Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-11-04
the DAILY OpTlC,
&1HtAoa4Ng
East Las Vegas, New Mexico,
SAN MIGUEL COUNTY,
PENirENri Rx MATTERS.
A Splendid Showing Made by thu
Board Of Commissioners and
superintendent Bergman.


superintendent Bergman.
Special Correspondence Of The Optic.
SANTA FE, N. M, November 3rd
1897,-Probably the most importan
session OF the New Mexico board 0
penitentiary commissioners ever he'll
was that which took place yesterday
There were present, 0. A. Hadley, .
Mora couoty, president; G, F. Easley
Of Santa Fe county, secretary; s
Baca. OF Lincoln county ; J. F. Chavez
OF Valencia county; ID. s.. Miller, o
Sierra county. The Of tb
penitentiary covering the period from
the time Col, Bergmanu assumed
charge as superintendent May Isl, 1898
to September 7th. 1897, were reported
and gone over 10 detail. This repor
covers eleven pages Of type. wrIttei
matter, three-fourths Of 1t being stats
teal tables, and would make dry read
Ing for even the taxpayers, but 1t Il
gratifying to know that the credit ant
debit columns thereof balanced to
nicely and that Supt. Bergman and
the commissioners were fully justified
in mutually congratulating n another
when thu items had all been checked
over aud the result announced. The
reorganization footings show a debit
item ~ $40 $50 81 and a credit OF
S17. 652 81 plus So 278. 80 due by Supt.
Bergman on aecuuu OF ~s'convicts'
earnlngs,n which sum OF 50. 278.3 30 had
been. deposited with the territorial
treasurer by Col. Bergmann.t the moment
the balance due was ascertained. In
presenting this report, the committee
has this to say:
"From the foregoing statement it
will be observed that, beginning on the
latter part Of the forty-sixsh fiscal year,
a certain portion OF the funds derived
from the maintenance of United States
prisoners and other sources, regarded
as ~sconvicts' earnings had to be used
for general purposes in maintaining the
penitentiary. II would be difficult TO
recite in full detail what we mean by
administering the penitentiary.' We
believe it sufficient for us to say, bow.
ever, that In steadily carrying forward
the industrial development contem-
plated in the several acts Of the legIs-
lature Pertaining thereto IN UNFOLDING
the credit OF the institution for the
purchase Of material and supplies on
q cash basis, both at home and abroad,
and generally protecting the good
reputation that the penltentiary pos
sess-d, the superintendent has been
obliged to use a certain portion Gas
per statemen) of the 'convicts' earn
ings' during the year mentioned.
ut is a we'll known fact that the
collection of taxes during the forty
sixth and forty-seventh fiscal years,
rendered available for penitentiary
purposes, a sum OF money far short OF
the appropriation as made by the legis
lature for those years. Absolutely
necessary expenses had to be met by
the board, for which inadequate appro-
priatlon, or ne appropriation at all,
had been provided by the legislature.
s.The holders Of vouchers issued by
this board for supplies furnished the
p~eDitpDtiary. having made their bids
a cash basis, complained of the long {
delay which they were subjected TO iu +,
Obtaining payment thereon. That s
lnder such conditions the credit of the I
>. ~nitentiary WIS not only greatly I'M |
bat actually refused, will not |
be surprising. But, by watchfuiness
and economy in the purchase Of sup
olies by the board, and the exercise of
especial care by the superintendent, We
that the credit Of the peniten
tiary at home and abroad, The general
eficlency of operations, and a gradual
enlargement, OF Industrial work therein,
have been fully maintained. l.
"We should state that in the begin
ming of the financial exigency, as lndi-
and at various times during its
existence, the attention of the governor
the territory was called to the con-
dition of affairs, and he fully approved
The course pursued by the board.
I'm view of the marked financial
disturbances during the past few years
and the consequent d faculties with
the board bias constantly had 10
contend, we believe that the taxpayers
OF New Mexico have the utmost grounds
for regarding with g~ra'ifcation the
excellent condition and financial repu-
tation of the penitentIary."
The commissioners also went into
another matter of interest to OPTlO
readers, e., the amounts due the PEN
by the several counties for
guarding. feeding, clothing, medical
attendance, etc., furnished county
prisoners. The reports presented show
hat S ma Fe county owes the peniten-
tiarv $3.50 IS for this service. having
paid $541 "a on account; that Mora
county owes $1.657b0; that CoIfax
county owes $473, not yet having paid
for the keeping of Bob Bland and othtr
A. L. s. S F. strikers in 1879
and that San Miguel county OWES
rs, a total of 80 Dol Vi
due from these fouv counties.
The superintendent's report shows
tha, The average cost Of keeping the con-
victs per day, in September. was for
each man IA 669 cents, or 81 40 each
Der month; 10 October it was IL ~
cents per iay or 81 08 per month.