The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-12
PRISONS ARE CORRUPT
FULL REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE
COMMITTEE.
Cruelty in Southern Prison and a
Mysterious Bicycle Contract
in the Northern.

Senator Watson. chairman of the commit
tee which investigated the two State pris-
ons, did not submit a report of the findings
of the committee until yesterday afternoon.
There was a majority and a minority re-
port on each institution, the Republicans
signing the one and the Democrats the
otner The following is the report concern
ing the Jeffersonvilie institution
Your committee finds that the general
neaItn or the convicts in said prison is good.
put they find that there number of
insane convicts in said prison, and recon-
mend that they be removed so the insnae
E hospital. as provided by las passed at this
session OF the General Assembly.
The committee finds further that the dis
c1pline under Warden Patten of said prison
Is very bad and that the treatment of the
prisoners by said warden is vicious and in
human that he requires as one of his pun
lsnments that the prisoners stick their arms
through the bars of the door; he handcuffs
them there and they are required to stand
there all day long with their arms stretched
through the door, and handcuffed, and they
sometimes are required to stand until or
~ O'Clock at night; that said warden's in
nicting of corporal punishment upon said
short OF assault and battery; that there are
several instances where men have been
whipped and were confined to their beds for
several days in consequence thereof; that
said warden in other punishments requires
given nothing but a. small piece of corn
bread and water, and the punishment is
SOiuellIHeS kept up Tor nVe or six days. that
warden Patten is a man of very quick.
irritable and ungovernable temper, and
when the prisoners. for real or fancied
causes, are required to be punished the
warden, on account OF his temper, is too
severe and inhuman.
I'VE also find that the warden and board
or directors have permitted the Patten Hol-
low Ware Company. a company doing BUSH
ness in said prison, and hiring prisoners
the money due the State of Indiana for the
labor of said prisoners; that they are now
number Of months behind in the payment
Your committee took testimony from the
convicts and from Warden Patten, which is
our committee further finds that there
hied herewith and marked Exhibit A
are number of convicts in the Prison
peied on ACCOUNT o ben o Wno Of are eodn
ment, to be kept in cells; that the cell
house is very inadequate, the cells being
number of prisoners two men are required
to remain in one CELL The committee rec
prisoners may have employment. and
further recommends that new and better
dollhouse should be built for the keeping
OF the prisoners of said prison.
For the reason of the inhuman and cruel
treatment by the warden of the prisoners
and the unbusinesslike and bad manage
ment of the collecting of the money due the
State of Indiana from the said Patten Hol-
low Ware Company, and for the bad disci-
pine of the prison, your committee recon-
mends that Warden Patten be removed at
once, and that the board of directors also
and the discipline and treatment of Of
the prisoners, and the collecting of the
money due the State, ought to be removed
The minority report merely stated that
the members of the minority were unable
to agree to any part of the report except
that portion commencing the health con-
ditionS and in few words the man
agement and discipline were commended
Senator Seller moved that both reports be
spread upon the records without action, and
Senator Watson moved to reject the motion.
After some squabbling Senator Watson's
motion was withdrawn and the two reports
were spread upon the records. There We're
Republicans who thought that after the
commotion that has been raised about the
prison management there should be some
thing in the record showing that the Legis-
lature has condemned the IaethodS that
have been arraigned.
THAT BICYCLE CONTRACT.
Later the report of the committee con-
corning the management of the northern
prison was presented, there being in this
case also two reports, which, it was agreed,
should simply go upon the record. Refer
ring first to the health of the prisoners, it
says that there is no fault to be found with
the general health of the convicts, but it is
related that there are two insane convicts
who are in pitiable condition in the Prison
North. There is a. BILL however, which has
become a law providing for their removal
to hospitals. The committee reports that
the discipline under Warden French is ex-
cellent, but it continues:
I'VE find in relation to political machinery
within the prison that the prison has been
used as a political machine for the Demo-
cratic party; that at least two guards were
kept on the pay rolls while, in fact, they
were out making campaign speeches;that the
prisoners were required to make a number
of transparencies in the prison which We're
used for public Democratic ratification in
Michigan City.
your committee finds in relation to con-
tracts for prison labor and the so-called
Of January' 1884 go men were out Of en-
ployment that Warden French properly adj
vertised for bids for the letting of these
18th of February, being the day set for
receiving the bids. certain bids were re-
was rejected the directors at the time be-
lieving that they could get higher rate;
that subsequently no other or further ad-
the letting of these men; that the warden
claims he wrote numerous letters In the en-
to get bids but ee unable OBJ n to
ters in reply thereto; that he claims to keep
no files or press copies of his correspond
ness and no other action was taken or bids
received until the latter part of August
1894, at which time by accident or other
prison, namely: Captain Allen, of Frank
fort. D. A.. Coulter, of Frankfort; James
of Michigan City, and a gentleman by the
name of Christie. of Chicago; that at this
time q memorandum OF dSICeIIlcul was
made in relation to the letting of $50 men
for period of ten years, instead of five, as
advertised; that this memorandum of agree
ment was not signed by any one and no
bond was executed for the faithful perform
ance Of it's provisions; that Immediately
and without any further or better contract
the prison management proceeded to erect
a building for the manufacture of bicycles,
named. at cost to the State of $1,000; that
on or before the 9th of September one Will
liam G. Smith, the present manager of the
bicycle company, came into the prison with
number of free men and began the manu-
facture of tools and the setting up of ma
chinery for the said bicycle company; that
no contract was executed with anybody
until the LIST day of October, 1894. when by
some mysterious sort of legerdemain, and a
further shuttle Of the pack, turned up one
Walter j. Ball, of Lafayette, who dropped
into this contract, and all the gentlemen
known therein prior to that time dropped
out. although it is now admitted that they
are interested in the contract; that on the
said 4th day of October two contracts We're
executed by Walter j. Ball, one for one