Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-01-18

to some expenses within the last few years that
are exceptional, an6l pErhaps no longer ,neces-
Gary. y The lshor ,tcm0issi0n provided for by
the 18th 6Annral Assembly has Accomplished
it, work to the extent Of leasing all the pres
emit available Usher ofrt the prison. therefore
recommend its abolition. Any further labor
letting that shall be found necessary can be
done by the Warden, with the approval of the
Executive Council punI at eyIiiip3l 4jn4.iftf
NJ The appropriations made in 1876 foFGthe ad-
ditional penitentiary were used for the purpose
contemplated so far as needed The railroad
track has been extended, ID warden's house
built, an apartment fixed up for hospital purpos-
es, and the work of construction continued.
The Executive Council, acting under authority
conferred by chapter forty, Of the Acts Of the
sentenced to the penitentiary by the courts of
the. eighth, ninth, tenth and twelfth Judicial
districts, and the eventh-except the county Of
Muscatine- should be taken to the Additional
Penitentiary. The number of convicts increas-
ed in the two years from sixtyseven to 14S.
the request made by the warden, that the, new
cell houses, of which the foundation has been
laid, and for which large quantity Of stone
has been prepared. to be fastened to compile
ton; and the warden's suggestion that the
roof be made Of iron and slate, instead Of wood
deed, ] believe 1t would be well that single
roofs be not permitted on any structures be-
longing to the State. The prison wall is another
object OF prime importance, and cannot be too
soon completed. The quarry now owned by the
State appears to be comparatively valueless,
other one, at which the convicts have done
some work, and the construction OF 9 railroad
thereto. The latter I cannot recommend until
more is known Of the quarry. A wagon road
will do for present purposes, and u the desired
stone Is found to be present in sufficient guam
titles, the railroad can be constructed after
~, The statute allowing communication TO prison
ers at this penitentiary needs revision. AT
present, DIM mutton Of time is earned BY value
Of labor formed. In the condition the prif-
a nse9 eo e sets hess pne se
disposed, r. d. $4g0 worth Of work within
year on any, reasonable estimate OF the value Of
days labor For the present, st least, think
It you'd be well to permit prisoners at Anamo-
50 70 earn :! dini3ntion BY good conduct, the
na pa SoE for pa1 Of as
however, be, retained with advantage. This
rule Of the Code was at one time Thought ar-
plcable to this prison, and cOnvicts were cred
tied with the same diminntion as at Fort Mad
ison, and discharged at the end Of their short
tice, I obtained the opinion, Of the attorney
general thereon, which entirely conceded with
nv own views-that the Communication law of
the older penitentiary was not applicable here.
| thereupon notified the warden, on May 18th
last. to make no further discharges from the
Additional Penitentiary except upon executive
order; but would grant such discharges to all
prisoners for diminution earned prior to that
date. and for full time to all transferred from
Fort Madison. have accordingly issued par
dons to sixty-eight of the prisoners at Ananc-
sa, to take effect at the end of their respective
terms thus diminished 4...
During the two years, three Investigations
were had of the management of this prison,
two of them having reference to the term of
the former warden, and one to the present head
of the institution. None of these developed
any dishonest or corrupt practices in either of
the administrations. ii.'1 9tl ~ -.oa. Z
A further and very rigid examination was
made by the grand jury of Jones county, as
nv predecessor was advised. into Mr.. Warden
Heisey's management, resulting in that gentle
mans complete exoneration. The investigation
necessity OF a change IN one of the subordinate
offices Of the prison, which change was accord
tnglV made, with sanitary effect nor go
p T deem it my duty to recommend . few
amendments IN the statutes governing the pen
itentiaries. | see no reason why the Wsrdens
than the head Of any other institution: The
periodical scramble TOT the position should be
avoided. No one would think Of applying the
rule of periodic service to the presidents 6fthe
University and the Agricultural College, or the
superintendents OF the Orphans Home and
the Reform School, 1t may be said these Off
ces require Of their ineumbents peculiar kind
of experience for their special work. thing
not at all Indispensable in a Warden. q, II we
look upon the latter only asa jailor, this rea-
sOning Is correct; but not otherwise. L can
think of nothing that would, aid 80 much in
;%ont, ho
,--reformat1ry as well as supporting insti
tutionsl-- than to keep them in charge Ofmen
who manifest an aptitude for their work, and
ito make changes in the ineumbency only when
the public interests, require it. e.5. % i31i
suggestion I feel compelled to make,
is that the Warden be appointed by the Coy
-ernOr, with or without the approval OF the Sen
ate, as may seem most advisable, and to hold
office until change shall seem to be demand
ed, l am aware of the delicate ground on
which tread In making such suggestion, but
do 80 with the more freedom because on the
one, hand have sat in the general assembly
for several years, and in that capacity repeat
edly participated in the election OF Warden;
and on the other, being about to leave the
office of Governor, can have no personal
wish to crafty in making the recommends
ton 81 it'W
3 am persuaded from nv observation and ex
perience In both positions, that . proper selec
ton of the person required for the responsible
office of Warden can better be made BY the
Executive, enabled as he is by his position. to
realize what ia required Of such an officer than
by large number Of persons coming together
for 2 short time, and knowing of what Is need
ed only by the prison reports and by what they
may incidentally learn otherwise. would also
recommend that the salary of the Warden be
increased, and that all allowances and perQuis-
ties other than q residence be cut of; and
further that nothing purchased for theause Of
bo vri,opo ahall at any time furnish uernuia-
ties for any person connected Herewith. .o,t
avn THE INSANE. -; -,,,.'
The appropriations made at the last session
of the general assembly for improvements at
the Mt Pleasant Hospital were partially used
s fet the sss se spppqpea s
sub-basement We're not used, Che amount be-
ing insufficient to accomplish the object, and
1t was thought better TO delay the connnepef-
ment Of the work rather than it, completion