, 1865-02-15
CINcISNAr1, O., Feb. 10, 1855.
Special Orders No. 81.
TEItract1
FROM SPRINGFIELD.
Report Of the Penftentiarr Comm1tte.
Of the House.

SPR1NGrEID, Feb. l3.-The following repor
of the House Penitentiary Committee vas LEAD
this morning In the House:
HEFoRT Or THE coAA1rTKE or Tue pESrTEs71AHY
TO the Honse Of Representatives Of the Twenty.
fourth General Assembly:
Your Committee on the Pcnitentlasy hare not
been able TO make as full IN examination a. thev
feel should have been made. This Is owing TO he
iafeness Of the organization of the committees oi
the Houce: and, second, to the immense amount
OF business unasoidab1y pressing upon each mem
t per % q ihe committee, and the-sezy limited time
As the ey1dence taken BY your committee /. pre-
sented to the House, it only seems NECESSARY to
81 sa attention to few unustanblc abuses Of pub
The measurements at the Penitcntiary made BY
the Superintendent are very correct, but It also
appears BY he ev!aence that the Superintendent
work acted ut the came time "a foreman for the
contractors. A Penitentiary Commissioner. whjIe
holding that office, acted az attorney ut the same
Commissioner was also party to the procuring Of
the lease act OF 1858, and business partner unter
that act Of the firm Of Jamcs II. Pftman & Com.
The Speaker Of the House OF Representatives
dn5ng nc a A@sslemhy .l Of asea vas party to the
tlme for which he was elected, Tho Chailaiau or
tas Penitentiary Committee during The session Of
Co.. during the lime for which be vas elected.
me agreement for the partnership Of james II.
P1tman q Co., was made before the Lcase act
passed, end James II. Pitnan, S, A. Buckmasters
Speaker Of the Houte Of Representatives: Ira n
Buck, ComnIas1onef Of tho Pe1tteptfary. and
s- Il. Casey, were the partners, as nppears 81 the
copy Of partnership papers included in the evi-
"A verbal agreement for the partnership OF Jau,es
ID. P1tDan d Co.. Wns made before the Lease aet
passed, between James n. Pittnan, s. 4. Back
master, L T. v. Buck and s. E. Casey, Hhich Wns
consnmnated BY articles Of agreement signed by
all Of them. -
We have obtained the opinions Of cninentl legal
6o1nsei IN regard TO The Wardenship nnwhe1 by
y. 4. B9ckmaster. Their opinion ron have before
gentleman had my doubt In regard to the tllegal-
II Of the trHnsfef Of The Wardenship from Pitaan
10 s. A. Buckmaster, huslness partner Of the firm
OF JameH n. Pttnan & Co., under that lease, he |
remaining for more than year in the office or !
Commissioner after he became partner OF the |
1rm. The Speaker OF the uonBe OF Representa- |
dves, during the Assembly OF 1863, was party to
The proceeding Of the lease act and also business
partner In lhe firm Of Pitman g. Co., during the |
term for which he was elected.
There is. IN tue mind Of your Committee, |
abundant reason for this Lecslature to vacate the
present Pen1tentitry leake. and take the inetttu-
ion into the hands OF the state As to the legaii-
Of such course, your committee arc sustained |
by the most eminent legal hlent In the State. and
o efectuate this object your Committee RECON- l.
mend the passage Of bill now pending before |
his House for that purpose.
AssE1 B. Cook, Chairman,
Il. C. CRILDs,
]. ". STREvELLE,
JoHN L. TINcaER,