Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-02-25
EXPLODING A BUBBLE.
Solicitor General Bartlett on the Peni-
tentiary Investigation as Con-
Quoted by the 2 quse Com
mitte5n
Unfair and Partisan Statements-A Frank
Explanation That Will Interest
the Reading Public.

tHt htduiHy FupilC.
In response to inquiries, Solicitor Gen
eral Bartlett said to-day:
eyes, have read the report of the in.
vestigating committee conducted by Mr.
Gable, of the house, and the comments Of
the paper which first published it, and
must express my surprise at learning from
it what an important factor l was in the
management OF that institution. Until
this report appeared" continued Gen.
Bartlett, 81 had supposed that | was only
one out of board of three, and that a
majority always governed in such COM
mission. No; was never asked to come
before the investigating committee, and
never knew where or when twas holding
its sessions, although Mr.. Gable spoke to
me several times about the investigation
while it was in progress, in rather joking
way, and once seriously asked my as
sistance in passing the bill which l had
suggested with reference to the change in
the management of the institution. If |
had had any idea of the character of this
report, or the manner of taking testimony,
| should have demanded hearing"
"How about the investigation last June
and your part in it ?''
"The statement that l conducted the
investigation in regard to the scandals
charged against the management of the
penitentlary last June is true. Mr.. Alarid
was excused from sitting at his own re-
quest, as his son was implicated in the
charges, and Mr.. Ortiz asked me to con-
duct the examination of witnesses, as be-
ing more familiar with such matters than
himself. l repeat here what stated in
my report to the governor after conduct
ing the investigation, viz: That in all the
mass of testimony taken there was none
to implicate any officer of the penitentiary
in the scandalous conduct charged. At
my suggestion all the testimony taken
was preserved in the record books
of the commission, where it has
been subject to examination ever
since, and from which this committee
has extracted the scurrillous portion and
ignored what it did not think fitted its
purpose"
"And what about the piano, of which
so much has been said?
'It was at my suggestion that the con-
vict Ada Humes was allowed to rent a
piano at her own expense. She at the
time was the only female convict; was
very nervous and excitable, and there
was absolutely nothing for her to do to
occupy her mind, and had 1t not been for
the piano playing which was her busi-
ness, | firmly believe she would have be-
come raving maniac in two months.
The talk abaut elegant cells" and "lux-
urious dresses" for this convict is simply
untrue; she had books, pictures and
flowers in her room, as many of the male
prisoners had, and kept it neat as many
Of them do"
"And as to letting contracts? the gen.
eral was asked.'
SIN regard to the letting OF contracts, l
was only present on one occasion when
contracts were let in April 1890. did
not belong to the board until after both
contracts for 1889 were let, and was alb
sent on official business when the Oct
ober 1890, contracts were let. At the
letting where | was present, number Of
people received contracts, among
them Brown & Manzanares, of Las We
gas; Grunsfeld, Lindheim & Co., and Abe
Gold, of Santa Fe, and Mr.. Staab who
received the contract for most of the
articles for the reason as stated by one OF
the bidders at the same time, that Mr.. |
Staabs bids was much the lowest and |
he ought to have the contract. About
Mr.. Staab Withdrawing his bids and
bonds after completing the contract l
know nothing except that Mr.. Staab told
me he had done so and had offered to give |
them to Mr.. Gable or any member OF the |
who should call for them, and
in my presence gave them to his book
keeper, with instructions to so deliver
hem. He stated that he wished them as
guides for future bide, and as the contract
was completed there seems no reasonable
objection to his taking them, but
knew nothing of this until two
weeks ago when he told me of it. Bonds
lot required from any of the bidders, as
hey were all well known to the board to
% responsible and reliable men and
he bond would have only been all ex-
oensive formality."
"What is the custom concerning the
citing of contracts?"
"While as l have stated, l was only
present at one letting, yet, l will assert
hat no contract was let except to the
owest and best bidder, perhaps the
solated items given in the report, where
t appears that certain articles were Of
cred at a lower price than they were
AIKEN are correct--or they may be delib-
rate falsehoods like the statement of
hat brick was sold at So per M.-but it
will appear either that the quality offered
vas not so good, or that on the whole bid,
he prices were not as low."
GLOW about the sale of brick ?"
SIN regard to the brick, when 1 came
nto the board found that it had been
elling brick in large quantities at the
minimum rate of SO per thousand without
egard to whether they were to be used
It once, or held to sell again. The board
It once raised the price to $5, none to be
old except to actual consumers after
Yards l moved to reduce the price to $3,
or the Sisters of Charity and the Arch.
bishop, and also for Mr.. Catron's build
ng on account OF the large numbers
AIKEN and the character of the buildings.
10 contract beyond this was made with