The record-union., 1896-12-29

tit tpililillSSAoll II NdS a.
| simple refusal to audit, because several
items were considered irregular, and
| not chargeable against the rock crush
| ing plant
Among the items charged was found
one for oatmeal and another for chic
| ride of lime used in purifying closets,
| both of which, the Commissioners con-
| tended, We're, under Section = of the
| BILL not to be paid for from the sales of
| crushed rock. The section of the bill re-
ferred to reads as follows:
Section ,. When such plant de-
| scribed in Section l is set up and oper>
ated, there shall be taken into account
| in ascertaining the cost of producing
| highway metal therefrom, only the
cost of necessary explosives, oil, fuel
| tools and machinery exclusive of the
plant itself, repairs, superintendent,
and direction, and the preparation and
| maintenance of beds. boxes crates, or
| other unloading devices for carriage
and delivery from cars of such high
| way metal"
HENCE THE KICK.
The members of the Bureau of High
ways cOntended that under the aXclu-
| SION mentioned in the section, the rock
crushing plant should not be taxed with
| a portion of the charge for per diem
| and maintenance of the prisoners, and
! as a consequence they refused to ap-
| prove the bill
The bill was returned to the Prison
bearing the request that an explanation
| be made, but it never came back, and
| the suppOsition of the commission IS
| that the bill was copied on another set
of blanks, audited by the Board of
Prison Directors, approved by the Beard
| Of Examiners, the warrant for the
| amount drawn by the Controller and
| the bill paid by the State Treasurer
| At any rate, the bill was paid, and the
| veto of the Board of Highway Commits
| sioners ignored
The bill for maintenance and support
of the rock-crushing plant for the
| month of October-and which was ap-
| proved by the State Board of Examin-
| ers and forwarded to the Controller,
who drew his warrant for the same on
| November 30th-shows, among others,
| the following items:
George Ellis-For services rende
in assisting in directing, guarding and
| experimenting convicts employed on
rock-crusher plant during month of
| October, 1896, three days labor at $50
| per month, Sc 80.
Charles II. JoIly-For services rem
dered in assisting and directing, guard :
| ing and experimenting convicts en-
| ployed on rock-crusher plant during
month of October, 1896, thirty-one days
at S6J per month, 500.
Charles Matheson-For services rem
dered in directing and experimenting
conVicts a work on rock crusher plant
during the month of October, 1896, 800
wv. A. McEvain-For services rem
dered in assisting in directing, guarding
and experimenting convicts employed
on rock-crusher plant during month of
October, 1896 twenty-five days labor at
$50 per month, So 40
Charles l.. Taylor-For services rem
dered in assisting in directing, guard
ing and experimenting convicts en-
ployed on rock-crusher plant during
month of October, 1896, thirty-one days
| at $40 per month, $40"
This showing makes the salary roll
for guarding and superintendence foot
UP SOB 10 for the month of October,
while the bills for the entire month
amounted to only $1,177 6S.
SERVICES OF GUARDS.
This alleged unstinted payment of
salaries with the rock-crusher money is
not satisfactory to the Board of High
way Commissioners. Commissioner
Maude. who drew the original bill, in
speaking about the matter, said the
board would not object to having the
plant pay for proper superintendent
of the work, but that it took specified
| number Of guards to guard a specified
number of prisoners, and whether they
were guarded at the quarry, the crush
ing plant, the power house or at work
about the farm, could make no differ
ence to the State, as the same number
| of guards would have been required if
the rock crusher had never been heard
of
He declared that this was thoroughly
understood when the bill passed the
Legislature, and whether it was to be
so defined now or not, it had certainly
been the intention of the Legislature
that no charges for guarding prisoners
should be made against the plant or its
funds
1t is shown by the October rolls that
Charles Matheson was allowed 500 for
his services as superintendent of the
plant, and in commenting thereon the
Highway Commissioners state that
when the plant was first put in opera
tion the item for Matheson's monthly
services amounted to S1S3-his entire
monthly salary 1t was further stated
NJ.+l
tendert of all of the works about the
pi ison, including the granite quarry.
the pumping plant, the power house.
the construction of buildings. etc
Here, it is claimed, the question of
ratio should arise again, and if one
fifth Of the time of the superintendent
was consumed in managing the rock
crushing plant, only that proportion of
his pay should be drawn from the funds
of the plant. Instead of an attempt at
calculating how much should be paid
him from the funds of the plant, how
ever. the Commissioners contend that
for some time his full monthly salary.
S1S3, was drawn from that source, ana
that it was only after their strenuous
objection that the amount was cut
down to 500 month, the present
figure.
The opinion of at least some of the
Highway Commissioners is that the
81 eat efforts made by those in charge
of the prison to show that the daily cost
of maintenance and support per capita
is extraordinarily small. has induced
them to draw as much money from the
rock-crushing fund as possible, which
is used TO keep down the costs men,