The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-04

Teen Otner NERDS IL per cent. showed
signs of the disease.
These figures give US some idea Of the
| danger that constantly menaces US from
an unlooked-for quarter and the necessity
OF adopting some means of preventing the
spread of tuberculosis in cattle. There
are few people so situated that they can
guard against this peril individually, and
the system OF inspection before spoken of
would seem to be the only safeguard.
The Governor and the Northern Prison.
In an interview published in the Ne,s
of Thursday Governor HovEY, assuming
the heroic and highly moral tone, which,
as it always does, gives him the appear
ance of the ass striving to wear the hide OF
a lion, makes the following statement in
regard to the management OF the Northern
prison:
III man has once been a convict he is
always afterward at a disadvantage, but
his imprisonment does not take away his
power To tell the truth. | have letters
from ex-convicts who know all about the
affairs OF the prison, and they prove that
things there are not as they should be. /
but know my duty and shall not swerve
hairs breath from its performance.
In his message to the legislature, dated
Jan. 3, the governor says in regard to
the same institution:
/ take pleasure in saying that the board
OF state charities were greatly pleased with
the management OF the prison and its in
mates, and IhdUe no doubt. in that regard,
the officers are deserving of the highest
commentator for the manner in which it
was conducted.
This, it will be seen, places the governor
in wholly unbecoming and inconsistent
position. but as it is one which he gener-
ally occupies before the public, it will Gre
ate no surprise among the people OF the
state.
Now. one thing is certain. Either the
governor has received all these letters
from ex-prisoners, etc, of which he
speaks. within the past three weeks, or,
having received them previously, he re-
garded them as so totally unworthy
of credence that he laid them
aside without consideration when
he wrote his biennial message.
In either event they are obviously en-
titled to no weight. Ii the governor had
them before he advised the legislature
that he had no doubt that the officers OF
the prison were deserving Of the highest
commentator the public cannot, OF
course, be expected 10 take any interest
in them. II, on the other hand, he has
received them all during the past three
weeks, IL is evident that they were pre-
pared to meet n partisan exigency, and
are therefore unworthy Of consideration.
No one believes that the writers would
have remained silent for two years, and
then, without an understanding with
each other or receiving any suggestion
from common source, have suddenly
taken TO ventilating their alleged griev-
ances in letters to the governor. II there
is anything OF the iarcical about this
Northern prison business, we submit that
it appears in the ridiculous figure which
the governor himself cuts in il.
The governors assaults upon the prison
management are shown by the report Of
the state board OF charities, a non partisan
body composed OF some OF the best men
and women of the state. We submit the
following extracts from its last report in
regard TO the Northern prison.
This prison, in all physical respects, Is
one OF the best in the country. The cell
houses. shops, prison yard, and nearly
every department, are well laid out and
kept in excellent order. War
den MURDOCH has been very success
full with his contracts The price
paid for labor has always been OF
the best, and this of itself speaks
much for the discipline of the prison.
Disputes are very rare, owing TO the ex-
cellent business methods The
prison is self-supporting and every year
surplus over the cost is earned.
The health OF the prisoners, like those in
the Southern prison, IL usually very good.
The food used is Of good quality and
| liberal in quantity. For many
years past, long before the present warden
was appointed, it has besn the custom TO
increase the warden's compensation
(Which was Justly considered 10 be insult
ficieut) by giving him, OF selling to him at
a nominal price, the slop or waste food.
What the value of this may be is unknown /;
probably the popular estimate, which
places il at several thousand dollars
annually, is very much exaggerated.
Prisoners are always ready TO complain
and imagine themselves aggrieved. Z"
With the exceptions mentioned, there
| is probably no prison in the United States
any better managed than this, nor one
where there is less punishment. Warden
| MURDocK has surrounded himself with n
corps OF efficient subordinates. Every
thing goes like clockwork. The discipline
is mild but firm. Disobedieuce TO orders
is very rare. The guard In held the most
successful who manages his men with the
least punishment and presents the fewest
reports OF bad behavior. Guards are in
| structed 10 be watchful. and prevent
| trouble by timely warning before the
actual breach OF discipline has occurred.
In all these highly important respects the
board is glad to testify 10 tho excellence
| OF the prison north.
The only criticism on the management
OF the institution Is the very mild one that
it is a doubtful privilege" 10 allow the
prisoners to purchase, with their own
money. table luxuries that are not fur
nished by the prison, on account OF the
| jealousy il provokes among the convicts.
Governor HovEY has merely made one
more OF his abortive efforts To de.
lude the people into the belief
/ that he IL great reformer and