Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-04-03


In regard 70 the allowance of 50 per daE %
him for his expenses, it is enough 70 SAT Chat It
sin evidence that such lawyers as Moses Jenkin-
son, ESQ. Chairman Of this committee, Jonathan
W Gordon, the Republican Clerk of the House,
Judge Major and the Attorney General decided
that the Directors were entitled TO their travelling
expenses, and as Mr.. Seeley had accompanied
them round the State, and had visited other
prisons in other States in order to make himself
thoroughly acquainted with the business, 50
day was allowed him as a fair equivalent for his
travelling expenses. His appointment Warden
so long before the location of the prison, TOR
which, be it understood, he has not received one
cent, was because the Directors expected, at the
time of his appointment, that the location would
be madein a very short time, and he would have
TO select the prisoners from the lower prison and
prepare himself for his duties
THE COST OF KEEPING The ooSvIcTs.
In regard to the cost of keeping the eonvicts, \
every well informed person must know that
der the arrangements at the Northern Prison,
Just going into operation with no sufficient ac-
commodations, with large guard force TO board,
etc and with only comparatively small num-
Der of cOnvicts requiring Just as much 'help" as
a large number, worked, too, outside the building,
requiring many more guards TO prevent their es-
cape, the cost Of keeping them must be much
larger than in any regular prison
THE STATE AUDITOR.
The committee travel out Of their way 10 assa:l
the State Auditor, and charge that he had no
authority to audit and pay any money or account
of the construction of the prison, above the $50
600 appropriated by the Legislature IL the
committee can be made to understand the mean
ing and force of the English language, we would
respectfully invite then attention to the provisions
of the law:
SIC. IL. In order 20 carry out the provisions
1.-THE erection Of a new PRISON. Of this act, there
is hereby appropriated the of fifty thousand
dollars, out of any money in the treasury.
SEC. II. The necessary expenses of said prison,
and the control and management thereof, shall
be paid out of the State Treasury under such
regulations and restrictions may be adopted by
the Board of Control, and, as Ear as practicable,
in conformity with the practice and usages of
the Present State Prison.
Now is there lawyer in Indiana with an ounce
of brains in his head tina. does not see at once that
the $4,000 appropriated in section IL is only for
the erection of a prison, while the 18th section
makes an unlimited appropriation for the neces-
sary expenses, and the control and management
thereof, including such items the pay Of the
Directors, Warden, guards, help, clothing, pro-
visions, etc, etc. We warrant the assertion that
there is not lawyer in the State of Indiana, of
any note, who would peril his professional char
acter by giving it different construction. Then
the committees statement that the Auditor ex-
ceeded his authority is simply false
The committee also travel out of their way to
talk about swamp land frauds. Do they think
that the people Of Indiana have forgotten that
one of their State officers was detected in steal
ing 10000 acres of the swamp lands, and that
another of them lost the State 500 600 in cash"
MANUFACTURING EVIDENCE.
The undersigned regret exceedingly that they
can not close their report without bringing to the
notice of the House the fact that the evidence of
some of the witnesses has been distorted and
changed by some person, and that the memoran-
DUN or letter marked A., of Mr.. Dunlap, has
been changed and altered, and injected into his
evidence, when it had no business there. This
letter or memorandum is made part of this re
port, in order TO show the reprehensible conduct
resorted to, to manufacture evidence 10 suit
the occasion. The undersigned are unable to
decide what other interpretations and alterations
have been made in the evidence of the witnesses,
for the reason that the book of the evidence was
in the possession of Senator, who refused TO
surrender it. until yesterday afternoon, so no OPP
: portunity was afforded the undersigned TO com
pare that with the evidence as originally taken
down.
OBJECT OF THE INVESTIGATION
Towhat end and for what purpose has the peo-
pie of Indiana been put 20 the heavy expense OF
: this investigation? The answer is easy. Not
for any public good, but that the Republicans
: might get the spending Of the money at this
prison into their own hands. They have spread
their infamy upon the statute book of Indiana,
In the face and teeth of their denunciation of
Michigan City, and their vehement protests that
they would never vote any more money TO CON-
pete the prison at that point no sooner do Tai
bott & Co. agree to surrender their contract than
these men forget their denunciations Of Michigan
City, forget their vehement declarations that they
would vote no atore money TO complete the prison,
forget the report of their committee that Talbot
& Co. were not entitled 70 any more pay, and &C
tually placed upon the statute book a law making
an appropriation of ST. 900 to Talbot 4 Co., and
another appropriation to complete the prison.
,, There is Republican honesty for youl Upon the
statute book that law will remain as a lasting
monument of their infamy and disgrace
HORACE HEFFRES,
JAS X. SLACK.