The Saint Paul globe., 1899-05-10
By OISTIAG nOlJLTON
STATE REFoRMATORY BOARD
MAY PUT AN END TO ST.
CLOUDrsCANDAL
WHITTIER TO SUCCEED HIM

Predicted That the state Prison
Agent WIFI BE Promoted If a
Change IsesMaae In the Manage
ment at SHGCaoud-He Is Said to
Bear the AaFavOr of Warden
WOIfer. sE{Se
The board of managers Of the state
reformatory will hold an interesting and
important sessionoat the Merchants ho-
tel this evening. The meeting will be
an adjourned one, the better part Of last
Wednesday and Thursday having been
put in by the board at St. Cloud at
regular meeting and then an adjourn
ment taken.
The trouble is all about the proposed
change in the superintendent Of the re-
formatory. At the st. Cloud meeting
certain charges were made against Supt.
w. H. Houlton and these will be again
considered at the session this evening.
1t is charged that until last February the
superintendent and members of his fam
lily were the owners of 200 of the 240 acres
of land which the legislature authorized
the reformatory board to purchase for
the Institution. The land was trans
ferred to a third party several months
ago. but the board has declined to pur-
chase the tract until after an investiga-
ton. +tit go
1t Is also charged that some time ago
$1,000 of the funds of the institution were
transferred from a st. Cloud bank to a
Minneapolis institution and then to a
ha at IF WI no
inendent is one of the officers. This
transfer 1t is claimed, was not properly
entered on the books of the institution.
Another charge Is that the superin-
tendent sold lumber and other materials
to the institution. the vouchers being
made out to his foreman. Another
charge is that the superintendent trav-
eled on railroad pass and then charged
up mileage for the trips.
One of the members of the board in
speaking of the matter yesterday said
that all Of the charges made against Mr..
Houlton were explainable, and it was
very probable that nothing could be said
which would reflect on his honesty in any
way.
Other charges regarding the treatment
of the prisoners at the reformatory,
however, are to be made and If reports
are as stated there is but little doubt
but that a change will be made on this
ground alone.
It Is claimed that Supt Houlton's ex-
perience in the line Of caring for pris-
oners at an institution of this kind has
been limited to having had charge of q
Sunday school for twenty years and that
this practical knowledge Of the work has
made him anything but an ideal Of
flcial.
An instance IS given where on the sus-
picion that one Of the prisoners had writ
ten a note which was found in one Of the
corridors the superintendent had the man
confined in dungeon for four days en-
deavoring to force a confession that ne
was the author Of the note. The pris-
oner on whom suspicion fell refused to
confess and was only removed from the
dungeon when the physician Of the in
stitution reported that further solitary
confinement would result in the death Of
the convict.
In case the board of managers should
conclude to dispense with the services of
Supt Houlton. it is predicted that F. A.
Whittier, at present in the employ of the
state as agent for and general supervisor
of discharged conyfcts from the peniten-
tiary, will be named for the place.
Mr. Whittier has held the position Of
state agent for about three years. and has
the cordial backing Of Warden Wolfer for
) .
At the meeting Of the reformatory board
held at st. Cloud 1t Is understood that
Whittier was the choice of three of the
six members of the board for the posi-
ton of superintendent.
A gentleman familiar with the manage
ment of the reformatory, In discussing
the possibility OF the selection of State
AgIat Whittier as superintendent Of the
institution last evening, said:
eff there Is to be any change made in
the head of the reformatory the board
should certainly profit by the experience
OF the past few years, and not put in
another man who has had no practical ex-
perience in this line.
.'The superintendent Of the reformatory
IS, as matter Of fact the whole thing,
so far as the institution is concerned.
There is a board of managers, but the
members simply ratify the acts Of the
superintendent and agree to suggestions
or recommendation which he makes. Out
side of this and the approving Of pur-
chases already made by the superintend-
ent the board does nothing.
1.-The superintendent, for this reason,
should possess qualifications which would
fit him for the position, and, while Mr..
Whittier may possibly have been able to
draw his salary as state agent and salts
fy the warden of the state prison and the
superintendent of the reformatory as to
his duties. he, In my opinion, would be
far from the right man in the right place
as superintendent Of the st. Cloud re-
formatory.
''It has been stated on pretty good au-
thority that the only reason for giving the
position of superintendent of the reforma-
tory to Mr.. Whittier is that his place as
state agent Is desired by a we'll known
St. Paul politician, who has friends at
court, as they say. Whether this is cor
Z, o,,l To I,,&f I1t
Is selected the board will find it has made
q step backward instead Of forward. If
they want to change Whittiers position
let them give him a chance to get place
for himself or let Wolfer find one for him
in some other institution"