Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-01-20
S129.l21 80 $129.121 9,

s129,121 80 $129,121 81
It will be ascertained from the details in
this balance sheet that the amount of $780,.
GAL sc is the whole amount expended by the
State on account of the Penitentiaiy. The
other sums on the credit side may need ex-
PLANTATION. The amount 1884 AZ is for cash
advanced by the Warden during the month
# May last, in payment of bills for supplies,
&c. The amount $l2,676 O3 is the aggre-
gate of all notes outstanding against the
institution, on the first of June last. and
the amount 5000 ga is the sum of all
amounts due individuals on book account
The different amounts on the debtor side
will be readily understood. The labors oil
this Commission must result in great good
to the institution as we'll as to the State,
besides exhibiting the precise condition of
its financial affairs it has exposed abuses,
rec,ifed mistakes, and made up and system
atized the entire Pcnitentiary account SO as
to render 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 tho present
Warden. chief clerk and ok-keeper of the
stablishment-which at once guarantees
accuracy and system in the keeping of the
accounts. 1t is believed, however, that he
cannot be retained for the compensation
now given that officer. True economy
requires that the clerk in this institution
should be first class book-keeper, with
rates of pay which he could get in our larg-
er mercantile establishments. 1t is proper
that should state that the Commissioners
rcpc rted deficit in the accounts of the late
Warden, Amounting to $2,278,11. This
deficit was discovered by the examiners,
after . final settlement of the Warden's
accounts, which settlement the Inspectors
now ask may be opened up. The attention
Of the Attorney General has been called to
this subject with the necessary instructions.
The north liue of the Prison enclosure is
protected with board fence, rendering the
confinement Of so large number of convicts
exceedingly unsafe and dangerous, and
should be replaced with stone wall at an
early day as possible. The cel-room 40.
commodations are inadequate and should be
enlarged, recommend as large appropria-
tions for these objects as the revenue re-
sourses of the State will justify. y7
Tho Inspectors have procured a plan for
the enlargement ofthe Penitentiary, through
the assistance Of q competent architect,
which embraces the modern improvements,
will accommodate some 300 or 400 convicts,
and ought, in my judgment, to be adopted
and carried out if the financial condition Of
the State will admit of it. a'5' 4
PARDoNINa POWER. 7''@
It is made my duty under the constitution
Of this State to communicate to the General
Assembly all cases of pardon, reprieves or
granted by me during my term
If Office, which I have the homer Of doing
n separate paper accompanying the mes
age, in which is shown the name and crime
# each convict, the sentence, it's date, and
he date of the pardon, and the reason
therefor. - 1e
The whole number of pardons in two
7 ears from January 10, 1853, to January 9,
looo, for Penitentiary offences, was fifteen.
y these only three we're pardoned before
heir imprisonment-the Remaining twelve
lad suffered imprisonment greater or less
ame-sone OF them sufficiently long to