REORGANIZATION OF THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
Mr. McSHEEHY called up the special order, being the consideration of Mr. Berryman's bill [H. R. 255] for the government of Benevolent Institutions of the State.
A majority report of the Committee was submitted, recommending the passage of the bill.
A minority of the same Committee were opposed to the passage of this bill because its object is a political one only, and recommended its indefinite postponement.
Mr McCLURE said with all due respect to civil service reform, he objected to the reorganization of the Prisons by the appointment of three Trustees by the Governor. The people under the present management have accomplished great good, as it has saved the State annually $60,000. He thought the Republicans could wait two years longer before assuming control of these Institutions.
The minority report was rejected and the majority report was concurred in.
Mr. Meredith moved to amend by making the term of office of the Directors four instead of six years. It is considered unconstitutional to make the term six years, and this amendmend remedies that point.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr. KENNER moved to allow the Trustees a salary of $250. Section 10 provides that they shall receive their traveling expenses and ex- page: 47[View Page 47] penses incurred in and about their business; that it is a very indefinite provision. It may be anything. While the State does not ask these officers to serve for nothing, yet it is but right we should know what we are paying the money for.
Mr. NEFF said it should be an object to get men of experience in this matter, and it would be nothing more than right that they should be paid a fair salary.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr. MEREDITH moved to engross the bill.
Mr. EDWINS entered his protest against the engrossment of the bill, and moved to lay the motion on the table.
This motion was rejected--yeas, 32; nays, 51.
Mr. SCHWEITZER favored viewing these Institutions from a beneficial and benevolent standpoint, and not from a political one. He gave the statistics of the Institutions for the last ten years, showing a gain under Democratic supervision of about $60,000 a year. That is what he considered economy, and he wanted that kind of economy to continue.
