The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-11-25
INTERROGATORIES
ANSWERED BY SUPERINTEN.
DENT j. w. PONTIUs.
some Points with Reference TO the
woikhouse That MsssiIion Paper
Couldn't See, Are Given IuteIli.
gent Response aud Reasons.

Nouiuh'A SER are StVen lufeIn-
gent Response aud Reasons.
A day or so ago the Massillon Inde-
pendent took occasion to PROFOUND sew
eral questions, directing them to Superin-
tendent ]. W. Pofitius, of the workhouse.
The annual report Of the workhouse di-
reotors will be issued in January, when
the Independent and all others in crested
will be able to get all the details. AS so
little effort is apparently made by those
now engaged in criticising the workhouse,
to secure facts and sufficient data to form
an intelligent opinion about anything
in connection with the institution, nor
seeming to possess the power of absorbing
house superintendent could readily be ex-
cused If he ignored the extension of fly
time into the winter months. Every
expenditure made at the workhouse is
made after examination by and with the
sanction Of the workhouse directors and
the county commissioners. The superin-
tendent's contract with the ]. directors is
silent as regards space rates for matter
furnished the press, and IL the county
develops two or three more tyros, who
argue on tangent, it may be necessary
for the directors to increase the roster of
officers and elect press agent. That
would necessitate the payment of such q
muniflcent salary as is commanded by
newspaper men, and then the institution
would go broke, sure. But Superinten-
dent Pontius is courteous and obliging,
and having nothing to conceal, takes
pleasure in answering such questions as
arc propounded with reference to the
institution, feeling that its benefits are
so great that it should in no wise be mis-.
represented. He today submitted the
following
OPEN LETTER.
To the Editor of the Independent
While somewhat unaccustomed to making
exploits in print, cheerfully answer such
questions as you PROFOUND, on the sup
position that they are propounded in
good faith, but regretting that cannot
anticipate our annual report in detail.
You will have that report from Secretary
A. b. Love, after the January meeting.
You inquire:
"What is the daily average number OF
Stark county prisoners?"
Our annual report will set forth this
question in detail and it is now being com.
piled. am able to state, however, that
during the current year we have received
i2O Stark county prisoners and 41S from
other counties.
What is the cost per capita per annum
and per day of caring for the prisoners9'
Taking into account the value the
county has received from their labor, In
the way Of public improvements and
products of the works. the cost this year
has been S91.73, as set forth in a former
statement. For S3S prisoners received
326 days of the year having elapsed, the
cost per day runs considerable distance
| to the right of the decimal point.
"What is the price per day paid to the
workhouse trustees for caring for the
prisoners of other counties.Y"
All contracts of that nature are made
by the workhouse directors, and have
no part In it. For information on that
question it would be necessary to inquire
of those who make the contracts.
| "What is the difference per capita in
the cost of maintaining prisoners at the
workhouse and inmates of the mfr
maryy'"
The cases are in no wise analogous. II
ought to suggest itself that it costs more
to maintain 80 prisoners who must bt
transported to Massillon or some other
part of the county, furnished with teams
wagons and tools, than it costs to main
tain so imbeciles who,do title or nc
labor and who do not require the same
character of sustenance nor in such
quantity.
What is the cost of workhouse admin
| istration?"
My salary is 5000 per year.
"Is it true that workhouse labor has
been diverted to private use?'
1t is not true in the slightest particu
lar. will be glad to meet anybody upor
that proposition at any time.
Gould not the prisoners of Starl
county be maintained at far less cost Il
outside contracts were not undertakenY
They could not. TO officer, guard
heat and light the institution costs about
as much for 30 prisoners as for 100 pris
oners, and the revenue from outside would
be missing, increasing the per capita o.
expense for Stark county prisoners.
| NCinnld a. ba Ha,,f,n that ~ yoy,
to board the prisoners of other countless
We are demonstrating 1t every day il
the conduct of the institution. ThC
county gets an equivalent from the labo
for whatever expense is incurred ant
prisoners from other counties are sourc,
of positive revenue.
Is 1t not fact that the value of worl
house improvements and road work ha
no relation to the cost of supporting tn
prisonersY"
1t Is not fact. The outlay for teams
wagons and tools is an expense which
in the general course, lreverts to the pc
capita expense. Again, one canno
maintain men who work hard for tn
same amount as those who do not work
Besides, when doing road work, such a
was done on Marshall hill, Massillon
there is an increase in expense. Ever
item of food procured in Massillon wa
more expensive than we can procure 70
prisoners maintained directly at the insti
tuition. 1t cost more than twice a
much to make the Marshall hill improve
ment as 1t did to do road work within
easy distance of the workhouse