The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-25
TALES ON WARDEN PATTEN
Ewing's Testimony Reads Like a Chap.
ter from the Spanish lDquisition.
First Session of the Joint Committee lnvesti.
eating the Prison South-More Gag
Rule Applied to The Republicans.


Narden PatfeD. OF the Prison south, reacneu
Jacksonville at noon to-day. There were
twenty.eight in the party, including the
members of the two completes and Sena-
tor Loveland and Representative Linde-
muth. who were invited TO attend on behalf
OF the minority. Secretary johnson, OF the
Board of State Charities, was also
in the crowd. When the COM
mIttee, attendants and the rest of
the party. under the guidance of ex-
Representative Montgomery. steward of
the prison, reached that institution, War
den Patten was being put In holiday shape
blythe convict barber. The visitors were
cared for until he came to open up. formal
ly. the hospitality of the prison. Within a
few minutes the warden. with his white
hair and mustache glistening from the bar
ber's rubbing and combing. and his face
emitting the odor of lavender water, was
greeting every body. He saw that every
one had dined. and good cigar. TO put them
in pleasa mt mood. and then the
trouble began. The majority of
the joint committee had not outlined
its work. There was good deal of con-
sultlng before 1t met in the small reception
could hold comfortably, and there was CON-
siderable elbowing for space. The warden
was among the first at the front. Six years
ago, on like occasion, he was In the same
room, but in different capacity. He
was then minority member OF
the House committee with Re-
publican majority TO investigate the
Jack Howard management of the prison.
He was then not kind, but pugnacious and
hard on Howard. John w. Coons was the
expert accountant of that investigation,
and Patten tied his faith to him. Patten
and Coons went after Towards crooked
figures with such .vigor that in the course
of few hours. they had the defsulting
warden pilloried. To-day Patten was
bland, but ready to fight Democrats and
Republicans alike it it became necessary.
When the committee came to order there
was at once q sparring for position between
the Democrats and Republicans and it be-
gan with a motion from Senator Griffith.
who was there in the place of McHugh,
the latter being sick and unable to attend
to his duty as q Democratic whitewasher.
Senator Bird also took the place of Sweeney,
who had sickness in his family. and Sena-
tor Boord did not keep an exact account on
the arrival and departure OF trains lie
was left at indianapolis. Senator Griifith's
motion. after the JOINT resolution provld-
ing for the Investigation was read. W as to
take up subjects IN order. He styled the
charges against Warden Patten as newspa-
per accusations, and wanted the treatment
of prisoners taken up first. The committee
could pass to the financial management,
then matters relating to contractors. and
lastly anything that could be thrown I'M o
ha ord pat
lnGs.
STIRRING UP THE ANIMALS.
Senator Loveland at once got the Demo-
Gratis nettIed about their taking snap judy
ment on the minority in coming down to
begin the investigation. He said it was
not certainly known until late last night
that the committee was going to begin it's
work, ana the minority had no OppOr-
tunity TO get its witnesses ready. AS the
Griffith motion outlined tho work un-
der such conditions. the investigation
would be delayed in waiting for
witnesses on certain points He claimed
the order of Investigation provided for
meant the conclusion Of each branch be-
fore any other was taken I'D. Senator
Griffith said it did not, and that il meant
the fullest examination Senator Loveland
was not convinced OF that, but Senator
Grif1ith's colleagues were, and that was
enough for all practical purposes. Senator
bingham resented the charge that
on the minority by the com
mittee coming down to-day. The
minority had been informed of the major
ity's purpose as to this matter as early as
last Thursday, he said. Senator LOveland
said no one had said any thing to him about
coming. and he ought TO have been in
formed. as he lntrOd uced the resolution to
investigate Patterns management. He
Representative Redmond said he had
Ewing, last Thursday, and on
Monday received a letter from
him stating he would be ready. The ma
jority of the committee shut of further dis
cussi0n by adopting the Griffith motion.
That having been settled, Senator McDon-
aid brought Oh another struggle by moving
to have u subcommittee to examine the
accounts. He proposed to have Demo-
crRt from each house and one Republican,
with An expert accountant on that COM
mittee. The expert. Martin Fleemer, the
Democrats had already selected.
Senator LOveland objected to the CON-
position of that committee and asked
that the mir GRITTY be represeD ted, also, by
an accountant 1t was the only thing the
minority would ask 1t would like to
have John w. Coons also chosen TO act
pay the expense. He called attention to
the fact that the majority. with five Demo
Gratis TO two Republicans on the Senate
prison committee. and six Democrats to
three Republicans On that of the House,
had everythin It's own way.
Senator Mcdonald had his say about tho
efficiency of Mr.. COons. Democrats did not
like his figuring rs shown in his bringing
Jack Howard ont an embezZler of many
thousand dollars of the States money. II
the Republicans selected an expert he
wanted any other but Coons. Warden
Patten then proposed that the committee
mittee on accounts. He would turn all his
books over to the committee and make u
clear financial statement. Then, II the
committee decided on having an expert ex-
animation. it could appoint COons or any
other accountant. He had faith In CooDs,
he said and wanted politics removed from
the investigation.
APPLYING THE GAG RULE.
Mr.. Patten talked long on this point and
the Republicans urged their right to have
an expert. TOO. but the Democrats would
not have it. and Senator Bingham said the
question had been practically settled when
he selected NJ. Fleemer last night. Warden
Patten then showed his temper. OF course
Mr. Co0ns was not appointed. Senator
Holcomb and Representative Mcintyre
were put on the committee for the Demo-
Gratis and the Repu blicans. seeing they
would have no show under the application
OF the gag rule. refused 10 appoint any one
This led to q motion Indefinitely postpon-
ing the examination of the accounts.
After some delay ex-Deputy Warden
Ewing. the first witness. came In On be-
- ek.f NJ