AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. JOHNSON, for the Select Committee on Prison Labor, submitted a report (which was, without being read, ordered printed), accompanied by a bill [S. 284] to abolish contracts for convict labor, and regulating the employment of convicts of our State Prisons and Reformatory Schools. The bill was read the first time. He made an ineffectual motion-yeas, 22, nays, 21-that the bill be made a special order for Friday at 2 o'clock.
CHANGE OF RULES.
Mr. VOYLES, as a privileged question, called up his motion, notice of which was given yesterday, to change the rule 54 so that the daily order of business shall be suspended upon a majority vote instead of a two thirds vote as now.
Mr. SPANN raised the point of order that this question can not be called up as a privileged question.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR believed that such a motion can be called up at any time.
By consent the Senate returned to the consideration of the subjection pending at the noon recess.
NEW INSANE ASYLUM.
Mr. Brown withdrew his amendment pending at the noon recess.
Mr. BUNDY moved to refer the bill to a Special Committee of Six to be appointed by the Chair, with instructions to selection Evansville as one of the points, and that the Committee amend the bill so as to provide for an additional Asylum, the location to be left blank.
Mr. GRAHAM questioned the advisability of the Legislature traveling around to hunt up a location for any public building. The arguments are all against a location at Evansville, and he opposed such a location. The bill allowed the transportation to Evansville from all parts of the State. That is away down in the pocket on the Ohio River, a distance of 182 from here, the center of the State, and 320 miles from the north-east corner of the State. The Committee suggested by the Senator from Allen and Whitley [Mr. Bell] is a proper one and he desired that Committee should be untrammeled by instructions. He hoped it would thoroughly canvass all the places mentioned in connection with a location for the new Asylums.
Mr. VAN VORHIS also thought the Committee should not be instructed for Evansville-all locations should be considered together. He favored making provision now for the entire insane of the State. There is more interest manifested in securing locations than in the people who are to occupy the buildings when erected. The proposition of the Senator from St. Joseph [Mr. Campbell] is the wisest one yet advanced. He favored any number of Asylums required to take care of the insane of the State. It is well understood that it is not for the best interest of the insane people to mass them together-the literature on this question is full of good suggestions not mentioned in this discussion.
He thought there should be four or six different locations, putting probably not more than $100,000 at each location. There is no question but that the cottage plan should be adopted.
Mr. BUNDY withdrew his substitute, and offered in lieu an amendment, by providing that the Committee shall be appointed by the Chair.
Mr. CAMPBELL opposed the motion to change the composition of the Committee-thinking it best to have a Committee of those whose localities desire the Asylums.
Mr. RHAM objected from the start to any amendment to his bill. He replied to objections to locating the Asylum at Evansville, which lies on the Ohio River which skirts the borders of this State for some 350 miles, and a person can travel that entire distance on one of the Ohio River floating palaces for the sum of $5. Vanderburg County has formed no combination in this matter. He desired the Northern portion of the State compromise the differences. He introduced his bill the 12th of January and no other city in the Southern part of the State has applied for the location. Provisions and living are cheaper there than elsewhere in the State; for instance, coal is delivered for 90 cents a ton.
Mr. MARVIN did not like to see so little attention paid to the Committee report. He thought the General Assembly should select the location, and not trust that duty to a rambling Commission. These Asylums should be built immediately. Evansville is the next largest city in the State and Ft. Wayne comes next to Evansville, and he thought it to be to the interest of the State to locate these Institutions near the large cities.
Mr. FLETCHER took himself somewhat the credit of suggesting to the Senate Committee the idea of building Asylums throughout the State instead of massing the insane in one Institution as in Indianapolis-making a mass of insane humanity more calculated to breed insanity than to cure it. The sentiment of Superintendents of Insane Asylums throughout Europe is against the American plan, which is continued through the influence of the Superintendents who are personally interested in keeping the Asylums very large. We need a great deal of laid and a great many smaller Asylums-not gaudy with outside decorations and whited sepulchres within. Many of them he feared would be found very black. It is a shame to take insane persons from their families a long distance, and is more calculated to create permanent insanity than to bring relief. He favored the establishment of Asylums near the large centers of population, which shall have the appearance and comforts of homes. The things constantly going on within the wall of large Institutions no one man can possibly know. No doubt there are men confined in such Insane Asylums who are as sane as any man on this floor. Small Asylums will prove far more efficacious in preventing persons from being sent to these Asylums who are not insane. He opposed the motion for a Commission to locate these Asylums, but hoped this General Assembly as in duty bound, would carry the plan out of building many-seven or eight or ten if necessary-commencing at Evansville next Fort Wayne, as being accessable places and the centers of population.
Mr. MAGEE demanded the previous question which was seconded by the Senate and -
page: 228[View Page 228]Under its operations the mot on [Mr. Bundy's] was rejected by yeas, 8; nays, 39.
The motion to refer to the Special Committee named by Mr. Bell was agreed to by yeas, 28; nays, 13.
Mr. BELL asked and obtained leave for the Committee to retire for consultation, and Mr. Fletcher was added to the Committee by unanimous consent.
The bill [H. R. 74] to amend Section 409 of the Revised Statutes of 1881-concerning trials-the civil procedure act was read the first time.
Mr. Van Vorhis called up the special order, the consideration of the bill [--] for the relief of Theresa and Charles Bachtel, the question being on concurrence in the minority report recommending indefinite postponement of the bill.
The report was rejected and the majority report recommending an allowance of $1,000 was concurred in and the claim was reported to the Committee for insertion in the specific appropriation bill.
INSANE ASYLUM.
On motion by Mr. Marvin the bill [H. R. 27] to make appropriations for the completion, construction and furnishing of the department for women of the Insane Hospital was read the second and third times under a suspension of the constitutional rule-yeas, 39; nays, 0-and passed the Senate by yeas, 36; nays, 0.
TOWN ELECTION PRECINCTS.
The bill [H. R. 5] concerning town elections [but one voting place in towns unless the Trustees decide otherwise] was read the first time.
On motion by Mr. McCULLOUGH the Constitutional rule was suspended by yeas 36; nays, 0; the bill read the second time by title, the third time by sections and passed by yeas, 35; nays, 1.
INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER'S INDEXES.
On motion of Mr. Van Vorhis the Constitutional rule was set aside and his bill [S. 244] to legalize certain records in the office of Town Recorder in all cities of 50,000 and over by the last census, was read under a suspension of the rule the second and third times and passed by yeas, 36; nays, 1.
HOUSE BILLS READ THE FIRST TIME.
The bill [H. R. 27] to legalize the acknowledgment and recording it or certain instruments of writing, the bill [H. R. 10] to amend Section 196 of an act concerning proceedings in criminal cases, the bill [H. R. 15] concerning the use of fire arms, were severally read the first time.
LEGALIZING BILLS PASSED.
The bill [H. R. 22] to equalize the tax assessment of Winchester, Randolph County, was read three times under a dispensation and passed the Senate by yeas 36; nays, 1.
On motion by Mr. MACARTNEY his bill [S. 34] to legalize the incorporation of Angola, Steuben County, was passed to its final reading and passed the Senate by yeas, 34; nays, 1.
On motion by Mr. Ristine his bill [S. 105] to legalize the incorporation of Waynetown, Montgomery County, was pressed to the second and third reading and passed by yeas 42; nays, 1.
On motion by Mr. BENZ his bill [S. 200] to revive the act of May 14, 1860, for the assessment of lands for the benefit of certain roads, was read the second lime.
On motion by Mr. HILLIGASS the bill [H. R. 413] for the relief of Weems Heagy, an ex Treasurer of Madison County, and the sureties upon his bond, was read the three times under a suspension of the Constitutional rules, and passed the Senate by yeas, 41; nays, 3.
Mr. Henry, speaking for the people of his County, said they all desired its passage.
Ana then the Senate adjourned.
