Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-03-17
L[KENED UNTO KANSAS
Two Boards of Directors Now Look
After the North Dakota
P~enitentiary.
Two Members of the Old Board Re-
fuse to Recognize Messrs. Ward
and Taylor.
Four of the Old Directors Then
Hold a Meeting and Transact
Business.
One of the Old Board With the
New Men Meet and Elect q
Warden.
Two Boards, Two Wardens, Tw,
Sides to the Question And
Then-The Courts.
A Little Difrerence of Opin,on

Inere were TWO penltentiRry boards
yesterday, the existence of one of which
is not warranted by any law on the state
statute books. As to the one which il
illegal there is a decided difference Of
opinion, and this difference was OK
pressed by the two meetings which
were held Wednesday afternoon.
Since the refusal of the senate to con.
firm the appointments of Messrs. Ward
and Taylor as members of the board
and the commissioning of the above
named gentlemen, Notwithstanding this
refusal, there has been q considerable
discussion as to whether or not the,
were legally members of the board
Whether they could hold over for two
years, in the face of the refusal of the
senate to confirm, or whether the mem
bers of the old board, Messrs. Van Horn
and Donnelly, held until another leeis.
lature convened, and other appointments
we're made.
Two of the members of the board, La.
mont and Robinson, held to the latte,
belief, and after having taken legal
counsel on the subject, decided to re-
fuse recognition to the recently an.
pointed members.
All OF the persons interested met at The
penltentiary yesterday. There were
Messrs. Robinson, Showers, Lamont, Var
Horn and Donnelly, of the old board
Messrs. Ward and Taylor, recently ap.
pointed, and several others. The latte,
named gentlemen presented their com.
missions to the old board, who declined
to recognize the appointments.
Nj. Showers, at this ju%ncture, notified
the other members of the old board that
he must refuse positively to act with
them. Accordingly the old board organ.
lied, Colonel Robinson being elected
president and Mr.. Van Horn visiting
director. Warden Haggart was appointed
purchasing officer for two years. The
board allowed the per diem of the several
members, and after attending some
other matters, the board adjourned to
meet again April 4.
In the meantime, the others in
terested, Nessrs. Showers, Ward and
Taylor, sent a message to the governor,
with a statement of what had tran.
splred and was tra"spirlng, and re-
quested instructions as to how to act,
Ward came back, advising the three to
go ahead, organize, and do such bust
ness as they saw fit. Accordingly, the
other of the two opposing forces had al
inning, and another organization was
mad. Mr.. Ward was elected president
OF the new board, with G. E. Showers M
visiting director. Dan Williams was an
pointed by the board, as warden for two
years.
Mr.. Williams at once appeared and
presented his bond, duly signed, in the
sum OF $4,000, which was approved and
sent to the Office of the state treasurer
for filing. A committee was then an.
pointed to take an inventory Of the he.
Ionaings of the penitentiary, make a re-
ceipt therefor and transmit it to Wardon
HagRart, who, upon receipt of which and
the certificate Of filing of the new war.
den's bond, ~as ordered to turn over the
keys of the institution to Mr.. Williams
The board then adjourned and will
meet again to-day at 2 p. m.
AS the matter now stands. there ara
two boards, two wardens and two sides
to a vexed question. Each side ia M
doubt honest in its intentions and ac.
lions and should Warden Haooart 70.
fuse possession to Williams, as he vii,
doubtless do, the case will have To ba ao
cided in the courts. The whole mate,
seems to hinge upon the legality Of tha
appointment Of Ward and Taylor. In
discussing tho matter last night. Colona,
Robinson and Mr.. Lamont exnrossoa
themselves as perfectly satisfied tho ooao
should 60 to the courts.
ut is not q mnttar NJ r,oa