Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-18
May Increase Governors Salary.

VI tullllllS llG
majority.
May Increase Governors Salary.
The house committee has favorably
reported the bill to increase the gov.
ernor's salary to $4,000.
Des Moines, March IA.
heal a story that the penitentiary
at TT. Madison may be abandoned, a
retormatory built and the one peni-
tertiary of the state be continued at
Anamosa. Whatever may be in this
matter is kept very quiet. At first |
was given the tip that a sub-commit-
tee OF one of the house committees
mad been appointed to consider the
matter and make a secret report. This
| nave since ascertained is not strict
ly true. | asked a member of the com.
mittee on penitentiaries what there
might be in the story, and knew by his
manner that | had struck a lead. Il
can neither affirm nor deny it. ''he an
swered, but this | will say; if there is
a committee Investigating the subject
it IS self-constituted, and is endeavor-
ing to secure information to present
to the house in due time Pressed
v lHlOl llldllOIl lulS member
said: THE prison at Fort Madison is
a%ntiquated, and must within a few
years be entirely rebuilt. The mem
bers of the board of control acknowl-
edge this, and they are doubtful of the
expediency of remodeling the institu-
ton at that point. 1t is at one corner
of the state. 1t is difficult and expen-
sive to take prisoners there, and when
they are released there is added ex-
pense as they are given transportation
to the capital city or it's equivalent.
Then again the present buildings were
erected in territorial days, when per-
haps Fort Madison was convenient to
the greater part of the population of
the state, but those who planned the
buildings and decided upon the loca-
ton had a poor idea of what was re-
CURED. The prison is in a gully, and
the walls are in a tumble-down condi-
ton. See the last board of control re-
port, and they say it will soon have to
be entirely rebuilt and in a new place.
The same is true of the buildings.
There is, OF the other hand, talk of
making over the penitentiary at Ana
mosa into a reformatory for men. This
might be done, but the very location
would defeat the purpose of the law.
The stigma of the prison would attach
to the location. M to say that a man
had been at Anamosa would suffice to
brand hin as a prison bird, even
though the institution be named a re-
formatory. / know that these are the
sentiments of a number of the mem
bers of this general assembly. Now if
1t can be proven as matter of fact and
tlgures that We will have to rebuild the
p~en!tentiary within the next few years
come of us are in favor of using it so
long as may be necessary, but gradual
ly turning all prisoners over to Ana
mosa and abandoning the old ram
shackle. unsuitable and unsanitary
structures at Fort Madison. Then we
a build a ~refornatory al some cen
trail point, without political influence
having a. pull in the location, and with
out the bad name of a prison attaching
to the institution. | can not say that
any action will be taken in this direc-
ton at the present session. but | be-
lieye that the members will have an
opportunity to hear the facts in this
matter, and that figures will be pre-
scented which will show the removal
and building of a new reformatory to
be a work of real economy"
Was Great Surprise.
The Iowa legislature was never
treated to a greater surprise than
when the senate passed the railroad
assessment bill. All the senators and
newspaper correspondents had been
prophesyinb that the debate would
be extended and that the matter would
no come to a vote until late in the
week. Then by n of those sudden
impulses which defy analysis the OF
position gave UP the fight and it was
pushed to passage without allowing
those who were intended to speak an
opportunity to air their eloquence.
Not a word was changed and the bill
as it came from the hands of the COM
mittee has been sent to the house.
Now that the first act is over it may
be able to guess at some of the forces
which have been at work and to esti-
mate the relative strength OF the op-
posing factions. AS l have repeatedly
stated it was and is yet a political
question. The longest headed men of
the senate were sent here to present
the case for the roads. They have
done so, judicially and with excellent
effect upon those who were not blind
ed by prejudice or carried away by
factional e~Xigency. But when the fin
al canvass a made it was found that
the necessary votes were lacking and
the opposition collapsed. These men
preferred to let the senate act-to have
cut their political fight. and trust to
the house for a more equitable ar
rangement according to their ideas.
Many Stories AfIoat.
One hears many stories of trades
attempted and consummated, and it is
sad that the same schemes are being
tried in the lower body. l have no
doubt that every influence possible
Will be brought to bear, and that
those who wish to sustain or defeat
the proposed legislation will use every
lever which may come to hand to
gain recruits. 1t is freely said that
the railroad men are working and have
worked with those who are lining up
against the educational board bill, Of
ferlng assistance in return for like aid.
incline to the opinion that this is
| n W onC N,., II