The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-28
The STATE PRISON BOARD
GOVERNOR DURBIN ACTING IN IN
TEREsT OF THE PEOPLE.
A Candid Interview, I'm Which He Out
lines the Policy That VIII Gov
ern His Action.

Governor Durbin submitted to an inter
view yesterday afternoon on the question
of the eligibility of Uriah Culbert and Da-
vid A. Coulter as members of the board
(of control of the State Prison. also on the
question of what shall be done In the mat
ter. He said he desired to ask the people
OF the State whether they consider ii for
the best interests of the prison, in view
OF the fiscal year being so near its close,
TO Dust these two men, who are famlllar
with the affairs of the institution, and put
in their places two men who know nothing
whatever about the prison. The Governor
calls attention TO what he declares 10 be
the fact, that nothing has as yet been said
derogatory to the honesty or personal char
acter Of either Mr.. Culbert or Mr.. Coulter.
They are our fellow-citizens, said the
Governor, "and nothing rejecting upon
their integrity has come TO light. and they
are entitled TO a full and impartial hear
ing. Don't you think it would be well not
TO be too hasty in the matter?'
The Governor said that Mr.. Coulter
wrote Immediately after the exposure, Of
fering TO resign at once if it should be
deemed best. The executive also said that
all the contracts. bonds and other docu-
ments bearing on the charges against
Messrs. Culbert and Coulter are In the
hands of Attorney General Taylor. who Is
TO prepare an official opinion as TO their
eligibility. The Governor also stated that
il has been found that the predecessors
of Messrs. Culbert and Coulter had. many
of them, been in the same boat.
They talk about politics. said the
Governor, land a gang of fellows up there
at Michigan City trying To break in l
don't look upon that as any new condi-
ton. II existed here for years as related
TO the Central Hospital. and probably does
vet. | take 1t the time TO complain is after
they have got i'm. and II they have not got
in. why. then. what is there TO complain OF
IL has never been brought TO my atten-
ton. There has been no statement made
of any particular person whom they look
upon as trying 70 control the prison in a
political way or trying 10 get persons into
that institution. and even If they have.
there stands the warden TO admit them or
keep them out. as in his judgment seems
best. SO far as | am concerned that which
has controlled me up to the present and
control me. will be that which | shall con-
ceive to be for the best interests of the
State and the institution
The Governor said that every member OF
every board In the State Is expected to
know thoroughly the institution after
whose interest he is supposed TO look. He
thinks $500 a year pretty good pay for
only one meeting a month. and believes
the board member should DO something
else besides attend monthly meetings.
II believe this said the Governor. that
no man of any party dares 10 pull these
institutions down from the position they
have attained. and anybody that wants 10
get politics out of IL for his party will slip
the gauge mp "A few notches higher I'm place
OF lowering IL. That is the view | take OF
IL from "A political standpoint. The better
managed these Institutions are the better
II will be for the party In power"