The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-27
SHIVELY AND MCDONALD
MEMBERS OF BOARD RIDDLE SEN.
AT0R GOODKINE'S CHARGES.
They Explain Their Stewardships in
Manly Words and Invite a
Rigid Investigation.
president of the board. yesterday issued the

president of the board, yesterday issued the
following statement:
The members of the board of the Indiana
Reformatory have not deemed il necessary
or proper TO make public statement OF the
conditions and management of that institu-
ton until some specific charges were made
against the same. Senator eGoodwine, the
author OF the bill TO remove the present
board from the management of that insti-
tuition, has made certain specific charges
as reasons why that bill should pass and
become law. He makes the following
charges:
l. That the system of awarding contracts
Tor supplies for that institution is worthy
OF severe criticism
?. That the payment of the amount con-
sldered due the contractor by the board OF
cellhouse and other repairs was contrary
to the advice of the Governor auditor OF
state and the attorney general and not
justified by good business methods.
3. That the most serious charge Is in
connection with the change of contracts for
convict labor.
4. That the punishment of the convicts
:. That the board was not only dis
courteous, but one of secrecy and conceal
ment in purpose in not consulting the Gov
eriIor in the appointment of a superintend-
ent.
ANSWER TO CHARGES.
We desire to answer the charges In the
order in which they are made.
/. The president of the board appoints a
certain member as a committee OF one
stitution. John s. Mcdonald member
OF the board, was appointed 10 look after
the purchasing of supplies and awarding
within ten minutes ride Of the institution.
and is the only resident member OF that
board. IL is his duty to personally ex-
anime all bids for supplies foi the insti-
tuition. This he does and presents his re-
port of the result of his investigation to
the full board at the succeeding meeting
whereL pom the board passes on the same
and approves or disapproves the awardins
of the contracts. as the case may be- No
purchase or contracts OF any kind are
awarded by the management of the insti-
tuition without bids. list of all dealers
of the cities of Louisville, Jeffersonyille
New Albany. number in Chicago and
other cities is kept and when the list Of
monthly requirements is made IL Is mailed
to prospective bidders. The books OF the
Reformatory contain the names of about
one hundred dealers and the bids average
from fifty to seventy per month on the
respective contracts.
The statement that any one OF the men,
bers of the board lets contracts without
the concurrence of the majority of the
board is absolutely untrue. The clothing
for discharged and paroled persons has
been purchased during the last year from
Mr.. Myers, a dealer in yeffersonville. The
suits cost 50 each and the overcoats s.
each. 1t was the aim of the management
TO procure the very best clothing pos
N<aH
also desirable to get a suit and overcoat
that would nit the paroled or discharged
man when going out. and this, the man
agement considered, could be best done by
purchasing from local dealer and have
him come and measure the men and fur
nish suit in accordance with that meas
urement. Mr.. Mcdonald made personal
investigation and inspection OF the CLOTH
ing and prices, and reported the result
of his investigation and bids received TO
the board. and by the latter the contract
was let, which has been the usual custom
of the board. The insinuation by Mr.. Good
wine that the ex-superintendent of the
from whom the clothing is bought Is who'll
ly without any foundation, malicious upon
the same line that all the other charges
have been made against the board
MCORMACK'S BILL.
2. In answer TO the second charge We de-
sire to state that when Mr.. Mccormack.
the contractor, had finished the work he
presented a bill against the institution for
some $4,000 or SIS. 900. most of which was
for extras which were not authorized by
the board. II was decided by the members OF
the board that we should call into consulta-
tion the state finance committee consisting
of the Governor, auditor and treasurer. We
met with these gentlemen I'm the Governors
Office and the attorney general was pres
ent Mr.. Mccormack was also present and
made his statement. The various items for
was there determined that they un-
just and that payment for the same should
be refused. The Governor suggested that
no part OF the money due Mccormack
should be paid him. The members OF the
board have no recollection that the attor-
rey general so advised. bat. the con-
trary, some of the members OF the board
distinctly remember that after the confer
ence adjourned the attorney general con-
CURED in the judgment OF the members OF
the board that the amount due Mr.. Nc
Cormack should be paid him. The board
then went into executive session. and after
a full consideration OF the subject decided
that in good conscience Mccormack should
be paid the amount due him. which was de-
termined as being sl2.50o. The board then
consisted OF III. &. Duncan. OF BlOomington:
w H. Eichhorn, of Button: ID. j. Ter
hume of Linton, and Charles r. ShiveIy, OF
Richmond Ii was thought that, as Nc
Cormack intended to bring suit for the ex-
ira work claimed by him. that the State
would have much better standing I'm court
IL IL were able 10 file an answer OF payment
in full than TO be compelled 10 admit I'm Its
answer that the State was indebted 10 Nc
Cormack I'm any amount: that was the busl-
ness Judgment OF the members of the
board and We believe we made no mistake
in that decision. That sum OF money was
maid Mccormack. with the statement that
in was in full payment for the amount due
him from the State on his contract and for
all work done by him In the Indiana Re-
CONVICT LABOR
3. In answer to what Mr.. Goodwine terms
the most serious charge-a change in the
contracts for convict labor-we desire TO
Reformatory were originally entered into
State Prison South. and these contracts
were made b. tha board OF directors OF THAI