Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-07-23
THE COUNTY PRISON.


The alleged Sc Bad housekeeping and had
by the County Commiaaaeners.
At a meeting Of the board of county
commissioners held this morning, the FOL
lowing preamble and resolution were adopt.
ed:
WHEREAS, The act of Assembly of 1850
p. l.. p. 81, Sec. 8, in reference to the ex-
penses of the Lancaster cOu nty prison,
provides that
For the funds necessary for keeping,
finding and maintaining said prison the
inspectors shall apply to the commissioners
of said county, and If it shall appear to
said commissioners that the sum applied
for is reasonable, and and the accounts OF
the said inspectors are properly kept and
adjusted, the commissioners shall draw
their order on the county treasurer in
favor of the treasurer of said prison for
such sum as shall benecessary, &C.; and,
WHEREAS, In the last annual report of
the auditors Of said board of prison III
spec ors, they say d" In examining the ac-
accounts of the treasurers of the board
of prison inspectors of Lancaster
county we discover that these trcasurers
did not charge themselves with all the
money received from the county commits
soners and prison keeper" &c. That
sometimes more money is drawn from the
county tlan is necessary in order that the
keeper may have funds on hand for cigars,
"The difficulty seems to be lack OF a
stamps" &c.
proper system of accounting between the
prison keeper and the board of prison
INSPECTORS. That the prison keeper with
the power of disposing of the large quan-
tity of goods manufactured by inmates
should fall SO far behind the necessary
funds as to require the inspectors to leave
balances in his hands for which
they are charged by the county treasurer
and directly responsible to him. argues
system of housekeeping which reflects on
all parties connected with this institution,
destroys the system of checks and vouch-
ers by which alone the people can be pro-
tected, and leaves loop hole from which
to escape the closest scrutiny of the ac-
counting officers.
The auditors cannot too strongly advert
to the loose manner of accounting which at
present exists in prison circles, especially
the freedom with which the treasurcrs OF
that institution pass over the items which
should fOrtify their accounts, aud deal
only in balances which the public when
those accounts are filed for inspection,
have no more means of verifying than If
no accounts had been filed"
AND WHEREAS, BY the report OF the
proceedings of this July QSSW meeting
of said board of prison inspectors, it ap-
pears that the cash book of said prison
containing certain cash accounts was miss
ing. by which the inspectors are prevented
from collecting outstanding bills, and can
not tell who has been paid and who has
not. Now. therefore,
Resolced by the board of commissioners
of Lancaster county, that while we do not
wish to throw any impediment in the way
of the board of prison inspectors in
their prompt and efficient perform
ance OF duty, yet in face of the
| above reports and in recognition of
our duty under the law as above cited, we
do hereby request the said board of prison
inspectors at the time of applying for fur
ther funds for the expenses of said prison,
that they exhibit to us such accounts,
books and reports as may he necessary te
satisfy this board that the amounts de-
manded are reasonable and that tho &C.
counts of said inspectors are properly KEEP
and adjusted as required by law.
| G. COBLE, President.
ISAAC BUSHONG,
ROBERT MONTGOMERY.
Commissioners.