Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-01-10

exist in the other institutions, but dis
closed the same lack of civic virtue. It
was found on investigation that a fund
known as the hide fund" derived
from the sale of beeves %butchered To-.
the institution and amounting in the
aggregate to $l,171.02 was used by the
warden in the purchase Of cigars for
the members of the board of charities
and corrections and for visitors; also
that large quantities of iron pipe be-
longing to the institution had been ap-
prOpriated by certain members of the
board. The salary of the warden was
81 800 per year and that of the ma
iron. his wife, $500 per year. Novem-
Der 25, 1898. the salary OF the warden
was made $4,000 per mum. On mat
day there was paid by the warden, N.
Il. Phillips, to the warden, N. Il. Phil
lips, $1,133.33. the back salary grab
having been dated from April 3, 1893,
and running &c December 3, 1898, five
years and eight months at $500 per
year. Henry Peterson, deputy warden,
was paid $500 March 4, 1899, bacA sal
airy from July ], 1893. to July /, 1897.
four years at 500 per year. ror four
years ending June 80, 1891, Mr.. Peasr-
son also drew 500 per year as super
M luIii 100 AioIi thS iubA
derived from the sale of farm products.
During the same period Dan Getty,
bookkeeper, received $240 per year in
addition to his regular salary as "as-
sistant gate keeper" These are a few
of the disclosures which the public ex-
aminer made but they give an approx
mate idea OF the free and easy method
of handling public money which has
been going on for so many years In u
public institutions. They prove that
| there should be n closer scrutiny by
the public examiner and that a new
and better standard of official morality
is necessary. l am pleased that these
matters have been reformed under the
present management. The salary OF the
officers has been reduced 10 the old
level, which was Nigh enough. A heavy
draft has been made upon the o
quarry during the last year for the
erection of public institutions, two hun
dred and forty-three cars of stone of a
value Of Sit, 147 having been produced.
This has weakened Lue guard force and
there have bee. some unavoidable es-
capes OF prisoners, none OF whom
have voluntarily returned to disturb
the quiet of our community but most
of whom have been captured and re-
turned TO the penltentlafy.
The penitentiary farm continues to
be a fruitful source of profit to the in
stitution, adding to it's support and af-
fording healthful exercise to the pris-
oners. There are 286 acres of land IN
der cultivation at the p~enitentiary,
which produced last year 3 100 bushels
of corn, 1888 bushels of wheat, 2,278
of oats, 1884 of barley, 100 tons of wild
| haU * toms rf ynIllat en- hxxzhnla 30
beans, 2,519 bushels Of potatoes, 8 tons
of sugar beets, 3,100 cabbages, 139
bushels of tomatoes, 100 bushels of
sweet corn, $50 bushels onions, 3,100
water melons, $500 musk melons. -Four
thousand gallons of milk was produced
and 1900 dozen eggs. The value OF an
finals slaughtered, together with re-
ceipts from hides was $4,000. When
this showing is added to the $4,000
stone product, ii will be seen that the
penitentiary is not wholly a burden
upon the state.
The health of the prisoners with few
exceptions has been go0d, but there
seems to be a growing tendency, es-
p~ecially among life prisoners, toward
insanity, which suggests that a statute
providing for Communication OF sentence
might be advisable.
The prison physician also advises an
improvement in the sewerage system.
This is an expenditure which is always
i'm order. A state may violently take
the lives OF men; IL may justify that
act on the ground of public safety n
public policy. but ii has no right and
cannot be held blameless in the eyes
of God for shutting men up n TAX
ing their lives by inches or endanger-
ing their health through neglect to
provide for every sanitary device es-
sential to the health and comfort OF
those incarcerated.
The school for deaf mutes is an insti-
tuition which seems always to have
been run with intelligent regard for It's
| proper functions as we'll as fer the
rules of common honesty, Nc scandals
have been attached to II. No gross
| business acknowledgement q been 9is-
covered. The present attendance Is
fifty-two and the progress made by h
students is of the most catering char
acter. Prof, Simpson earnestly urges
the necessity OF a teacher in articula-
ton. He believes many of the children
would be greatly benefited by such In
struction as some have not entirely
lost the power of articulation. Since
my last message a good steam plant has
pNpti ~ III ott' poAtSh vs. 'AhS ~
ed which Is proving a saving Of from
three to five dollars per day in fuel be-
sides removing danger by fire, as the
old heating plant was very unsafe. h
buildings long in need Of 1t, have been
repaired and the property of the insti-
tuition generally conserved. Money APP
propriated for repairs is never wasted.
The legislature errs in stinting repairs,
causing buildings to decay and become
unwholesome and unsightly. A hospit-
al Is needed In this institution. 1t Ia
not now properly equipped. Contagious
diseases may appear at any time, al
they have done heretofore, and prepa-
ration, always the best prevention, may
result In saving many precious lives.
The superintendent recommends ap-
preparations for the next two years ag-
gregating $53 800. Of which $4,000 Is
asked for a site and hospital and $15,-
900 for the erection OF a main build
ing.
The asylum for the blind at Gary In
a fair illustration of the ease with