HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WEDNESDAY, March 16, 1881--9 a. m.Mr. CARTER offered a concurrent resolution that the memorial of John Martin, contractor, in which he claims the sum of $67,377.15, balance due him for work on the Indiana Hospital for the Insane (department for women), be referred to the Judiciary Committee of the Senate and Judiciary Committee of the House for examination.
It was adopted.
ELECTIONS AND ELECTION CONTESTS.
Mr. Ryan's bill [H. R. 225] concerning elections and contest thereof was read the third time.
Mr. RYAN--There is nothing in the bill but what is clearly manifested to the members, simply a compilation and revision of the law. There is nothing with reference to registration or anything of that kind. The only new feature is that the ballot boxes used shall be uniform. The box is arranged so that it is out of the control of the Board themselves, and no stuff the ballot-box. Another feature is a requirement for the preservation of the ballots cast for a given length of time in order to afford an opportunity for persons desiring to contest an election to have the ballots precisely as they were deposited. They are sealed up in the presence of the whole Board. The ballot cast has a number upon it and the number is registered by the clerk as the ballot is cast. I want to say to this House as a guarantee of good faith that there is no politics in this bill, because it was prepared by the Code Commission--two members well-known Democrats; the other member a Republican. This bill will absolutely prevent fraud in elections, and certainly no gentleman on this floor wishes anything else.
Mr. MOODY--I desire to enter my solemn protest against the passage of this bill at this time. It may be all that gentlemen claim for it, but I am satisfied it should not be passed until it is printed and each member of this House shall have an opportunity to examine the bill. I am satisfied that this bill is as imsportant as any bill that will come before us for our consideration during the present session, and few members have seen the bill or know anything about the radical changes sought by its enactment. This bill is a very complicated and expensive piece of machinery, and worse than all even before we vote upon the bill I understand there is a patent upon a part of the machinery. The gentleman from Delaware says this box is not to cost more than $25 for each box. How much do you page: 40[View Page 40] suppose this will cost the people of Indiana to enable them to exercise the privilege of free men?
The bill, I understand, provides that in cities of 10,000 voters the Precincts are limited to 300 voters each. This will multiply the number of Precincts very much in the State, and a patent must be paid for by the people for each Precinct. There are now about 1,200 Precincts in the State, and if this bill passes and becomes a law, they will number more than 2,000. The boxes alone will cost the people $50,000. I am opposed to voting for any bill making such radical changes in the existing law without an opportunity to carefully examine it, and I will therefore move that the bill do lie on the table, and 200 copies be printed for the use of the members of this House.
Mr. EDWINS said it was simply for the purpose of making the House conversant with the subject matter that he favored the printing of the bill.
Mr. KENNER said if the House would not put confidence in Committees it would take six months to finish the work before this Legislature. He hoped the motion to print would not prevail.
Mr. WRIGHT--The public expect us to have our work completed at the end of forty days, and to do so we have got to devote ourselves to the passage of these codifying bills, and pass them upon the recommendation of the Committees who have them in charge. I think we had better pass this bill without any further quibbling.
Mr. CAUTHORNE thought the House ought to pass this bill, it being reccommended by two Committees. He considered it the duty of the Committee to ferret out if there is anything wrong in a bill.
The motion to table and print was rejected, and the bill passed--yeas 52; nays, 34.
Mr. CAUTHORNE made a motion to reconsider the vote upon the passage of the bill, and to lay that motion on the table.
The latter motion was agreed to.
LANDLORD AND TENANT.
Mr. Gibson's bill [H. R. 237], concerning landlord and tenant [allowing a lien on the crops growing], was read the third time and passed--yeas, 82; nays, 0.
REORGANIZATION OF THE STATE PRISONS.
The SPEAKER announced the special order for this hour to be the consideration of the bill [H. R. 78], concerning the government and organization of Prisons of the State; a majority of the Prison Committee recommending that 200 copies be printed for the use of the House, and a minority recommending that the bill lie on the table.
The minority report was rejected and the majority report was concurred in.
Mr. KENNER was opposed to the engrossment of the bill because it was complicated, and further that the Board of Directors were compelled to have their office in the city of Indianapolis.
Mr. GIBSON opposed the bill for the reason that he considered separate Prisons beneficial on this account: when one Prison is badly conducted, it does not affect the other. If one Board of Directors controlled the whole affair, there would not exist the emulation now prevalent between the two Prisons to outdo one another. Under the provisions of this bill, if you contaminate one Prison you contaminate the other, for the same heads control both of them.
Mr. WILSON, of Morgan, said he was through the Southern Prison and saw evidences of punishments inflicted which are absolutely indecent and outrageous to the civilization of the State of Indiana. He hoped the bill would be engrossed.
Mr. COLE thought it would be inadvisable to engross the bill at the present time, as it would defeat the measure entirely. Therefore, he moved to recommit the bill to the Committee on Benevolent Institutions for further consideration and amendments.
Mr. MEREDITH--Democrats oppose this measure because it would remove the Democratic managers of the Southern Prison, not for the purpose of making reformation and doing good to all parties and to the people of the State. I have taken this position, and I intend to forward this bill just as much as I possibly can. It was drawn in the best interest of the State by a man who has given that subject more attention than any other man in the State. It was done in behalf of humanity and not for selfish motives.
Mr. EDWINS--I do not believe that this bill is a reform in any measure. We have already a Board of Directors who have the supervision of this business. What does this bill propose to do? It proposes to take this business out of the hands of three Directors and place both Prisons in the hands of three Directors. The existing Boards inspect the Prisons monthly. On the other hand that Board that this bill proposes to establish for both Prisons, as soon one of their number visits the Prisons once every three or four months, he reports to the rest of the members who are not there at all. So far as the humanitary part of the Prison is concerned, I do to not think it would be improved if you sent the best men of the State there. There are over 1,200 prisoners in both these Institutions who are the worst of the disreputables of Indiana. You congregate all these together, and you must have stringent supervision to keep those murderers and thieves in subjection. You can not bring the same power to bear upon them that you would in a female or juvenile department.
I do not think this bill is in the interest of reformation, therefore I favor its recommittal to some Committee.
Mr. SCHWEITZER said he had the honors of being on the Prison Committee, and in behalf of humanity he did not believe in using the cat as it was used there Although these persons are prisoners, they are still human. He favored reformation, but not that kind.
Mr. COLE said he did not make this motion from any partisan view at all, but for the purpose of defeating the bill in its present shape.
Mr. CARTER--This bill is a good one, carefully drawn and in the interest of reformation. I think it would not be possible for Committeemen to get up a perfect bill on this subject at once, but this measure is a step in the right direction, and for us to recommit this bill would be gratifying its opponents, for they are willing that is should go anywhere rather than be engrossed. The object is to defeat the bill, and not to make it better.
Mr. KENNER said if Section 82 be taken out of the bill, requiring the office of the Prison Board to be in Indianapolis, he would support the bill.
Mr. BUSKIRK said if the bill was in favor of reformation alone, he would vote for the bill. He thought the change to one Board, with insufficient pay and means for the management of these Prisons, would be a great deal worse than under existing laws. He favored the recommittal of the bill.
Mr. JOHNSON--I am in favor of recommitting this bill, and am opposed to conferring the management of these Institutions upon one Board, especially to men who have been unsuccessful in business.
The motion to recommit was agreed to--yeas, 49; nays, 40.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. LINSDAY introduced the bill [H. R 462] authorizing Railroad Companies to construct, acquire and maintain telegraph lines for commercial and other purposes, which was read the first time.
WOMEN ON SCHOOL BOARDS.
Mr. Kenner's bill [H. R. 140] authorizing the election of women to school offices, was read the third time. page: 41[View Page 41]Mr. KENNER--This bill is a copy of the Illinois law, and also similar to those in force in nine of the Northern States. In Vermont one-fourth of the School Boards are women, and the change works well. The House did not see fit to pass the bill giving the right of suffrage to women; this is not in that direction, as the bill does not give them a right to vote on any subject, but simply the right to hold school offices if City Councils, etc., deem them capable. There is nothing imperative about this bill; it simply makes women eligible to all the school offices they are capable of filling. In a great many respects women are more capable than men. They are more throughly acquainted with the ventilation of rooms, have more experience in taking care of children and enforcing the rules for their government. I think the bill ought to pass.
The bill passed--yeas, 66; nays, 11.
PRISON CONSOLIDATION.
Mr. JOHNSON offered a concurrent resolution--which was adopted--for the appointment of a Joint Committee of five, three from the House and two from the Senate, to consider the expediency of consolidating the State Prisons, thereby lessening the expense of maintaining the same. They are requested to investigate the financial condition of each Institution and ascertain the cost of such consolidation.
THE COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM.
The SPEAKER announced the special order to be the consideration of the bill [H. R. 322] concerning common schools, commencing at Section 32.
Mr. BERRYMAN'S motion made several days ago, pending, that the bill be recommitted to the Committee, with the instruction to strike out all part relating to County Superintendents.
Mr. KENNER thought the principal of County Superintendents is a good one, although it is like anything else--subject to bad management. If they are not doing their duty, it is the fault of the County, and not the officer or his assistant. He appealed to this body not to abolish this office, thinking it a step backward.
Mr. O'NEAL--That is the voice of the people exactly.
Mr. FLOYD thought it would be a great calamity to abolish this office. To arrive at the value of this office in dollars and cents would be simply impossible. He thought to see the great benefits of the County Superintendents' office, it is only necessary to compare our present standard with that of ten years ago, under the old examining system.
Mr. COTTON thought the cost of the office of County Superintendent should be a secondary consideration compared to its usefulness. He favored having a Superintendent for every well-regulated affair, either mechanical or educational. He attributed the cause of complaint of this office more to the poor selection of Superintendents than the office itself.
Mr. FANCHER--I am satisfied the people of this State are not clamoring for what a few Representives claim: The abolition of this office. We must have a County Examiner. There is nothing in the name, but of the two I think that of County Superintendent is the most preferable. Now, we have experience before us upon which to build. We must have some law by which the teachers are examined. All the people of the State are asking for is that we cut down the expense that office. There is no use sending this bill back to the Committee.
Mr. WRIGHT--I am certain we do not want to abolish the office of County Superintendent. I believe that the educational interests of the various Counties of this State at the present time warrant us in employing some competent person to superintend the educational interests of the different Counties of the State, and just here I wish to remark that the trouble with school teachers and teaching is the fact that the pay of teachers is such that they generally devote themselvesto the business for, perhaps, one or two years, and then go into something more profitable. If you would attain the highest proficiency in the matter teaching, persons in this calling must be remunerated so as to enable them to devote themselves to that profession for a livelihood. I am honestly the opinion that County Superintendents ought not to be abolished. I speak for that office because I want this bill preserved in its present shape. I understand that this bill has the indorsement of Professor Smart and Professor Bloss, gentlemen who have given their lives to the study of this matter. I am not here as representative from Grant County, to set up my opinion against men who know much better what the educational interests need than I do. I regard the County Superintendent as the Colonel of the regiment of educators of the County, and the State Superintendent as the General of the army of great educators. If you strike the County Superintendent out of this bill it will destroy the symmetry of the bill, and it ought not to pass at all.
The motion was rejected--yeas, 14; nays, 76.
Mr. RYAN offered an amendment to so restrain the qualifications of the office that it will not only be a benefit to the school but also an honor to the man holding it, and a credit to all parties.
Mr. CARR hoped the amendment would not prevail from the fact that it would abolish half the Superintendents of the State. He moved to lay the amendment on the table.
This motion was rejected.
Mr. FANCHER offered to substitute the words: "A graduate of some good College of good standing." He said: I think this amendment ought to prevail in preference to the one of the the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Ryan), from the fact that a graduate from some good College, in my judgment, is far better qualified and would make a more efficient County Superintendent than a man who has taught five years in our District Schools.
Mr. MOODY I understand the amendment of the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Ryan) provides that the County Superintendent, in order to be eligible to the office, shall hold a certificate from the State Board before acting as County Superintendent of Schools. That is entirely distinct from other qualifications necessary to entitle him to this position. I think the amendment of the gentleman from Delaware is preferable to the one offered by the gentleman from Lake (Mr. Fancher.)
Mr. NEFF was heartily in favor of the amendment offered by the gentleman from Delaware. He considered it a poor compliment to a College graduate to ask to be exempted from the same examination the boy is who has obtained his education in day and night schools as best he could.
The substitute was rejected.
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr. MARSHALL--I find that in line eleven it defines all the branches of education. If any patrons in the District want a branch taught that is not mentioned there, it does not say how many persons shall decide. I want it to say that a majority of persons, etc. I hope this amendment will pass.
Mr. RYAN offered a substitute to the amendment by striking out all regarding the extra branches taught in Common Schools. He said: I think that in Common Schools, outside of cities, towns and graded schools, there should be nothing taught but the eight fundamental branches prescribed by the statutes.
Mr. COTTON--I have seen boys and girls advanced, when they could not have made their board working, studying the higher branches. We have built our school-houses double, many of them employing two teachers together, and then the children could advance where they could not page: 42[View Page 42] have advanced any other way. We have advanced our children, some who are not able to pay for schooling outside of their Districts, and now will you come here and say we will not educate these children in the higher branches, but compel their parents to send them to a College or Academy? We have room to do it, and why not give them the benefit of it?
Mr. LINSDAY thought there were too many high branches taught in the Common Schools and the little ones do not get enough attenton. He was opposed to educating the advanced children at the sacrifice of the smaller ones.
Mr. FALL--I understand the object of our Common School system to be this: To do the greatest amount of good to the greatest number of persons. Where there is one or two persons in a school room that reqire all the attention of the teacher in hearing recitations in Greek and Latin, and the balance of the children sitting idle that is a perversion of the rule for doing the atest good to the greatest number. It is not the intent of the law.
Mr. MITCHELL was opposed to amendment of the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Ryan.)
Mr. SCHWEITZER could not see the object of the amendment. He was opposed to any such restrictions for the reason that there are many useful things to be learned in the school room outside of the eight branches.
Mr. MARSHALL--It costs the teacher a great deal of trouble, and heretofore it has been the custom to neglect the smaller pupils they often going home without the necessary recitations.
Mr. HAMILTON favored the passage of the amendment. He said if the children were all small, and expected to remain so, it would be well to devote all the time to those branches, but there are a majority of larger pupils advanced oftentimes, who are not able to attend a College or Seminary, and it is nothing more than reasonable and fair that they should have the privilege of pursuing these studies in their distinct schools.
The substitute was rejected, and the amendment was adopted.
The House adjourned till to-morrow.
