The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-07-10

Especial Correspondence
Michigan City, Ind. July 1t is
said that the state prison at Michigan
City had its beginning in veritable
pen" built of heavy timbers near the
foot of Hoosier Slide nearly forty
years ago. There Is a great difference
between that primitive prison and the
substantial group of buildings in
which 500 Indiana convicts are now
paying the penalty of crime. The diff
ference in buildings, however, is no
greater than that in the spirit and
methods characterizing the control of
such institutions during the past third
of century In states in touch with
the times prisons are conducted on the
theory that the problem of the convict
is not solved when the gates of pris-
on close behind him-rather has the
process of solution just begun. In the
matter of prison reform Indiana
stands with the most progressive
states of the Union. Her two penal
institutions = that at Jeffersonville,
the reformatory for men of younger
years, and that at Michigan City, the
state prison. for offenders of maturer
years and for life convicts, are con-
Quoted in accordance with the mod
ern conception of the states duty to
the criminal unfortunate, and upon a
system of strict accountability in bus
mess matters to the state. 1t may
safely be said, however, that during
the present era OF control, dating
back to 1895, far more progress has
been made than during any similar
period in the history of the states
institutions at Jacksonville and Mich
igan City. Not only have marked i'm
provements OF a material character
been effected, but much nearer ap-
proach has been made to a realization
of the doctrine set forth in the con-
stitution of Indiana: THE penal in
situations of the state shall rest upon
the principle of reformation and not
of punishment" During this period
the state prison has practically been
rebuilt, and change after change, re-
sulting in the betterment of condi-
lions, has been effected.
Warden Reeds Administration.
There is every reason to believe
that in Warden Reed the board of con-
troll of the state prison has found an
official entirely competent TO not only
continue but advance the program of
improvement entered upon in recent
years. He has entered upon his work
not only with a disposition to make
a record for efficiency in the manage
ment of the business affairs of the
institution and the. maintenance of dis
cipline, but with determination to re-
alize from the parole law all it's pos
sibilities in the direction of reforma-
ton of the individual, and to show
the unfortunates cCnfded to his care
his intention to make prison life en-
durable in proportion to the willing
ness of the prisoner to conform to the
rules and make the best of the situa-
ton. The result of such a policy is a
feeling among the men that the man.
agement of the institution is not hos
tile. but friendly, so long as it is met
half way.
Business Management.
One of the features of the admin
istrations of Governor Mount and Gov
ernor Durbin is the system of strict
accountability which has been insisted
upon in every state institution. At
Michigan City. under this method Of
administration, the humblest taxpayer
finds the books open for his inspec-
ton, and that inspection will reveal
system of bookkeeping and of double
responsibility which makes it abso-
lutely impossible for dishonest prac-
tees to be introduced without the con-
nivance of an entire group of officials,
and without, in addition, the knowl.
edge of the warden and the board Of
control of the prison. Every bill for
goods sold to the institution is fled
in duplicate, and at the end of any
month the aggregate amount of these
bills. plus the payroll of the institu-
ton, equals the schedule of disburse-
ments as shown by the books of the
prison and of the auditor of state.
Every dollars worth of supplies, ex-
cept to bridge over occasional tenn
porary shortages. Is purchased from
the lowest and best bidder after pub
lie advertisement and notices sent to
every responsible firm desiring to
have consideration. The bids are
opened and the contracts awarded by
the board of control. composed Of
three reputable business men. and no.
tice of the result of the bidding is sent
to each bidder. The board Of control
audits every bill presented. and funds
are paid out only on checks or war
rants approved by the whole board
and signed by the president of the
board and the warden.
Details Of the Accounting System.
The system of accounting is carried
out with the greatest particularly.
Supplies are disbursed only on requi-
sitions which reach the warden every
morning from the head of each depart.
ment. These acquisitions must be ap-
proved by the warden. The cost of
each item Is figured for each day on
every reQuisition. 1t il thus possible
to know at the close of any day what
the per capita cost of maintenance has
been, and indeed that information foI
the preceding twenty-four hours
reaches the warden's desk every
morning. twenty-five years hence
the person desiring to know just what