Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-29
IT Is SAVED
Economy al the jackson Prison
Fully Explained.
CHEAPsESS SEEMS The RULE
51l Il Ia ChsaPness Extortst from inc
ConvlcEs - he DisciPlne Sad 10
BE yssT L4x.

JAcEsoS, Oct. 2s.-Ths statement e
tslag pabAshsd throughout the state
ia tne democratic press mat Warden
D4ys las lusG forwarded 70 Lanslng
another s., 90 - DO placed ~ tie
credits Of the MlchlgAn state prison,
and AIso the fact that during bis al
InlnlstrAtIon the present warden has
saged k-o, 90 above tho expenses OF the
prlsoa AMI that daFlng the lAst year OF
Lhs Hatch Administration the expenses
eIcssded the receipts ~ sl!.O oO. The
faeL "a not explained, however. that
euring tns last Two years OF Warden
Iialch' term a much larger amount u
money was expended m improvements
Tor which the legislature made no APP
preparation than has been expended
under the present regime ne Ell
tensve aut excellent sewerage system
nov ia use vas pat Ia during TIE
Hatch management. besides numerous
other Improvements, Including TIE
initiative Steps tor tho present lawn "a
ffOat ~ tne institution which NAs COM
plsled b. Wuruvn Davis. Inc pres
euE Warden, from the moment OF MS
ASSUMING control OF the prison began
a systematic red uctgOn OF expenses Tor
tho sole purpose OF making al eco
nOmlcAl sDOWIug regardless % the Ell
ctenE management OF the institution.
he force " keepers ami guards MAS
e,luced and tnOss retained were com
PEELED % pat IA more time than MAS
ever before required Oi employees.
LITE long democrat Who has been em-
pi0ytd Al the prison for II number OF
years remarked the other day. at i
300 days with - now, when Warden
Hatch aud Humphrey were here We
were allowed one day 10 each month
10 ourselves. NON Ne are compelled
10 work every day IN the year and II
Nc lose an hours time Il IS deducted
from our pay ~ tie end OF tue month.
TINS EXPLAIN, how 4 portion OF the
wonderful savings OF Warden Davis
axe secured.
SAMPLES of ECONOMY"
Tee present warden mas stopped TO
other petty things which the people OF
the state do not ask or expect OF the
heads Of It's institutions and
which would hardly be thought
of by the ordinary business
man. For instance, on more
than one occasion he has spent a large
amount of time IN haggling with farm
ers over the price OF n load OF potatoes
aud other produce. and so persistent
has be been IN tins cause that very few
OF these farmers ever return with the
second load. they preferring TO sell to
the merchants down town where, as
rule, better Prices eau DO obtained vita
less difficulty.
Ca two occasions at least. and it Is
claimed on others. when the convlcts
were about 10 hold an entertainment
IA the evening, on account OF winch
the presence of the guards aud keep
erswss required and they did not have
time TO 20 home TO their suppers, the
cOnyicts were compelled 10 pay for
their suppers and the money Was col
lectcd among those interested IN the
entertainment. There have been nu-
meTous other ways IN which by
scrimping and econOmizing he has
managed To save small amounts.
OF course the showing to people
throughout the state who are unac-
quainted with the facts IS most excel
lent. bat To the people OF Jackson VINO
have an opportunity to see the mig
gardly manner IN winch the institution
- conducted Il IS anything but favor
able 90 the administration.
Discipline Il Lax.
The discipline at the prison has
never been 80 slack "a At the present
time. During the administration of
Warden DAVIS there have been no less
than twenty i've escapes, and OF these
only seven or eight have been recap
r.rs.fN
never been eQusiet IN the history Of
the institution. Scarcely week
passes without one or more fights or
cutting ARRAYS taxing place inside the
walls. The recent Killing of Contract
or Cuddy aud still more recent at
tempt upon the life Of Contractor Phil
lIps s-e evidences of the lax manage
ment Of the institution, and the keep
ere are SAID 20 Re afraid OF an outbreak
among TIE men under their charge
a. auy moment. The two terrible af-
fairs referred 90 have opened the eyes
of tae people OF tms city 20 the loose
aud dangerous manner IN which the
prison - conducted aud that for the
fat that Warden DAVIS gives 4 out
empbsHctiiv tnat be will not remain
under any circumstances longer than
Until tho end ~ ms present term, a
movement would - started a. once to
induce Governor Wlusus to make =
change.
There = no doubt whatever IN the
minds OF wsil-nformed poiIt,cisrs.
both republicans and democrats. that
Soc appointment o. Warden psys by
tfoveru0r Wiuans viii have the effect
az reducing the democratic vote IN
Jackson and surrounding counties this
tai Nv a uamher Of Thousands. Inc
leading democrats ~ thls city are out
spoSsn i1 their denunClstou of tba
methods pursued lv the PRISON man
sgement and assert that Z their party
= not successful IN November ln this
section. tae cause eau be traced a.
retEy o. this cause.
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