Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-30
O|(NORE GRAND JURY
Board Of Control Will Take No
Notice Of Polk County Grand
Jury's Report
Will Make Investigation Of Their
Own Some Time in Near
Future.
Cewnie Talks Of Conditions at State
Cewnie Talks Of Conditions at State
InstitutionsEWork For the
Prisoners.

Des Moines, Nov. Bottle board of |
control proposes to ignore the report /
brought in by the Polk county grand
jury, and will not make any investiga-
ton into the conditions at present ex
listing at Mitchellvile until the mem
ton of the state institutions which they
are at present making. This will not
be for some little time as it will take
about ten days or two weeks to visit
the balance of the institutions which
they have not as yet inspected, and
they will not set forth again on their
trip for week or more Mr.. Cownie
arrived in the city yesterday, and was
at his desk, surrounded by the accu-
mutation of papers which had gathered
at his departure. He gave as the rea-
son of the board for not at once setting
out again en- their tour the necessity
of letting the quarterly contracts for
supplies for the institutions, which will
keep the members busy for the next
week or two.
In speaking of affairs at Mitchellville
and the action of the grand jury, Mr..
Cownie said:
What has the grand jury got to do
with us or the Industrial schools? The
action of the members is that of any
other few men who might get together
and prepare an article of some kind for
our edification. If we should pay any
attention to such remonstrance, we
| would be kept busy all of the time in
| listening to people who came in with
such papers. The grand jury had no
business in interfering with the matter
at all.
so far as we are concerned with the
matter we will ascertain the true con-
ditions all in good time but 1T will be
some time before we get there. We
will arrive in Mitchellvlle and investi-
gate the conditions there just as we
| are doing at all of the other institu-
| tions and not a thing will we do with
| the matter before that time. Leonard
| Brown was in here today ind gave me
| another pamphlet in regard to the
school, but l have not had time to look
| it over
Mr.. Cownie, continuing to talk. spoke
of the trip of the board and the institu-
tons which had already been investi-
gated
I'VE have been to the school for the
| deaf at Council Bluffs, the home for
/ feeble minded at Glenwood, the hospit-
| ais for the insane at Clarinda and Mt.
/ Pleasant, the penitentiary at Fort Mad
ison, and the soldiers orphans home al
/ Davenport The condition at each was
most gratifying to US. In every single
4 instance had the conditions been great
" improved since our annual trip OF a
1 year ago. If there is any objection aris-
/ ing at the present time as to the meth
cd of conduct of any of the institutions
1T does not come from the inmates. The
conditions are vastly improved. There
! is no question about the inmates farlne
4 better. In every particular-in variety
quality and quantity--has the standard
of food been improved. The inmates
themselves, even in the insane hospitals
remark upon the improvement OF the
conditions. They are also better clothed
In all of the institutions the executive
officers are wedding out the poorest hell
and we feel confident that the era o.
Improvement is by no means at an end
AT Fort Madison the most noticea BIZ
Il improvements have been made yea
ago the grounds in the vicinity of tn
!penitentiary We're nothing more than
f Imudhole Today they form a beautifu
lawn. The entire grounds have been Sc
i out in grass and graded properly. Ant
at Fort Madison we have built one Q
the finest three-stor buildings TO b
seen anywhere. 1t is to be used as
workshop and will furnish employment
/, for many of the inmates The machine
nv is being put in now for the pearl but
n ton factory The balance of the spac
in the building will be used for the ex
e tension Of the present shops in the peni
f Tertiary 1t is the intention to hav
e produced many of the articles who
are daily consumed by the inmates.
What do the prisoners think of tn
Increased possibilities for the use
their labor, Mr.. Cownie?'
They are only too delighted TO
given an opportunity to do somethlns
They come and beg US to let them go
: work. Heretofore there has not bee
:. employment enough to keep them
busy, and they consider the time sper
in the idle shop as the hardest PUNISH
ment which can be inflicted upon then
n They have to sit around on benches an
$ arc forbidden to talk, and it is enoug
e TO send them crazy trying to pass IN
r time. When permitted to work the
i learn good trades and the regular worn
: ing hours keep their minds occupied.
n