The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-25

against the board this one is sufficient TO
justify the Introduction and passage OF
this bill. By the terms Of the original
contract the State received 80 cents per
day OF ten hours for each man on con-
tract. but the superintendent. with the
contractor, fixed the tasks which shaIl
eonstitute days work. and credit Is not
given for the number OF hours worked,
but for the number OF tasks performed.
liz prisoner fails to make a satisfactory
sveTase Of tv, tasks he Is punished or s aes
contract reducing the days labor
from ten hours to eight hours,
and s'.e amount which the state
receives from 90 cents 10 ~ cents, a re-
duction OF 10 per cent. I'm the number OF
hours and 10 per cent. in the pay TO the
State, IL provided that the tasks consu-
tuting a days labor should be reduced
only 10 per cent The effect of this was
10 require the laborer to do in eight hours
what he formerly did in nine hours. and
70 give to the contractor - cents worth OF
work for 40 cents pay. The State is there
lore the loser. and the contractor, or some
other interested party. Is the gamer or
lz1z per cent. The State receives on con
tract labor In this institution, approx
mately $4,000 annually on the basis OF ~
cents per day per man. Twelve and one
halr per cent of this, or $500. has been
taxed from the treasury OF the State ana
placed in the pockets of somebody This
action was taken by men who are sup
posed servants, not OF contractors, but OF
the State, and who are looked to to pro-
tect the interests of the State In addition
10 the injustice 10 the state, there mas
been perpetrated upon the prisoner him.
self an injustice, by reason Of the fact
that his labor has been increased when
the board pretended 10 decrease IL. ThlS
action has no excuse and no defense, ana
II any board of directors. in any private
corporation, would pursue such course,
the stockholders would not lose a moment
In their efforts TO GUST the board
Inc committee on investigation found
In punishment at the State Prison at
AlChIZan had
started a fight in the dining room. a very
serious ofense. At the so-called Reform
nine men. We did not talk TO all of the
prisoners in punishment. but personally L
talked to two of them, the doors of whose
CELLS We're opened by an officer; one had
been hung up with his hands through the
bars or his cell door with handouts on
his wrists outside the bars. He had been
confined In this position five days from 3
O'Clock In the morning until II O'Clock
at night. with ether food than one
piece Of bread a day with water He did
not know how much longer he would have
TO endure this, and his offense the
begging OF chew OF tobacco from driver
I'm the yard All questions were answered
tn the presence of member of the board
prisoner. In what physical condition
do you suppose this prisoner would be
for work when sent out to the factory
and required TO perform a certain number
or tasks per day?
MORE THAN DIscoURTEsY.
In regard TO the discourtesy to the
Governor shown by the board, would say
that the act was much more than one of
discourtesy. 1t was an act Of secrecy and
concealment OF purpose from one whom it
was the duty OF the board to consult. The
fact that one member of the board was in
company with the Governor only day or
SO prior to the election of a new superin-
tendent and talked with the Governor
upon other subjects relating TO the insti-
tuition, and never mentioned the subject of
the new superintendent, Is an evidence that
II was the purpose of the board 10 conceal
its intentions from the Governor in relation
to the election OF a new superintendent.
III there was nothing to conceal from the
Governor, why this carefully carried out
programme of concealment? Any one who
knows anything of the management of
State institutions knows that Governor
application of business principles in the
management of these Institutions. than any
other citizen of the State of Indiana, or
any other Governor who has ever occupied
that position.
I'm reference to any investigation that
might be instituted relative to this insti-
tuition, i would say that a large part of the
information would have to be gathered
from employees and convicts in the institu-
ton Any one can see very readily the
difficulty that would attend Investigation
under such circumstances while the present
board Is In control.
that the supporters of the Reformatory