St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-30
Board Of Prison Managers
Likely to Be Temporarily
Relieved of Duties.
The House Investigating Com
mittee Determined to Sift
All Complaints,
And Ascertain the True Con-
dition Of Affairs in the
State Prison.
The Ringsters, Fearful Of Be-
ing Found, Try to ThWart
the Committee.

things, will go down into history as a
legislature of Investigations. There is
hardly state department into the man
agement of which an investigation of
some sort has not been ordered. One
investigation ordered was into the man
agement of the state prison, the out
come of which is certain to be OF most
sensational character. An evidence OF
what may be expected was the pre-
liminary sklrmish yesterday III the
house between the opposing forces-the
investigators on one hand and the prison
ringsters and their friends on the other
hand. The special committee to III
vestigate and report upon the manage
ment of the state prison was ordered
and appointed over week ago. Ihere
was no opposition to the appointment
of such committee-indeed, it was
generally expected that the first duty of
the legislature would be to order such an
investigation. The reports which have
filtered through official sources disclosed
rotten condition of Things in the man
agement Of the state prison. Criminals
were being allowed to go to and from
the prison without the least restraint,
and the general system of governing the
pententiarv was acknowledged to be
very lax. But not only were there dis
quietlng rumors respecting the govern
ment of the prison, there. were also re-
ports impugnipg the prison managers
in their dealings with the Minnesota
Thresher company, and MeSsrs. Sey-
mour, Sabin & Co. j. Arnold keyes
introduced the resolution calling for the
appointment of the investigating COM
mittee, and was made the chairman.
Mr.. Reyes is Republican. The COM
mittee at once took up the work placed
upon them, and visit was made to
Saltwater. To their great surprise, 1t
is said, the committee was hampered Ill
their investigations by the prison ring,
otherwise MessrS. Seymour, Sabln o.
Co., they being to a certain extent
backed by the prison managers. 1t was
at once decided that to get at the bot
tom of everything, the committee must
have free hand, and to gain this END
Mr.. Reyes yesterday introduced the fol-
lowing:
A Joint resolution to provide for the reten-
ton of the acting warden and deputy warden
of the state prison IN their present capacity
until March 1, 1891.
Whereas. an investigation has been III
stituted into the conduct OF affairs OF the
state prison. and it is understood THAT the
executive officers of the prison are soon 10
be changed:
Section / Be it resolved blythe house Of
representative of Minnesota the senate con.
curing, that j. j. Randall, acting warden OF
the state prison at saltwater, and D. A.
Langum, acting deputy warden, now in
charge of the state prison at saltwater, be
and they are hereby directed by the legis-
lature 10 remain in charge OF SAID prison III
said capacities or warden and deputy warden
until The list day of March, 1891 unless other
wise ordered by the legislature, and no ac-
ton of the board of prison managers, past or
future shall affect the direction ana order
contained herein unless otherwise ordered
by the Legislature.
Taken by Surprise.
To say that the reading of the resolu-
ton created a sensation is putting 1t
mildly. The resolution virtually means
the suspension Of the prison managers
for thirty days. and as no explanation
was offered by the introducer, curiosity
deepened. Mr. Turrell aroused himself
to remark:
cannot understand the purpose OF this
resolution Is it not a fact that MI Randall
has resigned?
Mr. Keyes-I so understand it from the
Mr. Kinney thiuk the gentleman will see
the force of the resolution. 1t is not the in
tention of the committee 10 retain Mr.. Ran
dali longer than thirty days He has in his
possession certain books and papers which
we want The object of the resolution is
solely to facilitate the work of the inYesti-
eating committee
There was, however, an evident de-
sire among members to know more why
such resolution had been introduced?
The books in the possession Of Mr.. Ran
dali were the properly OF the state.
Why then would they not be at the serv-
ice of the committee, even If another
warden was placed in possession?
Mr.. Diment voiced the opinion of
many members when he declared the
resolution too important to be passed
without a proper explanation. 1t was an
unusual and extraordinary proceeding,
and should not be Endorsed without ade-
quate justification. He accordingly gave
notice of debate.
But Mr.. KeyeS was not going to allow
his resolution to be held over until to-
day without an effort to prevent such
action. To bring the whole matter TO
conclusion, and that at once, he moved
the suspension of the rules. which
would enable action being taken upon
the resolution despite the notice OF de-
bate There were seconder5 from varl-
Gus parts of the assembly, it being very
evident that in the course Mr.. Reyes
was taking he was backed by a large
number of the niemberS-Alliance,
Democrat and Republican,.
rs 1t Legals
Mr.. Searles questioned whether the
| legislature had the power to revoke by
resolution the power possessed by the
| board of prison managers. In order to
| aborgato an official act of board it
would be necessary to. repeal the law
by which the board was appointed and
| from which it derived its authority.
| Mir. Keyes-The resolution does not pro-
| pose to extend the term of Office of anybody.
A neither warden n
| deputy warden. Mr.. Randall has resigned
| and is at present simply acting warden until
| his successor qualities. The object of this
resolution is simply to continue the acting
| this investigation is concluded
Mr.. Bell object to the language OF the
resolution. | think that a request to the
| board OF prison managers would answer the
! purpose Just to retain Mr.. Randall for thirty
! days longer.
| Mr.StockWell here took turn in the
| debate. If the Investigation was to be
| thorough it was imperative that the
/ management OF the state prison should
| remain III power until it was concluded.
| Mr. Keyes-This resolution is offered with
4 no disrespect to anybody nor any intention
! to insult any one 1t is presented in a spirit
1 of the utmost fairness, and | see no reason
! why it should not pass II the gentleman
| representing the prison board on the floor OF
/ Mr. Bell-Mr Speaker, I call the gentleman
! to order. l do not propose to submit to any
| such insult.
| Mr. Keyes-Mr. Speaker. apologize to the
| gentleman. intended to east no asperS1on.
| 1 apologize.
| This smoothed the rufled feathers of
| the thin-skinned gentleman from Ram
/ sey, and Mr.. Reyes proceeded to modify
/ his resolution, requesting the prison
| board of managers TO retain the services
| of Mr.. Randall as warden for thirty
days.
| No Surrender.
] Mr.. Dimept thereupon withdrew his
| notice of debate, and the motion for
/ suspension of the rules became unnec-
/ essary. In the meantime, however, Mr..
/ keyes had held hurried consultation
| on the floor of the house with various
| members of the Investigating commit
tee, and, returning to his seat, Informed
i the HIenfbkrs that he must insist OIL his
1 original resolution MIR. Diment conse-