The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-18
THEY WERE BETRAYED
J. NJ. Humphrey Defends the
State Reformatory Board.
Says They Were Deceived Into
Selecting Hatch.
WAS WHOLLY UNFIT
Board Will Sue the State for
It's Bill.

FIT. SCOTT, July Isl. NJ. Humphrey,
the member of the State Industrial Re-
formatory board who lives at this place,
has been interviewed on the removal of
the board and has the following to say:
"The board thought and still think,
and they have consulted some of the
most eminent lawyers in Kansas, and
they coincide with the opinion of the
board, that they were entitled to fifteen
cents a mile. The old law governing
such institutions allowed the board So
per day and actual necessary expenses,
and the same mileage as members of
the legislature, which is fifteen cents
per mile.
cat the next meeting of the Iegisla-
ture the board will Put in a bill for their
entire mileage at fifteen cents a mile,
and demand its payment. as they are of
the opinion that they are legally entitled
to it, and if the legislature refuses to al
low the bill we will certainly bring q suit
against the state.
GAS to the second charge, that we were
extravagant in the matter of buying fur
niture, / have to say that during the pen
dency of this bill in the last legislature,
Mr.. Seymour Davis and Mr.. Hatch, the
gentleman whom this board lately re-
moved from office, made an estimate of
what it would take to furnish the reform
atory building Their estimate of the
goods bought was over $3.50. OF that
amout we spent 1900, thereby saving
$1,000 out of the fund estimated to get
what we purchased This $4,000 in
cludes all of the prison furniture and
stoves and ranges for the prison and res
idence. the furniture for the cells of the
prison and all the carpets in the prison
and residence. And while there mig ht
have been few things costing more
than may to all seem necessary, yet on
the whole l defy comparison with any
other purchase made on behalf of the
state.
"The enemies of the board who are the
friends of Hatch, removed, have men
toned the few articles of higher price
but have suggested nothing of the other
furniture bought
Another charge l understand is made
that l Travelled on railroad passes on my
trip east. This is entirely false, for
paid fare for every mile that l travelled.
This is the sum total of all the COM
plants against the board and the only
matter referred to by the governor of
which he has any information as per his
statement to U.s. We were on the outset
betrayed and deceived into the selection
of the superintendent who proved to be
as we now believe does not possess a sin
gle qualification fitting him for a super
intendent through his machin atoms, de-
ceit and failure to attend to his duty, to
say nothing of the outrageous and IN
authorized acts whereby he tried
to bind the board and the state
without the knowledge of the
board brought about a condition where il
became necessary for the board to take
immediate action in the matter.
1--WE first advised with and consulted
the governor and our proceedings in the
matter of his removal met with the gov
ernor's sanction. Pending this inYestiga-
ton this man, Hatch. employed attorneys
and other persons in various towns of the
state who by means OF a general system
of villifcation produced a sentiment
against the board in attempting to relieve
himself from his own infamy.
81 am satisfied that every mem Der OF
this board endeavorod in every way to dc
his duty. l have the highest regard fol-
the integrity aud ability of Mr.. Scott, the
Democratic member of the board. as alec
for MIR. Armstrong, the Populist member
of the board. 1 feel as though we had
all been misunderstood in this matter and
! it is the right of the people to know the
truth. What induced the governor to aci
| as he did I do not know"