Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-03-07

The F6NttG N sse>ses
rhe legislative 1nvestigatiag Connatsee
1aalpes IT'S RePorts
roprx. Kan. Feb 26-The joint come
nittee amounted to investigate the aHaise
OF the penitentiery reported yesterday
The report is quite lengthy, the mann
points of which are as follows.
C. BUCKLEY and d. J. Keller. or Leaven-
worth, and J. A. Lopez. Of Atchison, oelne "
sirous of controlling the entire output "a me
penitentiary coal mine with the srnaiies. 49, -.
Bile outlay. during the fall and cary winsS -.-,-
with other persons entered into cohsp.eSy
for the purpose Of accomplishing TINS oo9eo'.
II Is claimed that contract was soon execueoN
IN writing whereby the persons were 20 sne.o
equally In the profits that were expected 70
crue and that. among the stipulaiions OF TINS
contract, the directors and other parties Were
70 be taken caro- Of" The business proved 70
1t the suggestion OF Leutwiler. aided by the
able counsel OF Philip Krohn. Edward A Churcn
was induced to take an interest n the business.
Philip Krohn received 800 for his services In
accomplishing this deal the idence touching
the payment thereof being conflicting only aS
TO the purpose for which it was paid No as
signment OF the Lopez contract was ever maae
to Barnes, the 100 was never repaid to him.
and no demand was ever made for its repay
ment but as q matter OF (. ct, Barnes there
after received the nitro surplus output of the
penitentiary mine under his original contract
for 900 bushels per month
crimi al collision between the directors OF the
penitentiary and D. N. Barnes by which they
were to share in profits Of the coal business,
he certainly obtained extraordinary advantages
to which he was not entitled under his con-
tract.
The committee says that while the repre-
hensible and unlawful intrfgues Gin coal con-
tracts) were in progress the evidence did not
warrant the committee in finding that any
State ofdcer, any Official connected with the
State penitentiary, knew of, sympathized WITH
profited by expected to profit from the dis
honest and indefensible purposes OF those VINO
had conspired TO secure control Of the peniten-
uary coal, and that while Director Hiatt almost
daily met at least two of the conspirators (his
home being In Leavenwofth), it would be un-
Just to conclude from the testimony presented
that he ever consented to become q party to
their plans and purposes.
The committee finds from the evidence that
integrity OF Director Richter none were shown
to have any substantial foundation in fact and
the committee feels bound, as an act OF common
justice, to wholly exonerate him from the
charges referred to-"
The committee finds that various sums arc
due the State from certain parties for labor
performed and recommends that suit be com-
menced to enforce payment and that no more
debts OF a like character should be created
There is no testimony whatever to show that
Warden John 81. Smith had any knowledge OF
the existence OF any conspiracy to obtain con-
troll Of the coal output OF the penitentiary mine,
practices in relation thereto. The committee
also finds, not only from the testimony, but
from careful inspection of the departments OF
the penitentiary and the manner in which it's
AFFAIRS have been managed under his admins
tration- that there has been neither neglect OF
duty, lack OF ability, nor bad management on
his part
It is shown that r. c. Buckley now owes the
State something over q, o as balance due on
his coal contract and that he refuses to pay the
same. It is also shown that j. A. Lopez owes
the State over $500 n a similar account
The committee finds that in letting the con-
tracts for supplying the penitentiary with -four,
beef, lumber and other supplies the Warden
and directors only exercised proper and Reces-
sary precautions and there is nothing to show
that there has been dishonesty, unfairnass
favoritism on the part of the penitentiary Of
fcials in come ton with the same.
Charges OF fraud dishonesty and mismanage-
the penitentiary in reference to the manner
which the appropriation of Sc, 900 by the Legis-
lature for the purchase Of an electric light
expended. The committee finds that these
charges are unfounded.
The present method of suppl ing the State
Institutions with coal is faulty in the extreme.
There are absolutely checks safeguards
thrown around it whatever.
The committee feel justified in recommend
ing that no resident citizen of Leavenworth
County should hereafter be appointed to the
ONCE OF warden or director of the penltentiary.
The committee then make certain recommen-
dations that the Governor should have power
to order special investigations during the recess
the institutions OF the State.