The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-30

tracts-Lack of Discipline.
To The Editor Of The IntsLligsaeer:
Sm:-Referring to the article on the
penitentiary in last Fridays RegiIter,
the public had reason to expect de-
Tense of the management of the prison,
and that the Register should make an
effort in that direction was eminently
just and proper: the defense, however,
would have been much more worthy OF
the return fire OF the opposition had it
been confined, in the statements made,
TO matters of truth and veraCity instead
of, in a great measure, takingan entirely
opposite course.
The statement "that every act OF in
subordination is quickly and rigidly
punished" is easily refuted by the re-
cords OF the institution which will, We
believe, show that the majority of the
cases OF rigid punishment" are those
where the report originated from some
violation OF the rules not connected
with the work in the shops, and that
"rigid punishment" us regards contrac-
tors reports, consists in some trivial in
iringcment OF the convict's privileges, or
is covered by the words "reprimanded
and sent back"
1t is affirmed regarding the Wagon
Company's blacksmith shop that "a new
man has been put on the Welding work
lately and great portion OF the loss
there results from his inexperience,"
while the facts are that the man referred
to has been welding tires for the past
five months and was an apprentice there
for some months previous to his being
nut in charge Of the force. Some OF his
bad work at the beginning was, OF
course, due to his inexperience, while
the great portion" OF it is attributable
solely to negligence and his having no
fear Of, or regard for the consequences
OF his neglect.
There is now on hand at the shop
some four or five tons OF burnt, warped
and misflt tires, the result Of his work for
the past four or five months, to say
nothing OF the ll,l9l pounds on hand
July /, 1887, spoiled by convict William
Smith, man who was an old hand and
had been in the shop some six or eight
wears. the result OF his carelessness dur
| Ing the months OF April, May and June,
1887, and five or six tons that he alter
ward ruined before his term expired,
this without reference to the vast mum.
her OF wheel woods burnt and broken
nm by the same men during the same
time. Again, it is asserted that "the
grard in the blacksmith shop made sim
| liar statements and the Wagon Company
did not suffer any considerable loss from
poor or careless work, " all OF which APP
pcars to be pure fabrication, as the
guard declined to express IN opinion.
10 quote further, Sin shops No. and 8
Of the Wagon Company little or no cause
for complaint was reported" the state
ments Of the shop guards being the
basis for this assertion in both cases, one
of whom was in the shop where inter-
viewed for the first time, and had been
there less than thirty days, and the other
had been at his post less than ninety
DAYS, and that not consecutiyely.
The statements attributed to the fore
man OF the paint shop are equally wide
of the truth, it being notorious TACT thai
there is more cause for complaint oi
shiitlessness and imperfect work in that
department than In any other two OF the
conpanv's shops taken together, the
damaging results Of which appear II
their true light when they are Obliged
10 nut their goods on exhibition along
side those OF their competitors.
II is also to be observed that the opin
ion OF ian intelligent and capable con
yict" was thrown in, confirming the
other testimony and with the evident
intention OF giving weight and dignlt!
to the whole.
Then it is argued "that there are tewel
reports now Of bad work, short work
&c. &c, than under Superintendent
Peck" and we infer from the argumen
that This is the result OF the inyinciblI
devotion to duty and inhexible purpos'
OF the management not "to be run b!
the contractors.r What is the truth
Simply this: The contractors only safe
ty is in keeping the good will OF the con
yict.
There is little use in reporting convict
for short work, bad work, impudenc
or carelessness to have them meet yol
on returning with such declarations a
mo use for you to report me, captain
Johnson don't like you no how"
+ Had the guards done their sworn dnt
= Il IL safe to say there would have bee
ten reports on record now where one &C
ually exists, ipI infraCtions Of the rule
during the past year or more.
The testimony OF the guards Is easil
!, analyzed. They depend on the managt
ment for their bread AID meat" the
are here one month and there anothe
and we believe II is competent stat
:. ment that nine-tenthsof them have aboI
as little knowledge OF the quality Of II
r work in the shops or Of what constitute
p "a reasonable days work" in any Of Il
!, departments as cat has Of the New Test