ASYLUM FOR FEEBLE MINDED.
The report of the Joint Special Committee to Investigate the Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children and Soldiers' Home [see pages 270 and 271 of these Reports] was taken up. Mr. EDWINS--I do not believe the report ought to be concurred in, from the fact that this Com- page: 85[View Page 85] mittee was raised for the specific purpose of investigating certain charges in relation to the Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children. The Institution is a new thing, organized two years ago in connection with the Soldiers' Orphans' Home. Three Directors were appointed to superintend the Orphans' Home. The Directors, in framing their by-laws to the Superintendent and officials of the Institution, issued an order that a matron should take under supervision all the Orphans' Home and now this Committee brings in a report to discharge the Superintendent, when the control of the entire Institution was taken out of his hands. At the same time Committee suggest in their report that the department for the feeble minded has been carried on with that great success which ought to be commended. I think it is injustice to the Superintendent to be condemned without being heard. It is entirely unjust and I move that the report of the Committee be referred to a Special Committee of five, to hear evidence on both sides and report at the earliest day possible.
Mr. MITCHELL said he was a member of the Committee, which examined the Institution as closely as any Committee could do in one day, and found everything true as set forth in the report. The books were in bad condition and the Superintendent gave as an excuse for the poor condition of the same that he had not time to keep the books as they ought to be. There were charges made on the books for the purchase of geranium toilet soap, razor-strops, etc--things not necessary for an Orphans' Home.
Mr.BUSKIRK--I can not see why a Committee should bring in a report that a Superintendent has not been doing the proper thing when he bought a razor-strop or rose geranium soap for probably twenty-five cents, and I can not see the consistency of such argument.
Mr. HUSTON--When we visited the Institution they had one day's notice of our coming. They were ready to receive us. The indications were that they had made ample preparation to show up the Institution to us in the best light. We were shown in the various departments, luxuriously furnished. Tne building was well heated. We examined it in detail, not only upon the ground floor, but clear up into the attic. We devoted the entire day to its examination. The statements made in this report are true to the letter. In one room 16x20 there were required to sleep from fifteen to twenty children. The beds were huddled as but few farmers would huddle his boys together. We were show into the school-room, and were informed by those who had the interest of those children at heart that they were not required to attend school, and that many of them were allowed to remain away from school. Some one is responsible for this. The State can not afford to have an Institution and employ teachers, support the school, and at the instance of an offical have the education of those children neglected. The investigation was sufficient to convince any Committee that the Institution was not properly managed. So far as the bookkeeping of the Institution is concerned, there is not a boy ten years old in Indianapolis but what could keep a book in a more business manner than the books of that Institution. They are in such a condition that no man can take those books and make out a statement from them. We should see to it that the State's money is spent in a proper manner, and for a proper purpose. If the officials were compelled to eat at the table with the children they would fare better, and you would not find the greasy knives, such as you find in a fifth-class boarding-houses. It would have a good influence upon the children, and seem more like home. I ask you to concur in the report of the Committee, hoping that the children of the poor soldier in the future will fare better than in the past.
Mr. EDWINS--I was a soldier myself, and I know what it is. I have as good a right to take the part of the soldier and their orphans as anybody, but I do not believe it is right to injure a man's reputation which he has been a life-time in making simply for the purpose of making political capital. In the law of 1879 it was provided that the Trustees should govern and superintend this Institution. It provides also that the Trustees shall meet once a month, and shall have supreme control of all the officials from the Superintendent down. I ask, in the name of all fairness and justice why was not this Superintendent dismissed by the Trustees if his conduct has been as represented? And is it fair to dismiss a Superintendent upon the recommendation of a Committee after visiting the Institution four hours? I hope this report will not prevail. The man should have justice, and have an opportunity to be heard in his own defense. At the time this investigation was going on he had a very sick child, who has since died. The Superintendent dismissed one of the teachers of the Institution, and from that transaction arose this whole mutiny, and I do not think it ought to be allowed by this House that a few of the local officials should cause us to discharge the Superintendent in order to accomplish their purpose.
Mr. RYAN--This Committee was composed of both Democrats and Republicans, and that report was signed by all the members. The three principal charges made against the Superintendent, in my judgment, should recommend the adoption of this report. There is no class of persons to whom the country at large is more indebted than the surviving soldiers of 1861 and 1864. The people so feel, and do not allow the question of politics to interfere with anything that touches or that goes to affect the condition of their descendants. It appeals directly to the best feelings of the people of the State. The Superintendent is the one responsible for all this misconduct enumerated and not the Trustees, as they only go there once a month and could not see the mismanagement of the Institution in its true light.
Mr. GIBSON was decidedly opposed to smirching the Superintendent, and hoped the Trustees would remove him if good cause can be found; but he did not desire the House to strike man who is not the guilty party in the case. He favored investigating the acts of the Trustees of Institution.
Mr. NEFF said: If I understand the purpose of this investigation it is to arrive at all the facts. Taking the admission of one of the Committee--that they have not arrived at all the facts--I want a report that tells the whole truth, and I hope the gentleman from Madison (Mr. Edwins) will modify his motion so that t is matter will go back to the Committee which made the report.
The report was concurred in by yeas 58, nays 24.
Pending the roll call--
Mr. AKIN, when his name was called, said: From the statements made here by the Committee, I think there ought to be a thorough investigation of that Institution. I am opoosed to striking one man own and let others go, who, perhaps, are as guilty, therefore I vote nay.
Mr. SUMNER, when his name was called, said: I desire to say this, in view of the fact that the Committee have unanimously agreed to a report. I believe it is a just and true report, therefore I vote aye.
Mr. SMELZER introduced a joint resolution that the Board of Trustees of the Soldiers and Orphans' Home be instructed to dismiss the present Superintendent, Mr. Ibach.
The resolution was adopted--yeas 53, nays 26.
Mr. GILLUM offered a joint resolution that a Joint Special Committee be appointed to investigate the Asylum for Feeble Minded Children, and that they proceed immediately to inquire into the management of the same.
Mr. EDWINS offered a substitute that a Special Committee of three be appointed by the Speaker page: 86[View Page 86] with power to send for persons and papers to investigate the acts of the Trustees of said Institution--their drawing pay for two Institutions and other matters connected with the Institution.
The substitute was laid on the table.
The resolution was adopted.
