, 1873-04-14

The Penitentiary Committee Of tho House Of
Representatives,, after. protracted inyosti-
gation Of certain charges preferred against
the priaon management, involving tho efficiency,
il not tho integrity, Of tho Commissioners and
Warden, have submitted majority and a mi
nority report, the former signed by twelve of tho
Committee, and the lattor by one. Two Of the
Committee disagreed with both, aud declined to
sign either.
Considerable pains Beoms to hayo boen taken
to arrive ut tho truth Of tho charge TINT large
number of wagons, q quantity Of wagon mate-
rial, md aome tools and. machinery wore diH-
posed Of for much loss than their true valuo< Tho
price obtained was 915, 900, being s25 1874 less
than the value Of tho same property aB
appraised by tho Legislative Committee OF 1871.
Either tho appraisement WAS too high or the
prico too low. Tho majority report fayora tho
former theory, the conclusion boing basod upon
IN examination Of the property in the hands Of
the purchaser; 1t boing found that tic wagons
were badly constructed, tho materials OF inferior
quality, md tho toola worthless. Tho minority
report charactorizes tho sale as fraudulent, OH
tho ground that the property could havo been sold
aomo months previously for as high as $40, 900.
It s very evident that the appraisoment mado by
tho former Committee was much too high, itbeing
moro than twice tho largest amount ever offered
for tile property. Tho reports agree In condemn
Ing tho lopa0 aud unbuainess-like manner In
which the sale was conducted, the articles being
"lumped," t" md no inventory made Tho reports
also coincide in pronouncing illegal the purchase
at private sale Of clothing to tho amount Of
@17 ACT, tho iaw requiring that such contracts
shall bo lot by public contract to tho lowest re-
em1nent1y wiBo, and cannot DO broken without
ondangoring tho reputation Of tho officer traus-
crossing It. According to tho majority report,
98 suit was paid for 725 suits Of clothes worth,
on m average, only 55 suit, wlli1o according to
tho minority report the entire contract might hive
bcen lot for 90, $40 loas than tho price paid. This
is . largo margin on purchase amounting to
81, ACT. 4 disregard OF tue law eliminating in
transaction Of this kind is roprehensiblo, and
deserves unqualified conauro.
~ tAAA1l41GH hlhb N4kQull66l0u9F 1AGIu uHu M
interest in quarry worked by convictH, and WAS
d stakeholder in q coal company which supplied
the prison with coal; that provisions woro
purchased from 1lr. Reid and entered on the
books as purchased from q 1aboror in his en-
ploy; TINT . convict was taken from the prison,
contrary to tho regulations. to work in Mr:
Roid's house; that Nr. Reid purchased articles
from the prison at cost, ]oas than they wore sold
for to other persons; that the printing required
BY the institution Was done OF tho Office Of tho
Uarlinvillo Democrat. Of which tho Warden was
part owner, r,-Rhowing that Cotnmisslonor noId
and Warden Edwards woro Illegally and i'm
properly Interested III contracts which
should have bcen lot with an oyo single to tho
public intoresta. It ia ahown that a25, 900 oaal,
received by tho Wardon In August, as part pay-
mont Of tho stato-Houso contract, was deposited
in bank to tho credit Of tho Warden, and WAS
not onterel in tho books OF tho institution until
tho following October, aud it Is intlmatod that
tue Warden attempted to suborn vitnossos tn
"tone down " their evidence before tho Commit
too. While tho testimony doos not proyo that
the readont Commissioner, noid, md tho war-
don were corrupt, ind mado profits out OF con-
tracts IN which thoy were moro or loss romotoly
Interested, 1t warrants tho Inference TINT tboy
violated tho spirit Of the law, which contem.
plates that public officials shall DO In no wlso
personally Interested iu public contracts.
An export toBti6ed that tho books Of the
prison woro kept In proper form, that tho No.
counts wore correct, and showed profit for tho
curEont year Of s25 1s71o,-agr gratifying result Of