The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1903-09-08


in normal condition again. That is the
present rate but l am happy TO say, that
by reason of the prudence, economy ana
buSiaess-like management of the demo-
cratic state officials it will be possible for
the general assembly next winter to
either materially reduce the present rate,
Us%to so apportion 1t In the interest OF the
school fund that thereafter it will be pos
sible, without additional taxation, to give
a seven months public school term in
stead of a five months term, as now.
This l believe would be wise policy,
and it is made possible by the financial
management OF the present democratic
state officials. And yet Mr.. Belknap talks
about giving the state a business ad-
ministration But we shall pay our re-
Spects to him on that subject later on
with all our debts and claims paI0 there
will be in the state treasury on the 1St
of next January nearly $1,000, 600. = The
largest showing ever before made in the
state. There is not a state In the union
whose fiscal affairs can make a better
showing than ours. Still Mr.. Belknap
says you ought to have a change. What
will the people say? think l know the
Kentucky people too Well TO be uneasy
about their verdict
Ia addition to this excellent financial
showing it can also be proven that the
present administration has done more 10
improve and enlarge the public institu-
lions of the state than any other admin
istration ever did. We have spent muc1
money in needed Improvements in all the
the state normal school for colored pe0-
ole, the deaf and dumb institute, and the
two penitentiarieS. All of these inStttu-
tons are in a better condition now than
ever before. The two prisons, instead OF
being a great drain upon the revenues OF
the state as they used to be under the
old management, are now under the busl-
neSS-like control of democratic OInclaIS
self-supporting, and am informed by the
commissioners that this year they will
pay a small revenue to the state instead
of being q tax upon 1t, as was the case
before the present system was adOpteu-
Let us make a comparison upon this ques-
ton of prison management and see the
difference between the republican and the
democratic administrations. During the
years of 1885, 1897 and 1898, in Gov. Brad
ley'S administration, to run the two prlS-
ons cost the state $50, 1901. During the
years 1901, 1902 and 1903, under this admin
$12, 7e3. g. This makes a saving to the
state in the three years or 500, $685. 81
These figures speak for themselves. Sew
eral Of the charitable institutions OF the
state have been so administered that they
have been able out Of their allowances
under the law to save enough TO buy con-
siderable additional land for their inStl-
tutions and to make other valuable I'M
proyements-all out of their per capita
allowance. Much political capital has
been sought to be made out OF the man
agement of some of these institutions,
but l can say and prove that never be-
fore were they more successfully or cap
ably managed than they have been dur
ing the last three years. There was some
trouble at the HOpkinsville asylum over
two years ago. j made most care1uI
investigation of it and concluded that the
superintendent was responsible for 1t.
promptly removed him and put another
man in his place. Since then there mas
been no trouble there. Last spring big
sensation was attempted to be made out
of some charges of cruelty to patients at
the Lakeland asylum, and an effort made
to hold me directly accountable Tor them
because l had appointed the mead of1lc-a S
of that institution. An investigation was
made by the board of commissioners,
and also by myself in person and by my
representative. l found that in two cases
attendants had used unnecessary force In
dealing with patients, and when dlscoV-
cred the two attendants were promptly
discharged. The principal charges made
against the officials there, and ABOUT
whose testimony so much was said by
the hostile press, were made by two con-
Wet patients, George PortwOod and
Mary Noble, and to give some idea of the
character of this testimony L will tell
who they are. POrtwOod several years
ago killed a man in Lexington, and upon
trial was sentenced to be hanged. GOV.
Bradley committed his sentence to ME
Imprisonment. He made application. to
me for a full pardon. 1t was refused
He feigned insanity and was tried on
that question last winter. The jury was
deceived and authorized his transfer 10
but the doctors there quickly discovered
his purpose, and that was to escape
They took extra precautions with linn
and prevented his doing so. He was
therefore offended at them for not letting
him get away, and at me because did
not pardon him. He was trying to get
even in his testimony He has been
transferred back to tile prison where he
properly belongs. The other witness,
Mary Noble, was transferred from the
prison to the asylum. She, too, had to be
closely watched. She was not insane
Her prison term expired while she was at
the asylum and she was released. Since
then she has been arrested upon char ge
Of housebreaking, and is now in the
Louisville jail. Such is the testimony
upon which the republicans rely about
the terrible state of affairs" at the asy-
lum. There are about 1900 patients in
the institution, the population of a fifth
class town. 1t is impossible that in such
a large institution there should not be an
occasional mishap or wrong, .buG there
have been remarkably few there during
this administration, tor the superintend-
ent and his assistants are men of the
kindest hearts and are as watchful and
careful of the comfort of these unf5rtu-
nate beings as it is possible to be. If
had had the slightest reason to believe
that any one of them had been guilty CT
the least cruelty or negligence IL wouIu
have beer promptly removed. No one
visits that institution who is not i'm
pressed with its splendid management
mates. But the. republicans are exceed
ingly hard up for campaign material, and
are grasping at straws in their desperate
efforts However if they are anxious to
make an issue of the management OF
state institutions L will cheerfully accom-
modate them and compare this admin s.
tration with the republican administra-
ton. with its troubles at the LeXIngi ON
asylum, the Feeble Minded institute, the
prisons and other places. L have moth
ing to conceal and would be proud of the
comparison. The present administra ton
has established one additional public
institution, and that is the Home for the
Aged and Infirm Confederate Soldiers at
Pewee Valley, where the old veterans of
the Confederacy who draw no pensions
from the government can be well cared
for and looked after in their old age.
We have also passed a law giving ma
terial assistance TO the Children'S Home,
one of the most praiSeWorthy charities
in the state, where little orphans and
waits are gathered, and trained and pro-
Vided with good homes. Such charities
as these appeal to the sentiments of all
good people.
takes to criticise me for what it terms
my abuse of the pardoning power. Again
they have performed great service for
me, for it calls forth an examination OF
my record and a comparison with the
records of some of my predecessors.
These records have been very carefully
examined, they are open to the public,
and l am very proud of the showing
which they make. 1 shall give the sta
tiStics from the records of Gov Brown,
Gov. Bradley and my own. In doing so