The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-06-25
VERMONT STATE PRISON.

1t has been an open secret for some time
that the indiscrimn ate exercise OF the par
doning power by the governor and his
other acts of clemency have more or less
imp ired the discipline of the Vermont
state prison. 1t is known, also, that prior
to the time referred to, the discipline and
morale of the prison were excellent, in fact
better than any other prison in the coun-
try but the change come and although it
was directly ascribabe to this abuse of the
pardoning power, yet there has been rea-
sonable suspicion that there was power
" behind the throne" that although the
governor was responsible for his acts, yet
that they were the direct results of power
full influence exerted by an unseen and,
therefore, unknown hand. Upon this
point, we have received a letter, not in
tended for publication, from a highly re-
spected and intellg 'nt ciuzen of Windsor,
and one thoroughly conversant with the in
ternal working and government of the
prison, from which, although not intended
for publication, We propose to make some
extracts.
The letter was called out by our editorial
article OF June s, relative to the pardon of
Charles H. Potter, and our correspondent
commences by asking: "Why not after
the reprieve of John p. Phair Who
SHOULD be the next 10 order, if not
"Charles III. Potter? And then, after
stating that the people of Windsor are dis
posed to be charitable toward the governor
on account of his severe illness of last fall
and winter, he ga, that the pardon of Pot
ence of Director Spauldng, a bosom
friend of Charles H.. VINO influences the
governor in all state prison matters =
" and who is Boosting all over the state OF
the new sys'em of discipline which is be-
4" Ing developed at the prison suggested by
g himself" He then proceeds as follows !:
Let us stop for moment to inquire what
this discipline is which Is being developed
by ID rector Spauliing at the state prison
Is 1t in granliug special privileges TO con-
victs who have money and VINO are usually
the most desperate characters in prison {?
ls ii in doing away with the parti-colured
dress? Is II in disarmlng the guards and
keepers, and not allowing them to carry as
much as a walking slickp Is 1t in assign
ing some OF tie longest sentenced, the
woret and most despe-a c'nvicts to the
mast responsible aud trust worthy positions
In the prison?
For instance, John p. Phsir as prison
hall waiter having the privilege of the
yard and even going outside of the prison
walls into the house kitchen, Hayden and
Wolley as prison cooks, Ring as no pital
steward, Snow, another murderer, as over
seer OF wash-hUuse, positions where their
privileges and chances for escape are ten TO
one what convicts employed by the COM
pany-that is az hard labor-enj ~.
And it Is new departure IRON prison
rules and customs altogether thereby
creating such lack of discipline that no
company can aft ,rd to pay more than half
what they otherwise would for the labor of
the eonvicts un-er different management.
The honorable board of prison directors
are In town at the time of writing. For
the purpose of making another contract
with Ii. Il. M. & Co., and presume they
will have to go at the same old price-as
did the "old lady's butter"-on account OF
the aforesaid management.
Superintendent Spencer is a clever man,
and when the governor wants another man
for any responsible position should ad-
wise him 10 look about and see If there ia
not some fldg-station agent that can be Sc
cured.
How mich or how little of foundation
there may be for our correspondents stric-
lions upon Director Spaudlng, we do not
propose TO inquire; We give prominence to
the communication that the governor, the
people OF the state, and the directors of the