The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-08
THE PRISON REPORTS.
The House Adopts the Majority, o.
tered by the Democrats.

The southern prison investigating CON-
mittee reports were TeRd and disposed Of
by the legislature Monday. The clerk read
the minority report first. 4 motion was
made TO dispense with the reading of it.
Representative Redman, democratic
member of the committee, moved
to table the report. Representa-
tives Hord and Deery objected to
this. They stated that they wanted
to be able TO vote inte ligently upon the
matter, and could not do so unless they
had the reports read. The roll-call on the
motion to table was demanded. and the
motion failed by vote of SO to 40. Rep
resentative Barnes, during the discussion
of the motion, said he did not want to
hear the minority report read, and that
he wanted to vote for the majority report,
no matter what il was The minority re-
port was then read. During its reading
Representative Lindemuih several times
complained that the reading clerk was
skipping parts of it, but Mr.. Ader
/ who was in the chair, paid no attention to
ths com plants The minority report saws
Warden Pattsn has displayed 'wsnton
indifference TO recognized business
methods, which excites inquiry as to the
honesty and good faith OF the prison man
agement." Among other things the re-
port says:
The warden makes reports to the auditor of
state monthly and quarterly. His books show
that "a sum OF $40 10 charged for each monthly
settlement with the auditor of state, and like
sum FOR each quarterly settlement with the
auditor OF state" in addition to which he makes
q regular monthly charge OF So for "warjen's
incidental expenses" or total annual charge
OF 500 in addition to the salary allowed him
by Law. liz requires only a few minutes each
time to make these several statements and IN
coming TO Indianapolis TO make them the
warden travels upon railroad pass, and inouEs
no necessary expense beyond hotel bills aud
street car fare for the trip. Fifty dollars q
year would be q liberal allowance for these
actual expenses.
1t ia in evidence that Mr.. Patten is and for
ssVsral years last past has been receiving in
tsrsst upon 81. 500 Of trust finds deposited il
the Sullivan county bank, and upon other
funds deposited slsaWhers, which interest re-
oeipts aggregate more than 500 year.
| portion of this interest comes from the money
| belonging TO convio 3, portion from the IL
brary fund and other portions from the general
and special funds, of all of which he is made the
/ custodian by iav. Ii being. therefore, his lo-
I gal duty ~ warden to care Tor these moneys
! and to make reports, its our opinion that he
Is entitled to no other compensation therefor
| than his fixed salary of g, 800 per Gnnum; aad
! that the spurious chArgs for expenses and the
I conhseAtion of interest received 10 not only
breach o. trusi. bus also in direct violation of
! the act of Feb. a., 1891, Acts 1891. page So.
which increased his salary from 81 GOO to 81, 800
| per Rnnum aud provides that he "shall not re-
/ ceivs in any way whatever, by way of per-
| quisite1 or otherwise, any compensation other
than ny this act provided"
Referring TO the punishment the major
iiy has the following to say:
The Majority Report.
I The majority report was adopted by a
vote of 46 to 80, Gill, Hay, Hord and
Montoux voting against it.
Tns conclusions of the majority OF the
| committee are as follows:
What the COMMITTEES Finds
The majority of your committee have made a
| finding upon all matters in controversy. We
find that two objects have been kept in view in
the management of said prison: (1l The gen.
eral welfare o. the convets; ~ the interests Of
/ the state. The a. airs OF the prison have been
| conducted according 10 law. Ia the admins
! trstion OF the laW governing en- Institution OF
! the magnitude OF the prison south mistakes
| will occur; accidents that no human foresight
| eau control will happen; but the unprsju-
! diced citizen must determine the true status
J by the general course, the evident intent. and
| by the results attained. Judged by these tests
/ the citizens of Indiana have no Jus. cause of
complaint against tine management of this
/
committee that some members OF the minority
/ so lar forgot themselves and the prophecies Of
| the occasion as to say TO conviotf, In the pres
| snce OF other couvIcts, that Warden Patten
was not proper person for warden thereby
/ melting INSTRUMENTATION aud riOtous conduct
| on the part OF conylcts. The highest duty OF
any citizen should be to sustain and uphold the
| efficiency OF the institutions of the state, IN
stead OF 10 tear them down and destroy them.
The prison las been frequently visited OIL
\ hoial.y by tho governors of the state, and the
marked progress, the general improvement of
the tone OF the institution, the better discipline,
and the chssrfulness OF the prisoners attracted
! the Gttsntien of these officials. The secretary
| OF the state board of charities also frequently
visited this institution, and he testified 20 the
\ efficiency of the management and to the zeal
| and the spirit with W hich the warden entered
| into O study OF the best methods OF the prison
management He stated that he wsnt about
the prison and mingled with the men and re-
| osivsd their commUnicatisns, and that they ex-
pressed much qualification over the many
changes fer the bsttermsn ut OF their condition by
| Warden Psttsn. He called the attention ot the
| comuittss 10 the manner In which the conyicts
| appreciated the abolition OF the lock-step
! in marching, tho shaving Of the he sd and other
| forms OF humiliation common to many other
prisons. The free hour in the evening ana the
| observance of publle holidays is attended with
! much good. Wnen q conscientious gentleman
like Alexander johnson, who has N AIDE this
| and similar questions study, testihss TO the
| fitness And capabilities OF the warden in dis
charging bis duties, IL should require more
| proof and of q better quality than that sub
United to your committee, bsfors we will con-
| sent to become parties TO q conspiracy to ruin
| the good name OF man OF lifelong integrity,
! and 20 drag down and destroy one of the pub
| lie institutions OF the state for the purpose of
manufacturing political capital.