The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-10-17
|NDEX|NG THE RECORD.
An Important Reform is Inaugu-
rated in Executive Office.
NEW SYSTEM OF FILING.
An Expert CataIoguer is EN- pIoyed
to Revise and Index
the Records.

Madison, Wis, Oct. 13.-[Special. i
The latest, but not least important, re-
form inaugurated by Gov. Scofeld, dur
ing his administration, is now well I'M
der way, but cannot be completed dur
ing his term. It is a thorough revising
and indexing of the records of the exec
utive office. 1t was a reform that was
badly needed, and the wonder is that it
was not undertaken long ago.
Up to a month ago the vault contain
ing the records was furnished with a
lot Of cheap paper boxes on wooden
shelves, which have now been replaced
by handsome and durable steel cases
which Will last as long as the building
STANDS. There was absolutely no system
IN the filing of the papers, every private
secretary apparently having been law
unto himself in that regard. When a
paper more than two or three years old
was wanted, it was a task to find it,
A record Of recent years could be found
with perhaps a few hours work, but a
paper relating to the war days, for in
stance, could not be found without a
great deal of labor. 1t might be found
In few days, or a few weeks, as chance
determined. It is known that it took a
clerk once nearly three weeks to find a
certain old paper which was needed.
with the multiplicity Of other matters
occupying his attention, Gov Scofield
was late in reaching this work, but he is
now having it done in most thorough
manner. The furnishings of the vault
are the handsomest and most substan-
tial in the capitol, and an expert cata-
loguer has been employed to make a
thorough index. The card system has
been adopted, and every paper contained
IN the vault will be indexed in such a
way that 1t can be found in a few mo-
ments. 1t is big job and will require a
long time for its completion. Dozens of
musty old boxes have been brought up
from the lower vault and their contents
brought to light after the lapse Of many
years.
Things long forgotten are being found
and put IN their proper places, in ac-
cordance with an :ntelligent system. Flu
ture secretaries will have but to follow
the plan now outlined to keep the rec
Ords in perfect order to the end of time
Some very curious and interesting docu-
ments have already been found, and it is
not unlikely that still more interesting
things will be discovered before the work
is completed. 1t is interesting to note
that the records were much better kept
In very early days than by some of the
later secretaries.
The work so far has been solely along
the lien of pardon papers and within a
few days the pardon record will be COM
plete to date. All manner of curious pc
titiOns for pardon have been found, but
the most original was from an Indian
confined in Waupun for horse stealing
1t was accompanied by the following eX-
planatory letter from l.. =. Hinkley, who
was then prison clerk:
Office Of State Prison Commissioner
Waupun, Wis Jan. 81, 1S72.-Hon. c.. c.
Washburn, Governor, Madison, Wis.-Dear
Sir: l hesitated about letting the enclosed
letter go, but finally concluded to send it.
1t is written by another convict for the
Indian with whom you had an interview
here, and seems to be written just as die
tated. Respectfully, L. d. Hinkey,
Prison Clerk.
The Indians petition, accompanying
the letter was as follows:
Waupun, Wis, Jan. %, 1S72.-Big Chief,
Gov. Washburn: White man say | no get
out. don't know. Please tell Indian how
long he got to stay. How many months
one, two, three months? I don't know.
Please let Indian go home. He never steal
horse again. What Indian say at Madison?
Say me go out? No let Indian out he die
" hite man bad. Shut Indian up. Indian
no like 1t. Be sure tell when Indian go out.
How many months? LOnOmOuss.
Lonomouss, State Prison, Waupun, Wis.
The touching appeal seems to have
been of no avail for the records fail to
show that pardon was granted.
A book could be written about the
funny letters in the vault of the execu-
tive office and they are still coming. On
ly this week letter came from a La
Crosse county Rip Van Wrinkle addressed
to "Gov. Rusk" 1t is supposed to be in
English, but cannot be translated. The
about "a little pay in the coming cleo
tion ,,