Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1887 — Public Buildings. [ARTICLE]

Public Buildings.

NEW STATE HOUSE. The construction of the new State House, ip accordance with the provisions of an act of the General Assembly, approved March 14, 1877, is

fast approaching completion, and will, doubtless, be ready for acceptance and ftecupancy during the present year. The Board of State House Commissioners, in their report, will submit to you a full statement of their financial transactions and detailed estimates of tbe expenditures to complete the House and to provide tbe same with furniture, for both of which purposes additional appropriations will be necessary. Y'our attention is also called to needed legislation to provide for the care and custody of the new State House alter its completion and acceptance by the State. ADDITIONAL HOSPITALS FOR THE INSANE. The law authorizing the construction of three additional Hospitals for Insane was passed in lsß l. Tho law required that two commissioners should l»e appointed from each of the two leading political parties to superintend tbeirconstruction. My predecessor appointed as such commissioners Gen. Wm. Grose, Hon. DeForest Skinner, Col. Joseph K. Gray and Hon. John C. llpbinson. location of tbe several hospitals was fixed, one each at Evansville, Richmond and Lo.'ansport; the plans and specifications adopted, and the contracts for their construction let, and the buildings commenced before the commencement of my official term. The board as constituted by my predecessor was continued by myself, and so remained until October 2-5, 1885, when Gen. William Grose resigned, and has since been elected a member of the present General Assembly. The Hon. Eugene H. Bundy yras appointed to fill the vacancy. ' Inquiry made last September through the State Board of He ilth, s'n >wed tho nninber of insane persons confined in the jails and poorhouses of the State to be about 1,100, and it is reported that some are locked in cells, some wear ball and chain, and others are chained to the floor. I need not urge the necessity of an early completion of the hospitals in order that these poor unfortnnates may have proper care and medical treatment. The total amount appropriated for the construction of the three Hospitals is $1,163,890, and the Board asks an additional appropriation of 8107,000 to complete and equip the institutions. Of the allowances made to the contractors thero has been paid 8747,255.73, leaving a balance of tbo appropriations for said Hospitals unexpended of $419,556.05, which amount was unexpended because the receipts to the General Fund were not sufficient to pay allowances against the same and meet tho largo expenditures for tho maintenance of the State government and the public institutions. The Medical Engineer estimates the annual cost of maintenance for each of the three hospitals for the fiscal year ending October 31, 1887, at 830,000; for the fiscal year ending October 31, 1888, to about 870,003, and for the fiscal year ending October 31, 1889, 870,000. The board presents with their report such bills as they deem necessary for the organization and government of eacn institution when completed, the basis of which is a board of four trustees for each hospital, the two leading political parties to be equally represented on each board. The commissioners also recommend tho purchase of ten acres additional to the present grounds of the Northern Hospital, for the purpose of adding to its symmetry and procuring better access to the grounds. The board having purchased to the limit authorized by law, must have somo additional authority to purchase the land. 1 commend the matter to your investigation ana consideration.

State Institutions. STATE UNIVERSITY. Indiana University is taking rank with the very best educational institutions in the West; the number of students is steadily Increasing each year, and the work done in the University is equal to that done in many of the more pretentious universities. The library has been largely increased by well-selected volumes. The museum is very extensive. The laboratories now afford unsurpassed facilities for practical work. The faculty is composed of men of high character and finished education. I commend the University to your favorable consideration, TIIE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. The success of the school has demonstrated its usefulness as a factor in developing professional teachers, and in promoting the cause of education. During the seventeen years of Its existence the average attendance has increased from 47 to 433 students. During the last two years 84 per cent, of the students havo come from the homes of farmers and mechanics, and eighty-seven counties of the State have been represented. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The excellent report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction contains the evidence of the increased prosperity and efficiency of our common school system. The common school fund has been increasing at the rate of about $60,000 per year for several years past, and now amounts to $9,458,085.71. INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB. Tho report of this institution for the year 1886 shows the value of the real estate Is $459,009; personal property, $44,890; total, $503,890,97; value of products of farm and garden, $3,618.65; oarningn of tho Institution, $62.81; value of clothing furnished pupils and returned to State treasury for collection, $963.93; appropriation for maintenance, $55,000; expended from maintenance fund, $52,069.98; appropriated for repairs, $3,000; expended from repair fund, sl,313.45; special fund, $726.27; expended from special fund, $195.35 ; number of pupils in attendance, 316; per.capita cost, $161.52. The Superintendent’s report shows that the health of the pupils during the year has been good, and that a marked improvement has been made in educational methods. INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE BLIND. The Trustees in their report estinjate the value of the real estate at $3 >6,238; the personal property at $17,760.66; totai valuation, $373,998.66. They report expended for current support, $23,892; for repairs, $1,993.67; total expenditure, $2 ',838.67. The institution furnishes the pupils tuition, board and washing only. Tho Superintendent’s report shows that the school session commences on the second Wednesday in September, annually, and continues forty consecutive weeks, at the expiration of which all the pupils are required to be removed from the institution. The whole number of pupils enrolled during the session of 1885 was 126. The total number enrolled during the session of 1886 was 130, 60 males and 7J females. The average monthly attendance was 93. The cost per capita for maintenance was $197.45 for forty weeks. INDIANA INSANE HOSPITAL. The Trutees, in their report ending October 31.1886, estimate the value of the real estate at $1,430,150.00 ; value of personal proDerty, $221,050.05. Total, $1,651,210.95. There was appropriated for the fiscal vear ending October 31. 1885, for maintenance, clothing and repairs, $289,000. There was appropriated for the fiscal year 1886, for maintenance, clothing, repairs and improvements, $354,500. That portion of which was designated for specific repairs was authorized to be expended between the first days of April, 1835, and 1886, making the total for the two fiscal years, $634,500.00. There was expended in the fiscal year ending October 31, 1885, $319,087.90, and in the fiscal year ending October 31, 1886. $298,958.60, showing that tho entire appropriations of the two years of $634,500 were all expended except*the sum of $16,453.50. The average number of patients during the year 1885 wus 1,422 ; the average number of patients for the year 188 > was 1,512. The pet capita expense in 1885, based upon the expenditure for maintenance, was $173.43; the per capita expense for the year 1886, based on the expenditure for maintenance, was $160.03. Taking the total disbursements for each year, less the expenditure for clothing, the per capita expense for 1885 would be $216.08, and for 1886 would be $lB '.19. The Superintendent’s report shows the number of officers and employes to be upward of 30J, or one salaried person for every four and onehalf patients, and the amount of compensation paid to them to be about $7,000 per month. The annual expense of maintaining the Institution consumes about one-fourth of the entire revenue of the State. I earnestly recommend that the law governing the Institution be so amended that patients who have estates sufficient to support ‘hem should be compelled to pay for their maintenance. SOLDIERS’ ORPHANS’ HOME AND INSTITUTION FOR FEEBLE-MINDED CHILDREN. The last General Assembly amended the law for the government of the Soldiers’Orphans’ Home and the Institution for Feeble-Minded Children, which provided that the Governor should appoint three Trustees, one of Jwhom, at least, should be a woman, and the male members of the Board should be honorably discharged Union soldiers, and at least one member should be an adherent of one of each of the two political parties casting the largest number of votes at the last general election. In pursuance of said amendment, I appointed as a board for the management of said Institution the Hon. Ben L. Smith, of Kush County;

Captain James H. Harris, of Hamilton Connty, both honorably discharged Union soldiers, and Mrs. Sarah E. Pittman, of Monroe Coantr. whose husband is also an honorably discharged Union soldier. They still constitute said Board. The Trustees had succeeded, by judicious management of the Institution, in paying off a large portion of its indebtedness, and were congratulating themselves upon being able to make repairs and beautify the grounds during the coming year Without increasing tbe expense of tbeir management, when, on the 21st day of July, 1886, a disastrous fire destroyed the main building of the Institution, but providentially no lives were lost. The building was insured for 825,000, 820,00 Jof which has been paid, and t5,000 is now in litigation. The grounds consist of fifty-seven acres, which are valued by the Trustees at 84,500; the walls and foundation of the building at $17,000; boiler-house, boiler and engine, 84,500; laundry, bakery, school-house, nurserv, barn and other buildings, $2,500 total valuation, $28,500. The Trustees have been moved to prompt action to rebuild, in order that a homeliiay again be provided at as early a date as possible for tbe inmates, and I commend their action to your favorable consideration. I recommend that the Feeble minded Institution be separated from that of the Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home, and suggest that the feeble minded inmates be removed to one of the now hospitals now in course of construction. STATE PRISON SOUTH. The report of the Directors for the State Prison South shows that the income of the prison has not been quite sufficient to meet the current expenses. The total disbursements, including officers’ salaries and $4,307.61, expended for repairs for the fiscal year ending October 31, 1886, were $82,255.45; receipts and earnings, 879,590.12, showing excess of disbursements over receipts, 82,665.33. The Warden’s report shows that the daily average number of convicts during the year was 573, and the number remaining in prison Oct. 31, 1886, was 525. The number received since the establishment of the prison, in 1822, was 8,743, and discharged up to Oct. 31, 1886, 8,218. STATE PRISON NORTH. The reports of the State Prison North for the last two fiscal years show the prison to have been self-sustaining. For the fiscal year ending Oct. 31, 1885, the receipts and earnings were $105,221.67. Total disburse, neats. including repairs, officers’ salaries and $26,657.25 expended for improvements, were $99,662.15. The excess of receipts over all expenditures was $37,559.52 The monthly average number of prisoners was 702; number of deaths, 8, and number of prisoners October 31, 1883, 703. For the fiscal year ending October 31, 1836, the receipts and earnings were $111,4:30.10. Total disbursements, including repairs, addition to library, and officers' salaries, were $96,712.37, The receipts over expenditures, $14,717.73, showing an increase of receipts over preyious year of $8,208.43, and a decrease in expenditures of 82,950.15, and an increase in net earnings over previous year of $11,158.58. The monthly average number of prisoners was 701; died during the year, 13; number in prison October 31, 1886, 697 ; received since its establishment in 1860 until October 31, 1886, 5,427, and discharged, 4,277. The sanitary the prison during the last two fiscal years has been excellent, aud the health of the prisoners has been good.

REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS. The report of this institution for tho year 18S6 Bhows that there were in the Penal Department 54, and in the Reformatory Department 129. Average number for the year, 181. The expenditure for maintenance and repairs was $30,000. The net earnings of the institution for the year, including amount received for boarding one United States prisoner, were $758.81, leaving as the net cost of the institution for the year $29,241.19. Per capita cost, based on entire expenditure, $161.65. Earnings, per capita, per arjnum, $4.19. Aggregate salaries paid officers and employes, $8,258.40. The managers recommend the building of a hospital and chapel. INDIANA REFORM SCHOOL FOR BOYS. This institution, formerly named •* The House of Refuge,” was established in 1868. There have been admitted to its guardianship since its opening, January 1,1869, 2,439 boys. There were, at the close of the present year, 516 in the institution, an increase of 76 over the preceding year. There were admitted during the last year 203, and released 216. Tho Institution has been remarkably free from disease, not a single death having occurred during the last year. This fact speaks highly for the sanitary condition of the Institution, its discipline, and the care and attention given the inmates. The appropriation last year for the maintenance of the institution was $60,000. The Trustees ask an additional appropriation of $5,009, on account of needed improvements, and also recommend that legislative provision be made for the appointment of a “visitor” to visit the boys out on ticket-of-leave, for the purpose of ascertaining the character of their homes, the influences that surround them and their general conduct, that the management of the institution may have reliable information in relation to the same, and also to procure suitable homes for homeless boys, whose conduct in the institution entitles them to ticket-of-leave. PRISON REFORM. The Constitution of the State provides that “the penal code shall be founded on the principles of reformation and not of vindictive justice; that cruel and unusual punishments shall not be inflicted; that all penalties shall be proportioned to the nature of the offense," yet our penal system and penal code, and especially the manner in which the latter is administered, could hardly be further from a compliance with those wise and humane provisions of our Constitution. Nearly every day our courts are sentencing to the penitentiary young men under 21 years of ago, in many instances their first offense, and in many cases the offense a technical one, and hundreds are sent to the penitentiary by courts and juries, thereby blasting their characters forever, merely for the purpose of saving the county from the expense of a jail sentence, which would have been sufficient punishment for the crime committed, and not only increasing the number of the criminal class, but inflicting a punishment in violation of the above provisions of our Constitution, which says: “All punishment shall be proportioned to the nature of the offense.” Two-thirds of the prisoners in our State prisons are under 30 years of age. To expect to reform this class of prisoners by their forced association with hardened and confirmed criminals, murderers, thieves and counterfeiters would be to reason that evil associations do not contaminate or corrupt. Those who have had experience in ttie management of prisons, and also those who have given careful attention to the impress made upon the character of the young and comparatively innocent convict, by the aggregate prison system, testify to its hurtful influence, and the almost impossibility of effecting reformation under such a system.