Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-09-20
ESTIMATE OF SUPPLIES

upon comparison, 10 De largely IN excess
of the market price. For full particulars
We refer to report marked Exhibit s."
We would suggest that an
ESTIMATE OF SUPPLIES
should be made the first of each month,
and the chairman of the County Court
should go and see where it could be fur
nished st the lowest price and file the
bids, Is is now done by DR.. Duncan at the
Poor-House. The system of keeping the
books at the Work-House is very imper-
feet. The bills rendered for one account
during April, May and June are $I75 AS
lie than warrants issued at the July term.
We wou'd suggest that the superintendent
should keep purchase-book, in which
every bill should be entered at the time it
is made. From tae books OF the institu-
ton we find that it costs the county Sl2 so
per head per month to feed its sixteen
mules, whereas s. per head is full price.
The cost of feeding, clothing and guarding
prisoners we find fully so cents per day
per capita. 1t is difficult
TO FIGURE ACCURATELY
from Superintendsnt's books for lin one
instance) in cur account an omission of
$50 "a is not credited to the merchant, but
charged by him in July and August. There
is no system of checks and balances. We
find that warrants for two and half
months, to the amount of 81 ,33l OIL, have
been issued on account of the Work
House. This is from April 2lst to ami
including July term, but includes no pur-
chases or expenses incurred since July 1st.
We fiud from the stewards roll that 896
pounds of sugar have been bought and
only 71S pounds issued. Butter, PAS
pounds bou2ht and only 141 pounds is
sued. Eggs, 123 dozsn bought and
eighty-six dozen issued; average cost, 10
OILS cents per dozen. Lard, 7S6 pounds
bought and 5SS pounds issued. Yeast
powders, 1872 cans bought and ninety-four
issued. As to extrsvagant prices paid for
goods, we refer to "No. 7" herewith fled,
especially the items of sheeting and coal
oil, which shows from 60 to 66 per cent.
above cash prices. We refer TO exhibit
No. 3, herewith filed, showing biils OF
purchases of provisions and forage, giving
weights,
PRICES AND AMOUNTS
and character of goods. By reference to
Exhibit No. g. it will be seen that the
payroll for Angus. amouLt Is to $3.50. As Will
| be observed, thtre are twelve guards snd
| other employees 10 take care of from forty
| five to fifty prisoners. We think that one-
| half the number could be entirely dis
pHnsed with; that The superintendent
| should be capable of keeping his own ac-
counts aud tim9, and thus relieve the
steward and book-keeper. Superintendent
| Mason reported to us that he had
bought some $40 worth of lumber to re-
| move and put up fence for Dennis Sex
ton, who gave the county four feet by $50
yards of his ground to widen the road,
provided ne (Mason) would move his
| fence back. Sexton agreed to paw back TO
the county this $40 spent tor new lumber
but we find the bill charged to the coun-
/ ty, and has not as yet been paid by Sex
/ ton. We think all such expenditures,
without authority from County Court,
SHOULD BE STOPPED.
In the opiaion OF this jury Justice Ma
son is either incompetent or is neglectful
to an extent that totally incapacitates hin
to fill the position of Superintendent O
the Work-House. We found upon the
prisoners roll ten marked as escaped dur
ing the four months and not accounted
for. The Superintendent afterward fur
nished a statement showing thirty es
capped prisoners, which is filed herewith
We find twenty escaped prisoners Were
thus carried on the rolls. We find tina
the roll is called only twice a week, in
stead of morning and evening.
BY actual count, on the 18th Of Ssptem
Der there were but thirty-six of the fifty
two prisoners on the roll August 31st, anC
balance accounted for by committee re
port marked as Exhibit "Nos. and s.
We find from evidence before us that
| JUTTICE MASON
is in the habit of allowing from six to tel
prisoners to come to town Saturdays ant
stay over Sunday, which accounts in larg
measure for the numerous escapes. Fron
all the information before US we couside
ths Work-House a coed boarding .hous
kept at the expense of Shelby county, pc
litical influence having too much contro
of it. For exhibit of bill of fare see ''No. l.,
which includes many delicacies not oftel
seen in prison. We did not expect t.
find dudes in the Work-House, but in tn
Superintendent's own words he has dude
who will only wear London bsls and Mas
cot ties and low-quartered shoes at $l.7i
See Exhibit 3" herewith filed.