The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-09
EAwLCY AND THE MILITARY PRISON.
He Refuses to Obey the Will of His
Constituents.
He Deserts the Interests Of his own District
and State.

and State.
In his letter to a committee of citizens,
Mr.. Hawley takes up good deal of space
in giving reasons why the military prison
should not be on the Island. He might
have spared himself that trouble,a no one
urges that it be placed there Thatpa OF
Mr.. Hawleys letter looks like an effort to
withdraw public attention from the real
issue.
Members Of Congress are supposed to be
elected to attend to the interests of those
they are sent to represent. Senator Ogles-
by evidently takes that view of the matter,
md says he shall do what he can for our
locality, both as to free bridge and prison
But Mr.. Hawley wholly ignores the wishes
of his District and his State, and proceeds
to tell us what army officers think of the
matter, as a reason why he should desert
our interests and espouse the interests OF
Leavenworth. What is there at Leaven-
worth
/. The ground, which could be sold
for more than enough to buy the proposed
site at South Rock Island, while the To-
cation here as central point. is greatly
preferable, and the site more elevated pic
turesque and healthful.
2 The old buildings. What are they ?
Two rickety old two story worn out brick
buildings, about 40 by 60 feet each, stuck
in sidehiIl, with low basement to each
one old two story brick house used by the
commander another old one story brick
used by his assistant: some old wooden
sheds, cook houses, etc, all worn out and
worthless for any purpose connected with
national central military prison.
Anybody who has ever had any expert
ence in reconstructing such old roOkeries
knows that it is cheaper to build wholly
new. No possible changes can be made in
the old shells at Leavenworth, which will
make them fit for permanent establish
ment, such as wanted for a national prison.
Not only will nothing be saved by using
them, but the Government will actually
find it economy to sell the whole concern
at Leavenworth and erect new, durable and
permanent buildings on the heights at
South Rock Island.
And yet Mr.. Hawley struggles and foun-
ders through the best part Of column to
excuse himself for deserving his constitu-
ents, his District, and his State, andreport-
ing bill to take away from them an insti
tuition already located among them. He
seems, however to have become ashamed
of his own reasoning, at last, for, speaking
of the old rookeries at Leavenworth, he
closes his letter as follows:
IF it shall be discovered that they can
not be used for that purpose, and my fel
low-citizens OF Rock Island and vicinity
desire its the prison location near thai
city, it will afford me great pleasure to give
my assistance to secure that result.
Now, we submit that this is adding in
suit to injury. He reports and secures The
passage, in the House, of bill removing
the prison from Rock Island to Leaven
worth, and then says if the old rookerie'
can't be used he will try to get the location
changed back to Rock Island This is to-
thin; too silly for boy. Mr.. Hawle.
knows well enough that when an appropri
alton shall be made and work commenced
the location will not be changed, whethe
the old rooEeries shall be torn down or not
He knows that army officers, when the,
get the money, will not stop to doctor VI
an old tumble-dow two story brick, stucl
in a side-h they will raze it to the groun,
and build suitable buildings. He know
= that it is an utter impOssibiity to make tn
old ro0keries at Leavenworth conform t
the plan recommended for the prison. An
yet. after taking it away from US, he says
IF it shall be discovered that they canno
be used, ETC., etc, why, then he will tr.
to get it moved back here Men will
brains in their heads will laugh to scorI
such silly twaddle.
Mr. Hawley has proved recreant to tn
interests Of his constituents, and his bes
friends cannot make satisfactory defens
of his conduct.