Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-01-14

which comes down from, the commencement
of our State organization to the LIST Of June,
1858, exhibiting the following result:
Dr. Ca
State of Iowa slo9 Sc
Construction $50 o4s.s2
6eheraI support "a 2sS 10
Officers Salaries -.--.---- l2,s5L49
General Support Fund.- C2A42
Cunvicts Fund. 1921
w All ruhu ! 132.1
Real Estate ---..---- iOlW
niiis neceisaole-- 3,1S9OO
Bills Payable -------.---- 1858 O3
lhui'ioaai Account--- 5,s2l 10 6l69 "a
sl2s,l2lss sl2a l2l s5
1t will be ascertained from the details in
this balance sheet that the amount S109, Gal. SO
is the whole amount expended by the State on
account of the Penitentiary. The other sums
on the credit side, may need explanation.
The amount 1854 is for cash advanced by
the Warden during the month of May last, in
payment of bills for supplies, &c. The
amount sl2 67G.03 is the aggregate of all notes
outstanding against the institution, on the LIST
of June last, aud the amount s5, 1853. GA is the
sum OF all the amounts due individuals on
book account. The different amounts on the
debtor side will be readily understood. The
labors of this Commission must result in great
good to the institution as we'll as the State,
besides exhibiting the precise condition of its
financial affairs; it has exposed abuses, recti-
fed mistakes, and made up and systematized
the entire Penitentiary account SO as to rem.
der it Ineligible.
Honorable mention should be made of S.
Guthrie, Esq, who is a most competent book
keeper, rendered to the Commission valuable
assistance in the discharge of their duties,
and who is now employed by the present
Warden as chief Clerk aud book keeper of the
estabiishnent-which at once guarantees &C.
81
counts. 1t is believed, however, that he can
not be retained for the compensation now
given that officer. True economy requires
that the Clerk in this institution should be a
first class book. keeper with rates of pay which
he couli get in our larger mercantile estab-
lshments. II is proper that l should state
that the Commissioners reported deficit in
| the accounts of the late Warden, amounting
to S2,278.ll. This deficit was discovered by
the examiners, after final settlement Of the
Warden's accounts, which settlement the In
| spectors now ask may be opened rp. The at
tention of the Attorney General has been call.
ed to this subject with the necessary instruc-
| tons.
| The north line of the Prison enclosure is
protected with a board fence, rendering the
confinement of so large a number of convicts
exceedingly unsafe and dangerous, and should
| be replaced with a stone wall at as early a
day as possible. The cell. room accommoda-
| tons are inadequate and should be enlarged.
| | recommend as large appropriations for these
| objects as the revenue resources of the State
will justify
The Inspectors have procured plan for the
enlargement of the Penitentiary, through the
assistance of competent architect, which
embraces all tho modern improvements, and
would accommodate some 800 or 400 convicts,
and ought, in my judgement, 10 be adopted
aud carried out II the financial condition of
the State will admit of it.
PARDoNING POWER.
| 1t is made my duty under the constitu-
ton of this State to communicate to the
General Assembly all cases Of pardon, re-
prieve or Communication granted by me
during my term of office, which have the
honor Of doing in separate paper accom-
panying this message, in which is shown
the name and crime OF each convict, the
sentence, its date and the date Of the par
don, and the reason therefor.
| The whole number of pardons in two
years from January 10th, 1858, to January
9th, 1850, for Penitentiary offences, was
fifteen. Of these only three were par
doned before their imprisonment-the
remaining twelve had suffered Imprisonment
| q greater or less .tlmc,-SOme OF them SUI
ficiently long to satisfy the ends of justice,
independent of the other causes which op-
Grated upon my mind in their discharge.
The number pardoned for offences punished
by fines and by Imprisonment in the county
jail, was six. There was one case of COM
mutation and none Of rePrieves.
The applications for pardon we're numer-
ous-often informal and loosely made; to
secure an intelligent consideration Of these
applications, Is we'll as greater certainty
aud uniformity in their presentation, and to
guard against imposition and an abuse of an
important trust, when required to be exer-
cised, l proposed . series Of rules, which,
together with that provision of the Constr
tuition, which relates to the subject,
caused to be published and sent to all
counties for the information Of those whom
it might concern. A copy of the rules pre-
senting the mode of applying for pardons,
is appended to the report alluded to, and
to which your attention is called. 1t will
be perceived that the constitution clearly
contemplates the enactment of law regu-
iating the exercise Of the pardoning DOW
er. This IS yet has not been done. now
recommend the passage Of such a law, and
that it shall in its provisions, embracing the
substance Of the rules which have cstab-
lishcd, and which have found from expe-
risnes to work we'll, and adequately 70