily reached, he would do as much for the Institution as any man. He favored consolidating all the educational Institutions on one campus, as the expense would be reduced just one-half and they would be a credit to the State, but as long as they remain at their present locations the will be of no benefit to the people of the north part of the State. He thought as the State Normal now existed it was a local and County Institution for Vigo County.
Mr. WESTFALL--Since the State Normal is a legitimate child of the State of Indiana, it is our duty to take care of it whether we want to or not; if the State has located it there, it is not our fault. I hope the amendment of the gentleman from Delaward will prevail.
Mr. NEFF--I think the Committee on Ways and Means have been liberal in their recommendations to the appropriation to the Normal School at Terre Haute, raising the amount from $2,000 to $5,000. The Normal I am not here to eulogize. Everyboy knows what it is. It is an Institution--a child of the State--and there is no use to spoil the child now, sir. Where we been charged with being liberal in disposing of the people's money, I do not want to be too liberal. It seems to me if the Terre School got along with the annual appropiation of $2,000, if this Assembly increases it to $5,000 and in addition gives them an appropriation of $5,000 to build their boiler, that they can get along and be contented that the Legislature has done a fair thing.
Mr. COMPTON said the very vital or foundation of our Common School system consists in properly educating our teachers. While there are many Normal Schools in the State, this one is peculiarly adaped to this educational work of the State. Every class goes there and are made proper educators. The teachers and children need this school, and that fact alone should satisfy the Legislature to make the appropriation.
On motion by Mr. KENNER it was agreed that that the House take a vote on the engrossment of the bill at 4 p. m.
On motion by Mr. BAKER--yeas, 56; nays, 29--the amendment was laid on the table.
Mr. RYAN moved to amend the bill by striking out the amount, $75,000, for the State Prison North and insert instead $10,000. He said he offered the amendment because the appropriation was not made nor considered by the Committee on Ways and Means until it was presented to this House, and he asked Members of the House to take notice of the manner in which the bill was brought before them. He was unwilling to have any Committee Clerk cram down his throt this or any other bill, and he contended this was the work of the Committee Clerk. The House has a right to know what the items of the bill are, and to consider them, either in the Committee or in the House. He submitted that while the State Prisons are contracted out, and the convict's labor realizes thirty-seven cents a day, they should be continually asking for appropriations.
Mr. KENNER regarded this attack upon the Committee as wholly unwarranted. The gentleman knows the Northern Prison pays about $15,000 a year into the State Treasury. It is self-sustaining, and we make the appropriation without regard to that.
The amendment was laid on the table.
The bill was ordered engrossed.
PUBLIC OFFENSES.
The reading of the bill [H. R. 393] relating to public offenses and their punishment was resumed.
Mr. EDWINS moved to strike out Section 218, relating to tramps and beggars, believing it would work a great hardship on the laboring classes, who are frequently in a wandering condition. Any one prejudiced against them would have the power to arrest such and have them fined.
Mr. FRAZER insisted the section would work no hardship toward anybody. It will do more to reduce the number of tramps than any law on the statute books.
Mr. BAKER thought it would be a diagrace to have such a section on the statute books.
The motion was rejected.
The House adjourned till to-morrow.
