Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-31
ECONOMY IS THE CRY.
Closer Supervision of State
Funds is Needed
FOR PRISON AND CHARITY.
A Legislative Committee Visits River
side and DiXmont.
CHANGES In THE LAWS TO Be MADE

After the last Senatorial investigation oi
the Western Penitentiary, through the ef.
forts of Senator McAleer, of Philadelphia,
a Senate and House committee was ap.
pointed to take its leisure between the ses
sions and make thorough investigation o
all the institutions in Pennsylvania receiv'
ing State aid, both penal and charitable
That committee was called the Legislative
Committee on Charities and Correction, and
ever since its appointment it has been doing
some work. Senator Reyburn was made
Chairman, and with him on the committee
were Senators McAleer and Mylin and Rep.
resentatives James L. Graham, Robert r.
Dearden and James W. Walk, of Philadel.
phia, and A. A. Clay.
Representatives Dearden and DR., Walk
have been in Pittsburg for several days
Day before yesterday they spent at the pen.
itentiary, and Decoration Day was put in
at DiImont.
MANY IDEAS GAINED.
Mr.. Dearden returned home last evening,
but DR.. Walk is still here. Both gentle
men said they had many ideas and opinions,
but none to express just now. They were
not willing to talk until all the details had
been considered BY the committee as a whole.
Warden Wright and Superintendent Nc
Claughrey, of the Huntingdon Reformatory,
called on the part of the committee repre-
sented yesterday, bat not much was done.
Both gentlemen volunteered all the informa-
tion they could give. Mr.. McClaughrey
said the committee had not yet been at
Huntingdon, but he hoped to soon see them
there. He acts on the principle that pub
lie institution should be so conducted that
there need be nothing to conceal. The COM
mittee refused to say individually what they
thought of the penitentiary, but Warden
Wright SAID they had expressed themselves
as well pleased with the institution and its
management.
At the time of the last Senatorial visit to
Pittsburg Senators McAleer and Reyburn
were much impressed with the diversity Of
methods pursued in the management of the
various penal and charitable places in the
State, and Senator McAleer. in particular,
came to the conclusion that some money
could be saved, 50 this committee was ap-
pointed.
PURPOSES OF THE COMMITTEE.
Hon. James L. Graham said yesterday:
"This committee on charities and correction
was formed for the purpose of looking into
the control of all the institutions in the
State supported entirely or partially by
public funds. The object is to establish a
more uniform system of keeping the books,
10 see if similar institutions cannot be man.
aged on the same plan and attempt to run
them on a more economic basis. 1 do not
mean to say by the latter statement that any
ofthe funds so far expended either for char
ity or to restrain criminals have been wasted.
think that most of the State institu-
tions have been well managed, but
every man seems to have his own plan and
method. At present money is appropriated
on the recommendation of the State Board
of Charities.
"When this committee finishes its work q
bill will be reported to the Legislature The
Board of Charities will not be abolished, but
1t is possible that board of examiners will
be appointed to look after the needs of these
establishments. What changes will be
made in the plan of managing the penal and
charitable institutions has not yet been de-
decided, and my private views 1 am not at
liberty to express.
HAD BEEN THERE BEFORE.
81 did not go to the penitentiary or to
Dixmont with Mr.. Dearden and DIR. Walk
1 have been in both of them so often that 1
think I know ali about them. This COM
mittee is not to confine itself alone to Penn
sylvania, but is expected to visit other
States in search Conformation. Some OF us
spent 4 week in Washington not
long since examining the Soldiers Home,
the Insane Asylum there and the
House of Refuge. The colored
element appeared to predominant in the
last two mentioned. We found the Soldiers
Home with its 800 acres a magnificent in
stitution, and we learned a number of
things that will help us in framing the
bill
"Another week was spent in Baltimore at
the convention OF the Association on Prison
and Charities. / must confess that l never
saw such a large number of intelligent
ladies and men attending any congress. A
number OF valuable papers were read on
various matters connected with the manage
ment OF both penal and charitable institu-
Uions The proceedings of the convention
will be published later in vol
ume that will contain 900 pages.
WILL VISIT OTHER STATES.
'fOf course, we will 60 into other States
in search of information. For example, To
show you how much interest is taken in this
subject, we have been invited to Wisconsin
10 look into the cottage system of caring for
the insane. Ihey oner 10 pay our expenses
while there it we come. In this State we
are in the habit of herding the insane in
large buildings. The Wisconsin people
make great claims for their system, and the
chances are that the committee will 60 out
there"
Senator McAleer is q Philadelphia Dem
ocrat, and has been so busy of late with
business and politics that he cohld not come
on this visit. At the penitentiarY investi
cation he asked many searching questions
about the method of drawing and paying
bills, and what record was kept of funds
appropriated and expended. He took e1-
ception to some of the plans pursued in
ordering and paying for supplies, and he
then suggested that it would be well to
have a uniform system of keeping accounts,
etc., ali over the State, SO that il could be
impossible almost for State funds 10 60
o.t, az ,rithnut disnnvarinn the loss