The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1877-07-06
NaR aTATE'R PRuS0N MAN.
AGENENr,


pafinlenneni IL lhe Peniientiwy.
published in The 0,r5oniu. Of The
a7sh ut. Several Republican lour-
6als aud The Ofsyoaica have been
auli 40 now mekiugunjuas criticisn'
nnA sewers s,rIcsHres upon Capt
BaEch, ia his private life and official
management Of the prison, That in
nslsnlion has long been the objective
poius Of The Radical press, and II
would seem impossible for Demo
cratic officers in charge there TO sat
INV these editors, DO the best they
ON, ana manage as honestly and
economically as they may, we are
treated to rehash Of the old charges
81 peculasion, extravaganza and par
sixan policy, diluted through the col
nmnni Ia vague hints and charges ut
eerly unauscsptible Of proof, and to
such Acopious extent that one would
imagine that ne other institution oi
he State were worth passing mo-
lios. Capt. Burch's statement IL .
plain, manly answer to these charges,
and courts investigation, but the Or
eaoniaAs comments and structures
iIisDlny the naalevolence and special
ploading more worthy Of a county
scat partizAn organ than Of a leading
journal Of the State, claiming to be Q
fair exponent Of the truth. MIR,
Burch states that in his managing the
prison he does so in the best interests
Of the State, and not in that Of any
party or person and quotes tho Gov
ernor as upholding him in the same,
The Ofsgonian plainly misconstrue'
hialanguage and asserts the Execu'
tive Is endorsing all the views MIR
Bnruh advances, while it is perfectly
potent the Governor is quoted only
d referring TO those points Of politi
cal and personal management; al ou
aB near the honest truth as that papel
can reach. Its misconstructioA ii
much palmer than the proof brought
to sustain it, that the Governor mus
endorse everything, otherwise as Sec
ratary Of State he could not issue
warrants upon the superintendent
vouchers. The editor Of the Orege-
nian knows full well that the Super
intsndent is sole auditor of his ac'
eouuta and the Statute, Sec. IA, page
702 Of tho Code expressly defines that
tho Secretary shall issue warrants
upon the Treasurer for the bills 50
audited by The Superintendent. The
language OF the Statute is plain--it
does not say he may or can but il
psremptsry that he shall.
AIr. Burch in his article sets forth
The necessity Of a clerk, TO which the
Oregoniaa objects that while it may
Be necessary there..is no law for the
employment Of one. This may be
true that there is no special enact
msnt'Of that character, yet custom
anl the sanction Of every legislature
aimee 1S70.justiies the same. Nei-
ther is there a law for the employ
mant Of aphysician, attorney, farmer,
tsamater, blacksmith etc., nor any
fra laborer beyond guards, yet such
labor Is necessary and the employ
msnt recognized by the Legislature
and the courts.
The Superintendent is required to
report 10 the Secretary Of State and
10 the Legislature Ito koep strict
account Of his receipts and expendi'
tnrss and put them before that body
in q proper shape.
His time is necessarily too much
taken up, nor do the requirements Of
The Office contemplate that he shall
keep the books; that no clerical aid
Be allowed an officer disbursing, by
souchers, the sum Of from forty to
one hundred thousand dollars is Q
dsductioRonly TO DO drawn by Radi'
calls out Of Office.
Is there mercantile concern il
.Ae State doing business to thai
amount which would not employ /
competent book-keeper at a salary o
fifty dollars per month"; 0ris ther'
smother fund Of that Importance
aither National or State that does no
have M accountant?
The duties Of clerk in making
duplicate vouchers, checking and ex
amining extension Of bills; keeping
account Of cash receipts and disbnrse
ments, making out bills, segregatint
different expenditures and reducing
tho whole 70 ledger account is 'prool
that the position is no sinecure ant
worth TO the State the amount paid
The OreOonian further quibblel
upon the action Of the House at thl
last session in FIRST saying the repor
0fthe special committee recommend
ing the abolishment Of the clerks Of
Acs was unanimously adopted; find
ing this 10 be untrue Il modified th'
charge TO having been nnanilnousl,
accepted Customary parlimentar,
uaage and courtesy require that thl
report Of any special committee b