The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-15
THE STATE rExrTENrrAnY.


iattve COMMITTEES that recently fryessi-
gated the penstentiary scandal. has fled
its report The report includes the tssti-
mony taken and nils IS typewrssten
pages The report deals not only with
the institution. its condition. the improve
menss. and so forth. bat deals with the
defaication OF the late warden. J. H.
Cohlentz who committed suicide when
confronted with the evidence of his crime
last fall. on this subject the COMMITTEES
says:
Regarding the service OF the late war
den, J. II Ceelentx, deceased, We your
committe. commend the energy and ahil-
ity displayed by him fn the management
of the prison and convicts. and In the
improvements which have been made with
but small comparative cost to the state,
but your comm3ttee cannot too strongly
condemn the methods employed and the
assumption OF an authority by the late
warden which IL given only TO the direc-
tors. II was BY thus assuming almost
the entire management unrestrained that
he was enabled TO practice frauds by
which in the short space OF three months
the state was defranded out of many
thousands OF dollars
Prom the testimony OF the witnesses
examined and the books ard papers ie> !
in the clerks Office and vaults, your COM
ruittee finds that the late warden by the
employment OF convict labor as hook
keeper and private secretary. whom he
forced by threats TO do his bidding in
making erasures and changes in the books
and the destruction of applications and
receipts. attempted systematically TO
cover UP his defaications. In this he
succeeded but partially as sufficient books
and documents remain In the hands of thu
clerk TO determine the actual amount OF
his eefaication- These are the founda-
tions of the exparts figures. and IL Mr..
Young's figures are carried out accurately
your committee prononnces his work cor
rect. This report shows defalcation to the
amount OF 81. S9.&.
Your committee recommends that suit
be at once brought TO collect the Nmount
OF the defalcation from the bondsmen of
the late warden by the state. II upon de-
mand they do not pay the same.
Your committee does not find that any
member of the hoard OF directors or any
other official of the penitentiary was i'm
plicated In the defalcation of Warden Co
blentg. The evidence shows that since
the shortage was discovered. and as soon
as IL became known. the matter was I'M
mediately reported to the governor. We
are OF the opinion. however. that the tes-
timony attached viii show that. the d.
rectors were dereiict In their duty In not
keeping a close check upon the warden
and demanding at each monthly meeting
report showing the sales. stock on
hand and such other matters as their
rules required. which would have enabled
them 10 discover the shortage. The evi-
dence shows that the warden was contfn-
na!ly overstepping his authority In the
manner of purchases. improvements and
I'm the employment and discharge Of SUI
bordinates. the dsfectors making bat
slight. IL any. remonstrance. The super
intendent of the jute mill. Mr.. Matthew
son. knew that so.aething was going
wrong. bat feared 10 make 1t known. His
report, which was copy of the one to
the directors, showed a shortage of some
times 5000 sacks per month. Had the di-
rectors. upon the receipt of those reports.
given even a casual examination TO them
they would have discovered these dis
crepancies and defaleations.
Your committee would. however. call
attention TO the fact that Ii Is apparent
from the abundant evidence produced be-
fore IL that the present board of directors
is not. and has not been. a harmonious
body, and IL Is the opinion of your COM
mittee that had greater harmony prevail
ed and had the board paid more atten-
ton TO the suggestions OF the minority
of the board and not allowed the late
warden TO practically. If not actually, con-
troll the board the interest OF the state
would have been much better subserved.
Touching the former administrations
your committee has TO report that In the
limited time at its command u was not
able TO make as fun an Investigation of
their acts as 1t found would have been
desirable IL was demonstrated, how
ever. TO the satisfaction OF this commit
tee that some al least OF the former
boards have not al all times guarded the
interests OF the state SIS persons holding
such high official position. and having
such important responsibilities placed up
on them. should have done; nor have they
required from their subor9tnafes 10 whom
was entrusted the supervision of import
ant work. such as construction OF new
cell wings and other important improve
ments connected with the buildings and
machinery. even ordinary care and dill
gence in the performance Of their duty.
I'VE find that large sums were paid cut
for extras bv order OF the directors upon
bills certified as correct by the architect
which were not itemized, and OF which
neither the architect nor the former d.
rector. whom your committee examined,
were able 10 give any adequate or salts
factory explanation.
Your COMMITTEES finds further that con-
tracts were le; by former boards upon
~
thousands of dollars higher than other
bids in possession Of the board. A not
able instance OF this was the contract for
the power plant. whteh was let at figure
some SSssa higher than other bids which
were before .he hoard. and which your
COMMITTEES believes from the evidence be-
fore IL would have given the state. IL ac-
eepted. pIant superior 10 tie one pur-
chased.
sYour committee also fsnds that during
che past year the salaries paid the subor-
dtnate officers in the employ Of the pssif-
,eufiary have been much higher than eth
er the services required or the RESPONSE
hgliiEes conferred would Justify. a slight
reduction has recently been made In some
Of these salaries. bat the opinion os your
committee IL thas they are stiil too high
ard furtser reduction should be insist
ed upon
TIE comfaittee advises a greater par
chase os supplies ~ contract every three
az six months. arssF the ssiscontsnnznce af
bs.ysn. IN onen market Il recommends
fhe passage Of a law Increasing the bonds
e Hanlen ansl clerk: ,has the books BE
keat hy tne a5zhla entry system that
s.saHrfSfa should rot be employed III pa-
Ssescns OF RESPONSIBILITY and trust. that
prisoners be NOT punished for connection
Win the Ssohlentz 3@falcastons. ''aa they
xere acting under orS.ers which they dare
rot dssohey,"
The rreHeas management % TIRE Insfltu-
sIan ss PRAISED, and recommends greater
credit far good behavior II urges peni-
tanftarY In sn@ Sound stsgr}.t for the fol-
laslr- reasons: Print ihe greater cags
a. she transportation Of TTtsaasFss sscossd.
IKE greater cost 90 EFsss, frskEhts. etc
81