The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-24

SEATTLE. WEDNESDAY. FEB. Is
THE PExsTEsTIARr ISyEsTIGA-
TIOs.


The peop.s OF the state OF Washington
are entitled 70 an explanation from Gov
Rogers as to tia attitude w9sica he nas
assumed towards the p~nitenfiary srlveSti-
cation. waicA he himself n his message to
the legislature demanded. That there may
ba no question over the matter tas fol-
lowing extract from the governors mes
cage on the subject Is given:
sRaaorz Of aa exceedingly bad conii-
ton 81 affairs st the state penitenuaTy
having been aiioat for &cgns time watch
bss been kspt ard some amateur detective
work done By citizens Of WnIla WalEay
aided by suggestions received from dis
charged oonvicfx. without disclosing the
serious ard even alarming nature 81 the
fsve asiorg made, ] request that az the
earliest opportunity g legislative commit
tee. with fun power 10 act. 30 sent 20 "ai-
IN Walga: that an investigation be had be-
fore changes are made Ia the present
MANAGEMENT. IL statements made By re-
liable persons are true. AZ the criminals
are not on the inside
Abou. the first business which the leg
stature undertook 30 transact vas the Sc
lection Of a committee for the purpose
azke.a for BY the governor In his MESSAGE.
Very sIngulariy this proposition imrnedi-
atsly met with strenuous opposition from
PopuLst members who were very close 10
the governor. and finally 1t was bluntiy an
nounced that the governor did not desire
the legislature TO undertake. the work
Finally after many devious attempts
had been made 20 sidstrack the measure.
q Joint resolution was passed for the APP
pointment Of an Investigating committee
made up OF members of both houses. Ey-
Ell after the passage OF this resolution
nothing was done by the lieutenant COVER
nor for some weeks toward appointing tho
senate members of the committee. When
ha finally did announce the appointments.
the governor promptly sent a eommunics-
ton TO the senate TO ths effect that no did
not think che legislature would aave time
TO make the investigation, and suggesting
that the matter be left TO the governor
himself TO examine into.
As the situation stands tho joint commit
tee has been appointed. bat whether IL
has done anything or not does not appear.
The governors last suggestion remains
Enacted upon.
The questions OF interest suggested BY
thls peculiar course % proceeding on the
part OF Cos. Rogers arc many and varied.
Among them are these. Did the governor
really have any information at his com
aand Ia regard to irregularities Ia the pen
itentiary management. or was he simply
taking ". some irresponsible street rumor.
and disaifying II by Swing II q place IN
his message without taking ths trouhls 10
find cut whether there was any truth In
IT. What possible r-sson could the g0vsr-
nor ind for opposing the appointment o.
II committee which ia himself had sug.
gestea. that opposition 6syosopsnsr within
a week after the recommendation was be-
fore me hezialatars' w@s hs afraid that -
had uncovered mares nest. ard that the
Investigating committee would show thai
the charges were without foundationT
WHY does tho governor now desire 20 have
tie matter left In his o~ hsndsf Is Il 10
give employment for some PopyiLst hang
arM-on Cor whom no cannot otherwise
make placer Is It because ne wants tho
whole matter quietly dropped, or ss It be
cause he wants 70 be sure 20 select soma
persons Whe wiz make a report whether
based on facts % not. which vii tend 70
relieve the governor from tho oaium OF
Paving a'anasrei puh,le official without
having any testimony 10 support his sllexa-
tiense
Tee accused management OF tie peni-
tentlary has demanded Investigation siren
uonsly ever sinee tAs Charges we're maas
~ the governor. a legislative COMMITTEES
with minority representation Is certainly
the proper boay 10 investigate such
charges S1ea a eomRalttee coald have
been appointed ana been at work witsia
tha aret week % ths rssi1asivo session
had Il net hSon for the opposition which
TIE governor himself maie 10 their 81
aoiatmeas; and theis IeRort cspl4 new
have been b@sore tae seg3s,asura
Tae governors eoars> IN 80 rnAtt~r has
heen neither eeassstent. atgni2e3 nor can
did. Il requires explanation q ere ear ha
.ousl consistent with sae theory tAat ha
Isas been acting "a good taita ia TIE ssat-
ter ana wish sineesa dssiFs fer tAa pob-
~ Kpc5.