The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-25
MIR. GooDwINE's STATEMENT.
Charges Made Against Board of Man.
ayers of the Reformatory.


In answer to the numerous requests for
explicit charges against the present board
of managers of the Indiana Reformatory
that would justify the passage of the bin
ousting this board Senator Goodwine, the
author of the bill. yesterday gave out q
detailed statement. Senator Goodwine is
the chairman OF the legislative committee
appointed by Governor Durbin to visit the
various state institutions. This committee
visited the Reformatory in December, and
the statement is based on Information OBJ
tained during that investigation. Senator
Goodwine makes the statement as chair
man of that committee. and as he stands
very close to Governor Durbin he may be
regarded as speaking also for the admin
istration.
AS a reason for not having given out
this statement at an earlier date Senator
Goodwine said last night that he had not
felt that the committee would be acting
within its instructions in giving out any
part of the result of Investigations of the
various institutions in advance OF fits off,
cial report to the Governor and General
Assembly. However. he said. the repeated
demands made for this information had led
the committee 10 decide to anticipate its
report. 1t is understood that the statement
will be a part of that report. which will
be submitted early this week. Henry w.
Marshall. of Lafayette. the speaker OF the
House, and Joseph NJ. Cravens of Madison.
are the other members of the committee.
GOODwINE'S STATEMENT.
Senator Goodwines statement. which
emphasizes the same points brought out
by Senator A. d. Ogborn in an interview
in the Journal last week. is as follows:
1.-The board of managers OF the Rrforma-
tory has adopted a system OF awarding
contracts for supplies which Is worthy OF
severe criticism. The board assigns TO a
single member the duty of opening bids for
supplies, determining which are the lowest
and best bids, and permits this member
to award the contracts. In this the other
members OF the board are guilty of neglect
and of violating duty prescribed by law.
What would be thought of board of bank
directors which would delegate 10 one of its
members the duty Of passing upon all the
securities held by the bank2 The business
principle involved in the case of the bank
is the same as that involved in the case OF
the Reformatory. In every other state in
stitution bids are asked for on all supplies
on which il is practicable TO obtain bids
In the Reformatory the member of the
board who has the privilege OF purchasing
the supplies buys without bids and without
competition the clothing for the 600 inmates
of this institution. This clothing Is rcgu-
larly purchased from a house In Jefferson
Vile. the proprietor OF which. lf not part
ner is a warm personal friend OF the ex-
superintendent. This is in violation OF the
policy of the State and contrary TO busi-
ness principles. for which no excuse or de-
fense has ever been offered 10 the investi-
eating committee which visited the Re-
formatory.
when the board settled with the con-
tractor for the construction OF the new
dollhouse the members OF the board knew
that the contractor had large claim
for extras and that the State would prob
ably be involved in a lawsuit with the
contractor for the collection OF this claim.
Knowing this, and contrary TO the advice
of the Governor. auditor OF state and at
torney general. they paid 10 the contractor
the amount admitted by the board 10 DO
due. about Sl2.50O. without taking his re-
ceipt in full settlement. and without writ
ten protest One member OF the board
is a lawyer and acts its legal coun-
selor. I claim that In private affairs no
good attorney would advise his client TO
pursue such a course. and no weil-man-
aged private corporation would pursue
such course
MOST SERIOUS CHARGE
.sThe most serious charge against the
board is i'm connection with the change
In the contracts for convict labor. In my
opinion. IL there We're no other critisi~sA