The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-10-20
THE DEER LODGE rExIrEsrIARY.

| not those sentenced for offenses against
Territorial laws. To this view Congress
has rigidly adhered. Mr.. Clagett. . Dser
Lodge man, when In Congress made stren-
uous effort TO secure an appropriation TO
enlarge the penitentiary, but failed. He
| was met in committee with the objection
that the penitentiary was large enough to
accommodate all Federal prisoners tthere
were but three such prisoners at that time)
and that the Territory must build its own
pe1itentiary, just as IL builds lis own jails.
Mr.. Maginnis has repeatedly endeavored TO
secure al appropriation for such purpose,
but like Mr.. Claggett, has failed, and for the
same reason, viz, that the penitentiary Is
large enough to answer the requirements OF
the Government, and the Territory must
provide for Its own prisoners. This The
| Territory should do. II Is useless, after
seventeen years of effort, 10 waste further
time In asking Of Congress wha. we are able
TO do ourselves. -Independent, October II.
The surprise of our intelligent contempo-
rary cannot exceed ours at Ito ms-quotstion.
We distinctly stated that our censure of
Delegate Maginnis In this matter was not
because he did not secure the enlargement
of the psnitentiary, but because be did not
| try TO secure It. That is the charge, and If
Delegate Maginnis can show that during
the past two years he ever made an effort In
that direction we will withdraw the charge.
This complaint is not made especially forp o-
liticai effect. We, as we'll as other Journal
lists, have repeatedly referred to the made
quacy of the prison and asked his efforts
VIXEN no campaign was on, and he has as
rapno adv Hapa mt hiru ahnuf Nat nj
that, but petitions have gone up from FEEDER
oil officers; Uni, ed States Grand Juries in this
district have again aud again inplJred that
the outrage Of combining two or three prison.
ers in the limited room provided for one be
remedied. Delegate Maginnis did not even
respond. Again, session after session of The
Legislature of Montana, even as late as the
Twelfth session, has menorialized Congress
and furnished Delegate Maginnis with
certified copy asking that the Montana peni-
Tertiary be enlarged and improved, aud he
did nothing-we do not believe he tried to
do anything. We hold him responsible for
continuous omission of a duty year after
year, despite the solicitations and entreaties
of every influential agency In the Territory
whose province IL was 10 agitate this matter
He has turned deaf ear TO all. This was
not right. II was not what constituents had
a right to expect from a delegate. Their
place TO rebuke such treatment Is at the
polls.
The Independent does not fairly put the
case In emitting 1t 1.-THE Deer Lodge Peni-
tertiary" any more than 1t would be fair to
say "The Helena Legislature" or the "Hel-
| ena Supreme Court" The penitentiary Is
located here, but 1t belongs to the United
States and is used for all Territorial con.
victs. Perhaps the Independent did not
design to convey the idea that this Is local
matter: but its title carries that construction.
The statement that the United States gov.
eminent only proposes to care for Its own
prisoners, or TO provide prison for them, is
not sustained by the facts. The United
States asked that certain grounds In MoD-
tana be decided to 1t for the purpose of erect
Ing penitentiary. Montana selected the
site here and several blocks Of ground were
decided to 1t for that purpose. The plans
and specifications were drawn and approved
by the United States authorities for such
building. Only one wing, about one-third,
of that building has been built, and that is
still incomplete. The money to construct
this wing was taken from the Revenues paid
by Montana. When the sum diverted was
expended there were fourteen cells. The
Independent says that In 1872 there were but
three United States prisoners. And yet in
1872 or 1878 the United States appropriated
direct 5000 10 build fourteen more cells,
showing that it did propose to care for other
than United States prisoners. 1t also en-
tered into contract by the Attorney Gener-
al to keep for specified sum per diem the
convicts of the Territory and q contract to
that purpose still exists and the prisoners
are supposed to be SO imprisoned, although
as matter of fact large number Of them
are necessarily kept in out buildings within
the enclosure, while the unfinished building
remains a sightless, Inadequate, and one
third fulfillment Of the original project. The
inference is, and the facts are, that the gen.
eral government did intend 10 erect peni-
Tertiary, but that the matter has gone by de-
fault. The independents excuse for Dele.
gate Maginns is not good, and 1t Is entitled
TO credit for the remarkable discovery that
what United States grand juries, and judges,
aud the legislature OF Montana and the pub
lie press has been demanding for years In the
name of justice and humanity Is something
that the United States does not do, but which
the Territory must do.
Our neighbor asserts that the territory should
erect the penitentiary for territorial convicts.
So! Is not this ssthe cat In the meal tub?''
And the expenditure Of $4,000 or $4,000
which IL would cost the Territoryto erect an
adequate building might be expended at
Helena. five recollect Alright, the indie.
pendent recently agitated the project Of erect
ing public buildings for the Federal officers
also ut Helena, and vouched Il the efforts
OF Major Maginnis to secure an appropriation
of 100000 therefor. Now, 1t 10 not the
policy OF the Government, and has not been
for twenty years, TO appropriate for capitol
buildings, yet 1t was trusted Delegate Ma
ginnis could secure suspension of this rule
TO procure money TO erect United State,
capitol buildings In Helena. BY this rule
what the United States proposed and started
: out to do 1t cannot do, but what 1t does mo-
propose ~ do, can be done II Delegate Ma
ginnis gives his attention 70 1t. We woult
like TO see some of bis oinnipotence exer
cised In this penitentiary matter. IL isshane
full that three conyicts should be hsrded II
quarters only adequate for. one, and 1t 10 no
!, less shameful that this should result In doz
ems OF convicts being turned loose when bu
small portion Of their sentences has beer
served, that place may be made for new ones
or their return. II ID chivalric for the hide
pendent 70 defend Its candidate, but his neg
! lect to attempt TO right the wrongs now ex
isting and that have been existing for year