GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
The Lieutenant Governor announced the special order being the consideration of the general appropriation bill [H. R. 302], as in Committee of the Whole [Mr. Bell in the Chair] commencing where the Committee left off on Friday afternoon.
Mr. MAGEE moved to make office expenses of the Clerk of the Supreme Court $500.
It was agreed to.
Mr. BUNDY moved to increase the appropriation for the Fishery Commission from $1,000 to $3,000. He has information that the present Fish Commissioner spent more during the past year than the appropriation. If we are to have this most benevolent institution of the States it ought to be placed on a basis that will enable the Fish Commissioner to carry out the purposes and intention of the law.
Mr. WILLARD opposed the increase, especially when not more than $1,300 was asked.
Mr. WHITE favored the motion. The northern part of the State is dotted all over with lakes, which should be stocked with fish. The State of Michigan appropriates s^me $10,000 a year, and Indiana should not be so far behind.
Mr. YOUCHE heartily concurred with the remarks just made by the Senator from Elkhart [Mr. White]. There is nothing that adds so much to the comfort, happiness and pleasure of the people of his section as good fishing grounds. They all are in favor of it, and they all want the Fishing Commission to be encouraged.
Mr. FAULKNER opposed the motion. Fish can be obtained by anyone by sending for them, without money and without price, a large sum being yearly expended by the government for the propagation of fish, which will be distributed to proper applicants.
Mr. SPANN insisted Indiana ought not to be niggardly in this matter of placing in the streams of this State food fishes, so that fishing may be full and free to every man who will cast a line. Indiana should be put in a position in this matter to be abreast of sister States on this fish question.
The amendment [Mr. Bundy's] was agreed to upon a division-affirmative, 23; negative not counted.
Mr. MAGEE moved to increase the sum appropriated for maintenance of T( pairs of the State's Prison North from $75,000 to $85,000, at the suggestion of the Chairman of the Committee on Prisons.
Mr. CAMPBELL visited the Prison with the Committee and knew the boilers were old and dangerous, and provision should be made for insane convicts. which latter are simply inhuman.
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr. SPANN made the same motion with regard to the State Prison South. Before that Prison can be put in proper condition it needs a new wall better cell facilities, etc.
Mr. WILLARD thought it a strange way to treat an appropriation bill, when nothing of the kind is asked by the management. Last year both of these Prisons were within $75,000 of two years ago. It is the business of those interested to make these kind of demands, and he objected to these increases.
Mr. BENZ said the Warden of the Northern Prison requested him to make an increase, and would have been here but for sickness, asking that an additional amount be appropriated.
Mr. SPANN said the Warden of the Southern Prison made a similar statement. The work house needs repair, the cells need repairs and the Prison generally put in better condition.
The amendment was agreed to upon admission-affirmative, 23; negative, not announced.
The Finance Committee's amendment reducing the appropriation for the Female Reformatory from $30,000 to $28,000, being read-
Mr. WILLARD said the appropriation for this Institution has not been expended but once.
Mr. VAN VORHIS insisted instead of lowering this appropriation it ought to be increased. He moved to insert $35,000 instead of $30,000.
Mr. MARVIN hoped the sum in the bill would be allowed to remain. The managers tell him, as a member of the Committee, that they never had enough money appropriated for its management.
Mr. GRAHAM desired to see the substitute amendment prevail. He visited this Institution two years ago with the Committee, and if the inmates are fed as they were on that occasion, it is a disgrace to the State of Indiana-the food was unfit for any human being to eat He hoped the management would see 10 it that no starvation is Bilowed in that Institution.
Mr. HILLIGASS understands that two years ago there was over $2,000 unexpended; and that this is not the way to avert the evils just complained of. Unless this is done he opposed increasing the appropriation.
Mr. BROWN contended this sum can be used for maintenance-including food and clothing and repairs. This bill makes an increase of $2,000 over last, year, and that is probably as far as should be gone. He hoped the officers would remedy the evil spoken of by the Senator from Hamilton [Mr. Graham.]
page: 222[View Page 222]Mr. WHITE thought the appropriation ought to be increased.
Mr. CAMPBELL in conversation with the Governor, that gentleman stated the appropriation has been too small.
Mr. RISTINE stated that there was urgent need in preparing comfortable quarters for the sick.
Mr. VAN VORHIS was satisfied $35,000 is none too much. That Institution is in such a needy condition the State ought not to permit it to remain. Many things have been left undone that otherwise would be done if it had the funds. The Hospital Department should be improved. The inmates are increasing, and the labor of the inmates would be better utilized if money were available to procure material.
The substitute [Mr. Van Vorhis'] was rejected upon a division-affirmative, 16; negative, 18.
The Finance Committee amendment was rejected.
Mr. BENZ moved to reconsider the vote adding $10,00 to the State Prison South.
Mr. SPANN opposed and Mr. Faulkner favored the motion.
It was rejected upon a division.
On motion by Mr. BROWN the words "and the certificate of State stock, if there be any of such stock," were stricken from the bill.
Mr. WILLARD moved to amend by providing there shall be no appropriation for expenses of the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court for the fiscal year beginning November 1, 1881.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. BUNDY moved that the Committee rise, report its action and ask leave to be discharged.
The motion was agreed to, and according-
The Committee rose.
On motion by Mr. BUNDY the Senator from Madison [Mr. Henry] took the Chair, the Lieutenant Governor being absent from the Chamber.
