The record-union., 1898-06-08
4 VERY EXPENSIVE LUXURY.
WHAT IT COSTS TO MAINTAIN
THE CHAINGANG.
Four Overseers Now Drawing Sal
artes-Supervisors Are In
Quandary.

Supervisor Jenkins stirred up quite
hornets nest at yesterdays session OF
the board. AS Chairman of the Finance
Committee he held up demand against
the county for $50 for meat served 70
the chaingang while at work on roads
In the Fourth District, and said ne
wanted to learn something about 1t be-
fore he would approve it.
This matter of the feeding or the
chaingang has been before the board
very often.'' said Mr. Jenkins, and
want to see it settled In some way. II
the Sheriff is going to feed them, all
right. but if the county has to do 1T
and pay for their board besides, 1t is
time to call a halt"
Supervisor Mclaughlin explained
that he had been asked to allow 80
cents worth of meat extra each day
for the prisoners at work on the roads,
and he said that If the other men,
bers of the board were agreeable there
to he would be. But he did not like the
way expense was piling up on account
of the chaingang. 1t had cost some
5000 the last month to keep the chain
gang out on the roads, with four OFF,
GERS to look after them and a four
forth. When breaking rock the chain
gang cost the county $1,000 a month.
while the quantity Of crushed rock they
produced could be purchased for a
mere fraction of that sum. He was
not kicking against the chaingang, but
it was a mere matter of business If
the prisoners are to be worked on the
roads in the Fourth District the ex-
Ch RI ha rofd n nf
districts fund
Supervisor Curtis favor, but he said
he would like nothing better than to
be allowed the money paid out on ac
count of the chaingang, and with it
he could keep up most of the roads in
his district
Mr.. Mclaughlin said it was not the
matter of the few dollars involved in
the demand for extra meat, but the
pense at all times. 1t now takes four
men 70 look after the gang at 800
per month each. The Board of Su
pervisors had employed two men to
guard the chaingang, but he didn't
know how the other two got on.
Supervisor brennan said the Sheriff
had this week notified the board that
he had appointed Frisbie Smith as
chaingang officer, under a provision Of
the County Government Act
Mr.. Jenkins again spoke against the
chaingang being employed on county
roads and supplied with luxuries. He
knew nothing as to how four men
came to be appointed to look after
the men.
Mr.. Curtis understood that Chairman
Morrison had appointed the third man
to oversee the chaingang while work.
ing in the country. He could not see
the necessity for it. and told Mr.. Nor
rison that il he persisted in keeping
the man on he (Curtis) would vote to
abolish the chaingang altogether.
Mr.. brennan thought two men ought
to be able to manage the chaingang,
and the latter should be made to work
full hours and earn the money it costs
TO support them. Yesterday he saw
the chaingang returning to town long
before 4 O'clock and it does not pay
to go to so much expense just to give
the prisoners a few hours airing If
made to work as men should work they
could earn the money it costs to main
tain and officer them. He believed in
keeping prisoners at work, if possible,
but it should not cost more than it
would to employ men to do it.
Mr.. Curtis said he didn't want the
prisoners to work in his district unless
he could have some control over what
they did.
Mr.. Jenkins said he was always op-
posed to allowing extras in the way of
food for the chaingang. and was op-
posed to this $29 meat bill If any
member had ordered the meat he would
like to know it.
Both Mclaughlin and Curtis admitted
that they had given their consent to
the purchase of the meat provided the
other members Of the board were will
ing. The bill was a small one, Mr.. Nc
Laughlin said, and should be paid, but
after this all such business should be
stopped.
Sheriff Johnson was then sent for and
asked to explain to the board what he
knew about the employment Of two ad-
ditional men to guard the chaingang.
Mr.. Johnson replied that all he knew
about the matter was that, under the
provisions of the County Government
Act he had appointed one man to over
see the prisoners. He always gave the
men plenty to eat. and did not ask the
board to provide them extra food while
in the country. All he has to do with
the chaingang is that the law places
the prisoners in his charge. and he Sc
lected a man in whom he had confidence
to look after them.
Mr.. Johnson said he had nothing to
do with the working of the chaingang.
The law places that matter in the hands
OF the Supervisors. While he has moth
ing whatever to do with that. he is re-
sponsible for the custody Of the pris-
oners. and proposed-under the right
given him by law-to have man in
whom he has confidence to look after
them.
Mr. Curtis asked how it was the
chaingang did not get out to work