The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-03
INDIANA PENITENTIARIEs.
Hon. Jacob Covert on the Evils of the Contract
Systematic Payors Its AbOlishmsnt.

- cAoif man Oh y ,ccD nltteo 10 uoslco PAone W
which our penal institutions might be improved.
was interviewed BY reporter of the Evansville
Journal and outlines the result of the commit
tees investigations oaHe says ''The committee
to which yeu refer was appointed on the last
day Of the late session. and was empowered to
visit the penal institutions Of the several States
and examine their conditions, reports, etc. with
. view, if possible. Of utilizing our convict labor
without bringing it in composition with free, le-
climate labor. Tho committee is composed Ok
Messrs. William Morse and John Schley, of In
diapapolis. and myself. No appropriation hav-
ing been made for travelling and other expenses.
the committee decided TO do tho largest part OF
the work by espodence, and reports have
been received from number Of prisons which
has materially aided u.s. Sufic lent has already
been learned TO assure. us that a better system
can be employed than the present ONE
After discussing tho Disadvantages Of the
contract system now IN force, and showing the
injury it does to many small industries. Mr..
eat States render it impossible for all to adopt
q uniform system, but he thinks that Indiana
possesses natural ADVANTAGES that would make
it possible 10 discontinue the contract system.
He then suggests his plan for a reform IN the
matter. and suggests that this will probably be
recommended In the committees report He
says: Fe
"Our twotprisons. the northern, located near
Chicago, and the southern, under the shadow
OF Louisville, give those two cities all the bsne-
hts to be derived from them. and so lone as
they remain so situated. just so long will they
be controlled by the influence of the political
and money power of these two cities 1t is
notorious fact that for years the prison commit
tees sent to investigate the institutions were
received by the warden an his friends. 1.-THE
contractors and friends from across the river)
driven hurriedly TO the prison and marched as
rapidly as possible through the several depars
ments, which were scrubbed, whitewashcd and
decorated for the OCCASION and then were taken
to Louisville. CHARTERED at frst-class hotel,
and after supper taken to the theatre and after
that the elephant in all his grandeur was sx-
hibited. These expenses were always PROVIDED
for and, IL is said, the cost must surely exceed
the entire salary Of the warden. The question
naturally arises. who pays these expensesf
Rumor and inference say it was all due to the
hberality of contractors who furnish Supplies at
extravxgant prices. The next day after de-
bauch OF this character. prison committees and
all hands were in such condition that nicely
whitewashed report was made of the superb
condition of the prison and its management
"The recent House committee sent there re-
fused to be the guests of Louisve's hospitali-
ties, but stopped at a modest hotel in Jefferson
Vile. and proceeded in . busines-like way in the
discharge of their duty. What was the RESULT
Read the report of the committee and you will
no doubt be Disguised at the rottenness I'M
earthed- Mr.. j. B. Patton, the present warden,
was q member Of that committee and entered
heart and soul into the work of ferreting out the
corruption. No such state or affairs can exist
under Warden Patton's administration. as he Is
honest, capable and tho right mau in the right
place.
''Kentucky's metropolis has, in large degree,
run the southern prison for its own benefit; our
officers have beer tempered with and oribed IN
the interest OF nonresidcnts of the State; 'legs-
lative committees have been feted and blinded
into making favorable reports aud it is suggest
i've. to say the least that the directors have not
given the proper attention to the institution as
would make it inure to the benefit Of Indiana.
For these and many other reasons. am opposed
to the present location OF our prisons, aud
would favor q consolidation Of the two
and their removal TO . moro ceptral posi-
ton. My preference for . site would be
in the neiehborhood Of Bedford, In Lawrence
county would suggest that tho State acquire
land selecting site among the unsurpassed
stone quarries OF that county, erect good sub
stantial buildings. Workshop and stockades.
would employ such of the convicts as were ia
miliar with woodwork in the construction and
manufacture of school furniture, and such other
supplies in that line as is consumed or used by
the public schools or by tho State and county
officers, the same to be supplied TO the several
township trustees or County Commissioners at
o low, uniform rate. This would completely
shut off all avenues OF jobbery with these
officials and thereby lessen the occasional exc
dus to Canada. When it 10 taken into consider
alton that we have 9,S6l school buildings in the
State to be annually replenished or completely
furnished, it must be apparent to everyone that
. very large amount would thus be saved to tho
taxpayers that would otherwise 20 to fatteu
the purses of the contractors from other States
for the furnishing Of such supplies, and place
check upon the pernicious habit of snbsdizing
the peoples servants who are now delegated to
make such purchases. do not pretend to say
that 90 far as this particular feature 10 con-
cerned 1t will be entirely free from conflict with
free labor, but the result will DO . benefit and
saving to the State and to the taxpayers whose
wrongs we need to right.
'Another department could be employed in
the manufacture of such articles OF clothing and
furnishing supplies az are needed by the several
State institutions-the reformatories for women.
girls and bows, the four insane hospitals and the
county asylums, which annually consume 3 vast
amount, purchased at extravagant prices as COM
pared to those at which the State could furnish
the same by the means indicated.
1.-The largest portion of the convicts could be
used on the stockades in qusrrying and breaking
tions for public buildings. etc. Indiana is noted
for its poor highways. and believe am safe IN
saying that enough labor and money has been
expended on them in the past thirty years to
have improved them somewhat yet they are in
nearly the same condition now then Road
supervisors have not gotten out of the old
routine way of the pioneers and seem to think
| all that Is necessary Is to plow on either side
| and shovel to the center the loose dirt, to be
washed back into its old position by each subse-
| quent rain So long as this style Of improve
mert is permitted to exist. SO long will we live
in the primitive days, 80 far as the improvement
| of highways is concerned
''The stone broken by the convicts should be
furnished to the several! counties of the State,
| or to city governments, at the cost of produc-
ton. Each county could send in its requisition
| for as many car-loards as needed each year, d.
| viding the amount pro rata among the different
| townships according to the amount of road tax
paid by each, and the same judiciously applied
| would. in few years, give us passsble roads at
| all seasons Of the year. and in time our high
ways would be equal. if not superior. to those OF
any State In the Union and at a nominal cost
| to the counties as compared to any other mode
| OF improvements. In order to guarantee its sue
cess it might De necessarysto repeal the present
existing road laws and require. by enactment of
| o new law, that road or poll tax should be paid
| In cash, and not allow the option Of working it
| ont on the roads, as at present And the matter
| of supervision should be placed in the hands OF
| practical, competent men, who would see that
| the improvements, however small should be
| substantial.
| Another means OF employment for convicts,
| especially il the northern prison must be main
| tanned would be TO uss them in the ditchng Of
| the swamp or waste lands of the northern por-
| ton of the State, Of which there are thousands
of acres lying idle, aud Of course returning no
| revenue from taxation. Asystematic course of
| ditching would soon bring these swamp lands
| into market for farming purposes, from which
/ . great annual revenue wonld be derived from
| taxation. The lands so improved could be
assessed by the State their proportion in accord
/ auce with the bsne fits which accrue by such i'm
/ Rat 4 a.. Il. -.