FLOOD SUFFERERS.
On motion by Mr. BENZ the Senate took up the bill [H. R. 419] for relief of sufferers by the flood.
Mr. VOYLES moved to amend by allowing of a reasonable sum to be applied in rendering habitable the recently overflowed houses of persons reduced to straightened and distressed circumstances.
Mr. SPANN offered a substitute, authorizing the employment of worthy persons to assist in restoring the sanitary condition of the flooded districts, and righting up the property of the destitute, thus accomplishing a double purpose-assisting the distressed, and at the same time relieving the wants of the worker's family.
Mr. HENRY thought the able-bodied citizens who receive relief should be required to assist the destitute to fix up their homes-that is a much better way. The Committees in the various towns can better direct the work in their own towns. It would be an unsafe thing to allow this Commission to hire men.
Mr. BENZ opposed the amendment. Each town has its own Relief Committee and it knows best what shall be done. He favored an appropriation of $100,000. Those sufferers need provisions and clothing. From Cincinnati to below Mount Vernon money is needed. This Commission will not take the money out of the Treasury unless it is needed.
Mr. McCLURE believed these matters should be left to the Relief Committees of the various localities. There are blocks after blocks of poor laborers' cottages, where bed, bedding and furniture, or whatever water could destroy, were destroyed in Jeffersonville, and they will need such supplies for a month to come. Only thirty blocks or squares were exempt from overflow. Nearly every grocery and dry goods store were flooded and but little saved.
Mr. BROWN was inclined to the opinion that the bill had better be left alone, having full confidence in the Commission. It is more capable of doing what ought to be done than the Legislature. These amendments may tend to defeat the bill. He desired to see the bill passed as it came from the House.
Mr. SPANN withdrew his substitute-not desiring to endanger the passage of the bill.
Mr. VOYLES explained the object of his amendment to be to fix more certainly some of the duties of the Relief Commission.
Mr. HENRY: The best argument that the amendment should not go in is that Senators representing the flooded district are opposed to it.
Mr. MAY, living in the flooded district, believed the appropriation should not be restricted by the proposed amendment; the local Relief Committee should be left free to act as they think best in such matters.
The amendment [Mr. Voyles'] was rejected.
Mr. RAHM had a talk with the Commissioners, especially the Governor, who recommended no greater appropriation than $60,000, which would be used in relieving the sufferers in any way the Commissioners may see fit, and that is the reason he consented to the reduction.
Mr. HENRY offered the Committee amendment adopted yesterday (but left out in the engrossment), reducing the amount appropriated from $100,000 to $60,000.
This amendment was agreed to by yeas, 21; nays, 20.
On motion by Mr. HENRY the bill was read the third time-
Mr. MARVIN voted against the other bill, for the reason lie didn't believe any law authorize the vote of a dollar in this way, and he should vote against this bill for this and other reasons.
Mr. VAN VORHIS thought it directly in the line of duty for the State to take care of her poor.
Mr. GRAHAM: It is the duty of the Legislature to practice economy, but not to shut its eyes to suffering.
Mr. DUNCAN: The duty of taking care of the poor devolves upon Boards of County Commissioners, but a great public calamity has befallen the people so that the local authorities can not provide for the wants of those persons; and in such cases the Legislature has the power.
Mr. SPANN had not seen anything to change his opinion, as a lawyer and as a Senator, that the principle of voting this money is a wrong one, and will return to plague the people of this State in the future.
The bill passed by yeas, 37; nays, 7, with an amendment of title striking out $100,000 and inserting $60,000 in lieu.
