The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-26
Contractor Explained by Mr..
Williams.
MR.. GoODwINE KNOWS THE LAW
THEREFORE,, MIR. WILLIAMS CON-
CLUDEs THAT HE Is "KIDDING.,
Otherwise He Would Not Give Voice
to Such Funny sayings-secret
Attitude of Many Men.

The publication in the Sunday journal OF
the statement of Governor Durbin. in which
he declared that IL the bill for the reor-
ganization of the Indiana Reformatory is
passed he will see that the new board
makes such an investigation OF the past
management of the institution that within
six months the action of every man who
supported the bill will be vindcated. and
of the statement of Senator Goodwine in
which he details the charges of misman-
agement on the part of the present board
Of managers of the Reformatory. has
brought forth prompt replies from the
board.
Charles Z. Shively, of Richmond. presi-
dent. and John S. Mcdonald. of New AL
bany, ID. j. Terhune, of Linton, and John
G. Williams. of indianapolis. members OF
the board, held a conference in this city last
night, at which the statements of the Gov
ernor and Senator Goodwine were consid-
ere1 at length. Mr.. Williams had prepared
an answer to the statement, which was ap-
proved by his fellow-members of the board
and given out for publication at the con-
clusion of the conference.
Mr.. Wiliams's statement is as follows:
Every member of the board has always
felt and still feels that IL would not be
proper for him to oppose the passage of
the Goodwine bill. The Legislature has the
power TO create or destroy and IL is not for
us to criticise the exercise of that power.
Like every general proposition, however,
this one has its exceptions, and we do not
feel that we should be silent when there 10
a chance that members of the Legislature
may be mislead or confused either by ILL
concealed insinuations or by stupid mis-
representations.
THE Governor has been in Office two
years. During every minute of that tine
he has possessed unlimited authority and
power to investigate the management OF
the Reformatory
Under the reformatory law the general
superintendent has charge OF ali the prop
erty OF the institution and of its accounts.
The law specifically states that his books
shall al all times be open TO the inspection
of the Governor or his representative. In
1889 Board of State Charities crea-
ted by the Legislature. Its members. six
in number, are appointed by the Cover
nor and he Is ex-officio a member and
president of the board. Among the duties
imposed and powers conferred upon this
board are the following:
They shall investigate the whole sys-
tenn of public charities and correctional in
stitutions of the State, examine into the
condition and management thereof. espe-
in charge of all such institutions shall
furnish to the board on their request such
information and statements as they may
require. The board I'm its discre-
tion may at any time make an investiga-
ton by the whole board. or by a commit
tee of it's members. Of the management OF
tuition of the State; and said board or COM
mittee in making any such investigation
shall have power to send for persons and
papers and TO administer oaths and affirma-
tions, and the report of such investiga-
ton, with the testimony, shall be made to
the Governor and shall be submitted by
him. with his suggestions. to the General
Assembly.
AN ANNUAL REPORT.
1.-The board is required to prepare and
print annually for the use OF the Legis-
lature a full and complete report showing,
among other things. the actual condition
of all state institutions under their con-
troll. with such suggestions as they may
deem necessary and pertinent.
This is the board of which the Governor
has been president for two years and OF
which he made the following mention in
his recent message to the Legislature:
1.-The work of the Board of State Chari-
ties is Of inestimable value. Its supervision
over the benevolent, charitable and correc-
tionaI institutions is of special value and
adds materially 10 the efficient, humane and
economical management of these institu-
tions. / especially commend the services OF
Mr.. Amos W. Butler. secretary OF the
Board of State Charities, who. in a signal
duties of his position.
'.The report of this valuable board. with
the Governor as Its president and Mr.. But
Ter as its secretary Off the law has been
complied with is now i'm the hands OF every
member of the Legislature. To that report
every member of the Legislature is most
respectfully referred for reliable informa-
ton about the conditions of the Reforma-
tory and it's management. In the absence
of any showing to the contrary. IL must be
presumed that the Governor and the Board
0f totn ha hofr
whole duty towards the Reformatory, as
well as towards all the other state institu-
tions over which they have supervision.
is concerned / cannot believe he intended
IL should be taken seriously. IL Is too
much like a joke He certainly cannot be
in earnest when he says the present board
should be abolished because OF the change
in the contracts for convict labor. IL he
knows anything al all about the change In
those contracts-of course, be IL understood
that l charge him with no such knowledge
he knows that the only change that has
been made in any of the contracts was
made by the first board and Immediately
after the Reformatory was organized. The
contracts were made during the existence
of the old Prison South, and the act OF
1897. creating the Reformatory. provided
that any contractor who desired TO aban-
don his contract might do II he did
not the law declared that the change i'm
the management OF said prison shall be
deemed to be of no injury or damage to
such contractor.
Although the present board never made
the contracts. never changed them and
cannot under the law change them nor get
rid of them without the consent OF the con-
tractors are TO understand that Senator
Goodwine honestly thinks We ought 10 be
removed? | cannot believe IL. The senator
Is lust having little quiet fun
SUPPORT FOR THE THEORY.
This theory finds support In the reasons
given by the senator for not making an
earlier statement. He says he was chair
man OF the legislative committee appointed
by the Governor TO visit the various state