The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-03
.s12,515.44
Total in cash and concession :.
FIRST CASH ITEM


The first cash item is the claim which the
old board OF managers took up last Febru-
airy, at the time the so-called Ripper BILL
was pending in the Legislature, and made
showing OF an effort to collect. The total
result from that effort was statement
10 the board from A. T. Bert, superiptend-
ent Of the Indiana Manufacturing Com
pany. that the board of managers had
Q1erD was superintendent of the Reform
atory. There was nothing in the official rec
ords of the institution to show that the
claim had ever been Cancelled or that any
previous effort had been made by the board
to collect it, Mr.. Whitaker took the position
that the amount was still due the State and
points 10 MS success IN collecting Ii as evil
dence that he was right in his assumption.
As To the second item of interest on de-
ferred accounts the records of the institu-
ton show no claim against the companies
and no effort to collect the amount.
The third item for extra labor covers a
claim that no effort had been made to coll
lect. although ii dates back to July /, 1896.
The fourth item. the concession of claim
of $500. held by the companies against the
State. grew out OF the fact that the COM
panies built the building occupied by the
chain works and were TO be paid by the
State for IL In the labor of prisoners. Mr..
Whitaker was led to believe that the COM
panies had been abundantly compensated
for their expense in erecting the building
although they still claimed that the State
owed them $500. He was successful in fore
tEg the companies TO cancel this claim.
ADDITIONAL CLAIMS.
1t is understood that Mr. Whitaker has
unearthed additional claims against the
labor contractors, and that under the in
struction of the board of managers he will
push the collection. However. the agsre-
gate amount of these claims is said to be
comparatively small
In addition TO collecting this s12,5l5 A for
the State il is pointed out that in his brief
administration OF two months Mr. Whit
taker has inaugurated reforms in the man.
agement Of the institution. by looping off
useless employees. etc., which will result
IL an annual saving to the State of be-
tween $1,000 and 5000 in the maintenance
OF the Institution. Dir. Whittaker's sal
aTy Is $500 per year.
In this connection IL Is stated that Cow
ernor Durbin and other State officials be-
came aware OF the lax business methods
In the management OF the Reformatory
over two years ago and that the Governor
had made repeated efforts to induce the
old board TO right the wrongs and protect
the interests of the State against the labor
contract firms. In this the Governor met
only with rebuffs from the board of man.
ayers and out OF 1t arose the breach be-
tween the chief executive and the board
which finally eliminated In the introduc-
tion OF a bill In the Legislature authorizing
the Governor TO effect a reorganization of
the management OF the institution In the
course OF the break between the Governor
and the old board. A. T. Hart who was
then superintendent of the Reformatory
resigned to become superintendent OF the
Indiana Manufacturing Company. The fact
that Hert had resigned was concealed from
the Governor and the board elected Joseph
p Bysrs. OF Columbus, o., to succeed Hert.
without consulting the Governor or inform
ing him that a change was contemplated
until after the deal was consummated
Governor Durbin had felt that Mr. Hert' $
Influence IN the management of the institu-
tfon had been too strong. that he had been
given too great latitude by the board OF
managers and that he had had too much
influence I'm the selection of his successor
Mr.. Byers- In short the Governor be-
lfeved that Mr. Hert would still domfnate
the institution with Mr. Byers as superin-
tendent and he deemed IL TO the best in
terests OF the State thst Mr.. Byers should
retire. However even after the Legfsla-
ture had given the Governor the authority
20 bring about a wholesale houseclea min 2
in the institution. Mr.. Byers was given q
trial of six months that he might have full
opportunity 10 demonstrate that he could
and would discover and right the wrongs
that existed I'm the institution. In his six
months as superintendent Mr.. Byers dis
covered none OF the things that Mr. Whit
taker developed In less than two months.
SECRETARY LOCKwOOD'S STATE
MENT
George b. Lockwood secretary to Gov
ernor Durbin. IN commenting last night on
the fruits OF Superintendent whittaker's
lnvesfisations. said:
~su2erintendent Whitaker has lifted the
{CONTINUED ON PAGE 4. COL. A.