The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-22

The quiet contest between the eldest Uni |
ted States Senator from Illinois and the |
Governor, which has been going on for
some time, is coming to the surface every
once in while. As preliminary to the |
afternoon fight and discussion in the Sen
ate, Wham, Warden Of the Penitentiarv, |
commonly known as Logan man. tele- |
graphed to Senator Steele as follows:
Prison, JOLIET Jan. 2O-lO A. Mt |
is but simple justice to the officers of the |
institution, to the public, and the Legislat- |
ure, that the House resolution to investi-
gate more fully should prevail. Please
say this to the Senate, and oblige
(Signed) 81. W. WHAM, Warden"
The following dispatch from Steele to
Wham explains itself:
Springfield, I'll. Jan. 20.
u. W Wham, Warden
THE Governor thinks your dispatch
ought not to be presented to the Senate,
Answer
(Signed) SC B. STEELE"
Mr.. Wham answered to the effect that
the Senate could not be satisfied with the
whitewashing report, and should insist up
on Thorough investigation 1t was with diff
fculty that the House resolution was
brought before the Senate in the afternoon,
dilatory motions and technical objections
being interpolated to prevent its consum-
nation. The rules were finally suspended
yeas, 25; nays, 10. Williamson, Whiting
and Sheldon argued against concurrence, on
the ground of expense and OF the suficien-
cy of the Senate investigation. Williams
on deprecated the presentation of the
House resolution previous to the discussion
Of the Senate Committee report He
proceeded to discuss the merits of the case
of Williams, and the merits Of the Senate
Committee report as Murphy and others
had done before him, but being called to
order, stopped.
Steele said the people were not satisfied
with the investigation, but were of the opin-
ion that great outrage had been commit
ted within the walls of the Penitentiary.
The question before the Senate was, Are
the 1900 cOnvicts there entitled to the
protection of the law against unjust and in-
human treatment? 1t was time to have
an inyestigation-perfe thorough, and
complete. The adoption of the resolution
could do no harm, but might do good Par
tisanship should have nothing to do with
the question.
A motion to adjourn was lost-yeas l6
nays, 81.
Chairman Henry, of the Senate Commit
tee, followed, objecting to concurrence, sta
ting that law was necessary to confer power
upon the Committee to send for persons and
papers that the investigation would not
develop anything in addition to the report
of the Coroner's Jury, the Grand Jury,
and the report of the Senate Committee.
He cared nothing for the insult to him, but
he could not allow his Committee to be dis
| graced without protest The speech was
, lame defense of his report, and an attack
on the Senators who favored more thor
ough investigation. The Senate adjourned
: the question pending The penitentiary
: Board were in the Senate during the de-
7 bate, and were round town all day trying
to induce Senators to vote down the House
' resolution Even the Governor has beer
? trying his influence in quiet way in the
! same direction, and but for the courage O
few men the whole thing would have
] been smothered Wham' telegram mean
: open war between him and the Commits
sioners, One of the latter cursed Whan
e this afternoon, and inquired what in thun
j der-only he didn't say thunder-Whan
Y meant. If the Commissioners are not Gus
o ted by the Legislature, Wham will 500
be ousted by the Commissioners for bring
ing on an investigation which he be
. lievs will be injurious to the Commission
Z ers, who are for Beveridge for Unite
States Senator, while their conviction an
!, removal will crafty Wham's patron, VIII
: is Logan. Thus is the Penitentiary one
. more becoming political bone of conten
, ton