Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-28


second State prison, we as such committee re-
port as follows: We have visited the prison
at Saltwater, and while we believe there is sui
ficient room to afford accommodation In sucn
prison to all convicts for one or perhaps 1or
more years, we nevertheless fully endorse the
recommendation of the governor in his last
annual message as to the prOpriety OF the
State adopting measures for the location of a
second State prison in new locality. But IN
our opinion it is not for the interest of the
State to further enlarge the prison at saltwater
for the reasons, among others, stated by the
inspectors in their annual report of 1880, in
which they say: If the State chooses to locate
its institutions is such exposed positions as its
State prison now is, surrounded on three sides
by tremendous hills with steep ravines inter-
vening, which during heavy rains gather an
immense torrent of water that has to be con-
fined and controlled to prevent destruction to
the State property, the people must not COM
plain at the heavy expenditures to protect the
same. Located on level land all of this extra
expense would be avoided.
Your committee therefore recommend that
steps be taken by the legislature looking to-
ward selection of a site for such prison.
The report was accepted and placed on file.
| Mr. Collins offered resolution authorizing
the committee to sit after the close of the ses-
sion and receive proposals from the several To-
calities for donations of land, etc , to examine
the sites offered, and report to the governor.
After discussion the resolution was lost Yeas
So; nays 4S.
THE STATE PRISON INVESTIGATION.
| Mr.. Dunn, from the special committee on
| the investigation of the State prison contract,
submitted the following report, which was
| adopted and the committee discharged:
| To the Senate and House of Representatives.
Vor1r v he NOT,c1
luton of the Senate and House adopted February
and 8, 1881, with the investigation of the action Of
and warden OF the State prison In the
matter of the letting Of the contract for the convict
labor to Messrs. Seymour, Sabin Il Co., and also to
inquire to whether the said contract for the
best interest Of the State, and also whether any
| due or improper influences were brought to bear
upon the said warden and inspectors in letting said
contract and also to inquire and report to the
action Of the committee on State prison Of the SEN
ate and House of Representatives in the matter
| would respectfully report:
That in the discharge of their duties they duly met
and organized by choosing Mr.. Dunn, of the House
of Representatives, as chairman, and j. A. ARM
strong, OF the House Of Representatives, secre-
| tary, and appointed s. d. Hillman stenographer.
That they have from time to time proceeded In the
examination of witnesses produced and sworn before
| them as to matter pertinent to such inquiry.
That from the evidence adduced before them
they find the following as conclusions Of fact:
First-That the charge that money was offered to
Messrs Forepaugh Tarbox in any sum whatever
| as an inducement to withdraw their bid and stand
aside and refrain from competing for said convict
labor has foundation in fact, that no money or
other consideration ever offered to said Fore
paugh & Tarbox by Seymour, Sabin 90, or any
other person. as All inducement to them to refrain
| from competing for said labor:
Second-That In letting the contract for said
labor the warden and inspectors advertised duly for
proposals for said labor in seven ~ different States
Of the Union that in response thereto they received
First From J. a. Edward, forty (4O) cents per
day per man for labor, and nothing for rent Of
shops or machinery
Second From Forepaugh Tarbox, 42A cents
per day per man for labor, and 90 year rent
fol machinery.
Third-From Cyrus j. Thompson, 47K cents per
day per man for labor, and $2,010.O0 per year for
That in considering said bids the bid of Cyrus J.
Thompson, being the highest bid, was accepted by
the warden and inspectors, and he duly notified of
of the attorney general the 2Sth day Of January,
1881, and enter into written contract for the due
performance of his bid.
That on the said day the said Thompson and war
den and inspectors met at the attorney generals Of
fee. at which meeting the said Thompson refused to
sign and enter into any such contract as in the opn
ion OF the attorney general and said Prison board
necessary for the safety of the State and for its
interests.
That thereupon the said board Of inspectors duly
rejected all the bids that had been interposed and
that at the request of members Of the said board,
Seymour. sabin Co. proposed to continue IN en-
poyng said labor, and to pay for the same IS cents
per day, and rental Of $l,500 for machinery, and
pirate So 900 for new shops. That the board were
all in favor Of closing contract with said firm at
that price, but objected to the provision of appro-
authorized to so provide. That while the same was
being considered Messrs Forepaugh & Tarbox
made proposition to take said labor and pay there
for 47A cents per day for labor and 5000 for
the board for acticn that being in doubt to which
of the two propositions in fact the best bid in all
respects for the STATE the said board request ed the
the advise Of the committees on State prison from
the Senate and House of Representatives. That &C
cordingly the said committees met the said board
at Saltwater, and after full consideration OF the
NATTER and being fully advised of all the facts con-
corning the actions of the board and of the Lids re-
celved and Of the actions of the bidders Themselves
by unanimous vote recommended the contra ct with
Seymour, Sabin Co., as the same has been made
and which is the same contract printed by vote Of
the House.
Your committee further report that in their opin-
ion the action Of the said inspectors and warden in
letting said contract to Seymour, Sabin Co. was,
and is justified and for the best interests of the Stste
That although In the matters of present money
receipts for said labor and rental the proposition Of
Forepaugh & Tarbox may appear to be the most adj
vantageous, yet that branch of business proposed
to be carried on by the new firm, (manufacture of
which would provoke much hostility by others en-
gagged in that industry, and would tseously compete
with the same to their great detment while the bust
ness of Seymour, Sabin & Co., (the manufacture Of
with no like industry in the State to any material
extent. And further that the valuable machinery is
in the prison, the property of the State, would be
greatly damaged and injured by
being removed, as 1t would be by
changing the industry carried on thereat, and that
in many other respects the proposition of Seymour,
Sabin Go. is the best for the State, all things con-
sidered.
Your committee further report that there Is no
ground for impeaching the official integrity Of the
warden or inspectors of the State prison by reason
Of any action Of theirs growing out of the said
tract and that to the action Of the State prison
committee of the Senate and House Of Represents
ves in the premises in advising the making Of said
contract while we believe their action was in the
best Of faith and for the best interest Of the State
we neither condemn nor endorse the same it being
simply advisory and without force in law.
Your committee beg leave to be discharged from
further consideration in the premises,
ANDREW G. DOM,
A. A.. FLoM,
j. A. ARMSTRONG,
II. E. DoNoHUE,
Of the House Of Representatives.
j. B. GILFILLAN,
RoBT. l.. MCCORMICK,
Of the Senate.
On motion of Mr.. Smith. the report was
adopted and the committee discharged.