The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-09-29
Last Nights Dispatches.
a Rousing Democratic Rally at Psotone,


PEoToNE. ILL.,. Sept. 25 The largest
political meeting over held in Peotone
took place to night A uniformed torch
parar6ed the principal streets, led by tho
Manteno Cornet band. Quite a large
delegation from Manteno handsomely
uniformed. were in the procession. After
the parade Fred Bennett opened By short
and well-worded address 10 favor Of Gen
Hancock. Hon ID. II. Pinney, of Joliet
then spoke for an hour and half 10 an
enthusiastic crowd, estimated at fifteen
hundred pople. Hrs speech was admitted
on all sides to be the ablest and most
candid ever delivered 10 Peotoue. In re-
terring to state affairs Mr. Pinney said it
was not necessary to 60 to Jacksonville to
lind extravigance and was Of the peoples
money. He referred to our little one
horse canal, with q half-dozen boats
passing each way during the day, with
its dozen ohceholders to manage it when
one good man could do tho whole business
He then referred to the state penitentary.
and said its management was .fourfold
worse than it was possible for the cbarit-
able institutions at Jacksonville,to be. He
said fifteen hundred convcts were confined
in that institution, which were leased for
from forty to sixty two cents per day each.
Calling it fifty cents made the receipts
from that source $3.50 per day. while the
expenses OF clothing aud feeding them was
from eleven to thirteen cents per day each
Calling it twelve and half cents each left
balance to the state of 1915 per day.
And vet this large sum was not sufficient
to support the officers who are fed at that
institution. Waste and extravagance can
be the only reason assigned why the peo-
pies money is thus squandered. Not
only have these officers got elegant carri-
ages and horses to draw them about, but
the state is very kind. and furnished them
driver iu the person of a guard. who
draws his $50 per month to drive them
about. Not only are the rooms furnished
elegantly, more elegantly than anything to
be found in the fremont or Palmer house,
but the tables are loaded at all times with
the very best the market affords. No
wonder Long Jones found that pleasant
and convenient place at which to keep his
wife, children. and nurse girl, about one
half of the time while he was commission
er at the prison. The tables are not only
loaded, but the best cigars and the best
whisky are always found there Porter
and ale, IS well as the best of wine and
champagne, are to be found there. And
all this bought and paid for by the peoples
money, and of course the of6cehoiders
there are very much opposed to a change.
He said when member of the legislature
he refused TO sign white washed report
of the committee on peuitentiary and gave
his reasons therefor. The report was
then referred back to a sub committee of
three. of which he (Pinney) was one. and
they sent for the book keeper of the prison
to visit Springfield. The book keeper
came. and produced bill after bin of
whiskey, wine. ale. champagne, and porter
which had been purchased and paid for by
the authorities of that institution with the
money belonging to the people of this
state. One bill, amounting to $l64 so.
which was purchased of keals Il Gray. of
Chicago, consisted of:
a. palionR q rzhiekay 2f2Q co