The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-26

Statements of Gov. Mount and GEN. r..
s. Foster. Member of Prison board.

8. Foster. Member of Prison BOard
Regarding the stories recently circulated
concerning the employment of convicts by
contractors at the Michigan City prison, in
excess of the number provided for in the
contracts, Governor Mount yesterday said:
THE facts are these: Some time ago the
board OF managers Of the prison and the
to suggest that, in view of the fact that
there were so many idle men in the prison,
1t would be advisable to employ more men
than the contracts called for, letting the
men work by reays-some working half
time, some full time and some quarter time,
the total number of hours of service fur
nished by the State not to exceed the num-
Der of hours called for by the contracts 1
approved the suggestion, and the plan was
put in force. The change in the system
was made solely for the purpose of afford
ing work for some of the idle men. / am
convinced that it cannot be shown that the
total number of hours worked is in excess
of the number of hours which the State is
under contract to furnish.
Last evening representative of the Sem
tlnel called my attention to the publication
which the parer proposed to make. and
explained the situation to him, and asked
him ii he secured, while at the prison, any
evidence that the total number of hours
worked was in excess of the number that
must be furnished under the contract. He
said to me that he had not secured any
evidence that the number of hours exceeded
the number called for in the several con-
TRACTS
General Foster a member of the Board
of Prison Managers. gave his version of
the matter as follows:
In the first place." said he, call of these
contracts were made before the transfer
and sorting of prisoners between the prison
and reformatory was made. The contracts
called for strong, able bodied men, who
could do the work assigned to them. The
working day was ten hours. After the
transfer took place many of the men in the
prison were sent to the reformatory, and
disabled. desperate criminals, who would
rot no their tasks, and a great number of
really sick men were received in exchange.
1t was not long until some of the contract
ors began complaining on the kind Of work
furnished them. They said that the men
could not DO as much work as those who
board, in order to fulfill it's part of the con-
tract, in some cases cut the price of the
labor and in otkers put on several additional
mel to even things up. The State did not
receive any compensation for these addi-
tional men, nor did the contractors receive
any particular benefit.
Since the new law went into effect and
the contracts We're not renewed when they
ran out, the number of idle men inside the
walls increased. 1t was only short time
until the prisoners began to complain, and
the number of patients in the insane ward
grew larger. Then the warden recommended
unexpired contracts be worked short
er hours, and that others, who
were 1dle. receive Ghance to
into the shops and to remedy this more
men were allowed to work-some three
hours, some half day and others seven
hours.
Il have no doubt that there are more men
working in each shop than the contract
calls for, but / do know that neither the
State of Indiana rcr the prison officials
have received a penny for their services.
we are willing to have the books exam
ders TO the warden TO at all times extend
.courtesies consistent with good discipline to