The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-24

financial Condition OF the P~enitentiary.
A Scandal in the Criminal Insane Depart
ment
Especial to The Messenger.)
Raleigh, N. c., September 21.-The
penitentiary directors met this after
noon. A proposition was made by
Charles z. Borden, Of Wilmington, rep
resenting the Navassa Guano Com
pany, to pay for Castle Haynes farm
and to pay the state for convict labor
in mining 2O,0O0 tons of phosphate an
nually for three years. The board left
it to Superintendent Smith Chairman
Dockery and Chadbourn to lease or not
as they thought best.
Superintendent Smith made his re-
port of financies This shows: Bills
audited $19,171, accounts not audited
$13, 936, fertilizers SO, 200, borrowed from
the state treasury SIS, 900, total indebt-
edness s57 ,907: deposited since April 1st,
of earnings of the penitentiary SIG, 1927,
amount due today from all sources
SIS, 5000.
A proposition by John H. Winder to
lease all the convict labor was then
read, also the following letter from
Governor Russell endorsing it:
1.-THE proposition of John H. Winder to
lease the convict labor of the peniten-
tiary and pay all expenses, in consid-
Grafton of receiving all products of con-
vict labor seems bona fde, and with
proper amendments, to bring it strictly
within the constitution and statutes
and to conform to what ought to be in
d~ispensable requirements, should be ac-
cepted, unless a better offer is made.
These Indispensable requirements are:
That control and custody of all con-
victs must remain with agents Of the
state; that all rules and regulations
concerning management and internal
police of the institution must remain
with the superintendent and directors;
that the ~cOnvicts shall be at all times
under the supervision and control of
the penitentiary board and of the sup
erintendent and the guards and officers
they NAME, and that no punishment
shall be inflicted except by such respon-
sible officers; that the salary of the
superintendent and clerk should be
paid by the contractors; power of the
governor and directors to make inves-
legations of matters concerning the in
stitutiOn or conduct of persons con-
nected with the management and
power of inspection by the board and
by a joint committee of the legislature
must remain as they are; that the
contractor should be required to keep
in good repair all buildings at the GEN.
trial prison; that a bond with unQues-
tiOnable security in not less han $50, 900
should be required; that proposals here
after made upon due publication, either
by Winder or others should be accom-
panied by $1,000 as earnest money to be
forfeited upon failure to comply with
the proposal; that feeding, clothing and
housing of convicts hould be controll-
ed, regulated and prescribed by the
superintendent, subject to the direction
of the board.
Upon the conditions above indicat-
ed, 1 urge that you give out the con-
tract to save the state further expense
in maintaining the institution. This,
Winder to do, and it is sub
mitted that upon his compliance with
the proper requirements he should AVE
the contract, unless other persons make
a better offer. Winder does not include
in his proposal the Arson county plan
tatiOn. He seems he is not willing to
pay the very high rent contracted to be
paid for this property by the former
board. If he or others cannot be in
duced to take it off the states hands it
seems advisable to reserve enough con-
victs to work the farm in case it shall
be determined to continue operations
there. The rent is about 6 per cent
on $4,000 1 am informed the land
when leased was not worth $40, 900.
1.-The state has an interest in the Cas-
tie Haynes plantation. You ave re-
ceived from former management a debt
of $4,000 to SIS, 900 due for convict Ia
Dor, with no security save mortgage on
bonds (s17, 900 par) out of an issue of
$S5, 500 par secured by mortgage on
land. 1t has been sold for only $3.50 0
Thomas Evans accountant is employed
to state an account from the books of
the former engagement to show the
actual loss during the four years ending
with 1896. Sufficient examination has
been made to show, I understand, that
the loss or shortage was about 1925, 900.
/ am profoundly satisfied it is best for
the state to take such measures as will
save it harmless against further loss
and make the penitentiary self support
ing, provided always precautions are
taken against abuses and cruelties."
No other proposition save this one of
Winder was submitted to the board.
Winder's~ proposition is to take all cost
of the penitentiary from the state and