The news & observer., 1898-07-26
WILL. NOT SWEAR /"
"You Can Wash Your Hands
and be O--nd."
SAID JOHN R, SMITH
TO CHAIRMAN CLAUDIUS DOCK
ERY OF THE PEN BOARD.
WHAT THE LAW SAYS ABOUT II
"There are Several typewriter Copies that can
be Examined" Said Member of he
Board but Mtwbornes OF.
flee Says Not.

On Tuesday or Friday Of last week,
Mr.. Claudius Dockcry, chairman of the
board of pcnitcntiary directors said to
John H. Smith. cX-supcrincndent, in the
presence of Il member of the board
Il am going to prepare I'm inventory as
of December 81, 1897, and you must
swear to it,
Smith replied: You may prepare it,
but shan't swear to it,"
Dockcry said: But you have got TO
do it,"
Smith answered.: Il won't do il, and
you can't make me.
Thcreupon Dockery said: "Wcll, then,
| am going over to the penitentiary and
wash my hands of the whole concern
Smith said: You can wash your hands
and he damned. but | amt going to
swear TO it
Mr. Smith and the law are not exact
ly at one on this point and it will de-
volyed upon the board of directors
of the pententiary harmon
ize them. Here is what the laws of 1897.
chapter 219, section 8, say upon that
head:
Section 8. That the fiscal year of the
institution shall end on the 31st day of
December of each and every year, where
upon the superintendent shall take and
file, under oath. an inventory of all
property of every kind on hand and
credited on his annual account between
the State and the penitentiary for such
year. and the board of directors shall
make IN annual report to the Governor
showing the financial condition of the
institution by the inventory and ac
counts of the superintendent and also the
condition and residence of the convictS.
The annual report shall also contain the
prices paid for the principal supplies and
received for the principal products each
month, and also IL classification of ner-
sons on the pay roll with the rate of
wages paid to each From the whole
number printed for distribution, two
hundred copies of such annual report
shall be preserved for the use of the
General Assembly.
a member of the Board of Directors
told . prominent Popuist that the report
had been submitted to the Board in
due form and that there were several
typewriter copies lying idle in Super
intendent Mcwborne's office waiting. to1
T..
Smiths management. The two hundred
copies to be printed and preserved for
the use of the General Assembly were
not yet in, bnt then the printer could
soon remedy that.
knowing that there are II good num-
ber of people who would like to examine
Il report that required seven months
extra time. the whole board of directors
and Il burst OF profanity TO prepare MI.
Mewborne's office was interrogated.
Have you got John Il. Smiths report
YETI" was asked
Got whatT shouted the penitentiary.
Mr.. Smiths report"
After some moments Mr.. Mewborne'
cerk was found and replied rcassuring
~ that it was lin course of preparation"
gWhy is it that report which the law
says should have been submitted com
pletc on the 31st day of December, 1897,
was only in course of preparation on the
10Th day of July, 1898?
Why does Mr. Smith say he will not
swear to any report when il is com
peted, ut the thirteenth hour? Certainly
not because Mr.. Smith has an invincible
repugnance to swearing
What did the Governor know about the
Financial condition" of the penitentiary
ut the end of 1897? Why did he not
demand that the report be made to him
IS the law directs?
Where are the inventory and ac-
counts of Superintendent John X.
Smith?
What were the 'prices paid for the
principal supplies and received for the
principal products" during the fruitful
ncumbency of John II. Smith?
What has Mr. Smith consented to Iii
vulge with regard to the persons on
the pay roll, with the rate Of wages
paid to each?" Why was this report
not submitted when and rs the law pre-
scribcs? Why did the board OF dirccr
tors and the board of agriculture trans
act business in the secrecy of eXecutivc|
sessions because Chairman Simmons
asked courteously what every citizen in
the State had Il rs',t to know at the
beginning of the year? Why did certain
haIghty members Of both boards dis
angage themselves from the handle ,nd
declare thar this perfectly courteous
and perfectly rghtfnl request was an
Insult and was 'oficious mcddlngF
Is the course of preparation" to bel
prolonged until the 31st of next De
cemhcr!
State institutions are not to be run ac'
cOrding to capriccs OF the snperlntend-
ents. The law prcscrbcs what shall
be done and what shall not be done. IN