The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-21
A PENTTENTTARY SCANDAL
IN WHICH THE PEOPLE OF mis-
SISSIPPI ARE INTERESTED.
The Recent Report by a Committee
of the Senate Rejecting on
the Governor.
lcoRREsroSOKSoE ov THE APPEAL.

CORRESPONDENTS ON Tx AffkAL.I
JACKSON, Miss, February 20.-The
Committee on the Penitentiary made
a report TO the Senate yesterday,
which, to say the least of it, cont aims
many serious reflections on the Gov.
ernor, Superintendent of the Peniten-
tiary and the lessees OF the Peniten-
tiary. The report by implication
charges the Governor of the Peniten-
tiary with gross official delinquency
in the execution of the law. 1t does
not formulate the charge in language,
but it states facts from which no other
conclusion can be drawn.
The committee are Senators Boon,
Powell, Morris, Binford and Casey.
They were instructed by resolution of
the Senate to report under what con-
tracts certain repairs and improve
ments were made on the penitentiary
for the last two years; what amount
was due from the lessees to the State,
and the management of the Peniten-
tiary, etc. The committee in their re-
port tell a plain, unvarnished tale,
point out the law, state the facts and
leave the Senate to dIaw conclusions.
From the report on the first day OF
January, 1884, the lessees of the peni-
Tertiary were indebted to the State
$39,420 on the lease for the
year 1888. The Legislature Of 1884
passed law directing the Governor to
notify the Attorney General to bring
suit against the lessees Of the peniten.
tiary and security on their bond II the
rent was not paid when due. 1t seems
that no action was taken by the Gov
ernor on this statute. But in Deem
Der, 1884, the Governor bad settle
ment with the lessees and gave them
credit for improvements and repairs
amounting to $27, 4l9 80, which was
credited on the amount due from the
lessees for the year 1888. And at the
time the credit was given the work
was not done. The report states that
these improvements and repairs were
unauthorized by law and recitss the
law 70 sustain them. The committee
further state that the prices charged
the State, according to the sworn state
ment OF an architect, were more than
double what the State should have
paid. 1t further appears from the re-
port that on the first day of January,
1885, the lessees owed the State
for rent Of the penitentiary for
the year 1884 the sum OF $50, 420.
No action is taken by Governor,
though the statute directs him to
bring suit for his money II not paid
when due. The report further shows
that on the 10th OF December, 1885,
the Governor again made settlement
with the leases OF the penitentiary aud
gave them credit for $27 ,4l9 AZ, and
the same was credited on the amount
due from the lessees for the year 1884.
The committee reports that more thsn
$4,000 OF the Improvements which
the lessees got credit for in the last
settlement had not been made. To
use the expressive language OF the
committee, they cay not lick has
been struck up to this time. The COM
mittee also report that other improve
mentI were allowed at more than
double what they should have cost The
State. The committee report that
these improvements and repairs are
made without the authority of law.
The committee report that the
rent due to the State for the
penitentiary, amounting to $39,420
for the year 1885 is past due,
and has not been paid. The commit
tee further report that life convicts in
the penitentiary are permitted to
walk about the streets Of Jackson in
citizens clothes, apparently as free as
any one. They were seen hurrying
back to the wa Is to answer roll-call in
the morning before daylight. Oolored
convicts went to places Of amusement,
raised difficulties, etc.
The report was listened to by the
Senate with profound attention, and
500 copies were ordered printed. A
Senator avole in his seat and said the
report contained grave charges against
the Governor and Superintendent Of
the Penitentiary. He hoped the com.
mittee ia mistaken. The committee
stand az high as any men in the Sem
ate. The Local press here this morn
ing had not a wo d to say upon the
subject OF the report. Can they afford
to pass it without comment? or will
they let the people OF Mississippi know
what is going on At the capitol
TRUTH.