The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-30
WILL SUBMIT A
PROPOSITION
Would Erect a Penitentiary
Building Near Guthrie.
TO KEEP ALL C0NVlCTS
Under the Law the Governor
Can Make Contract.
TO KEEP ALL C0NVICTS

Guthrie, o. T. Aug. 29-George Ford,
formerly of Oklahoma. but now of Kan
sas City, No. will submit a proposition
TO Governor Ferguson to erect a peni-
tentiary building near Guthrie and to
keep ali Oklahoma convicts until state
hood comes and a state penitentiary is
erected. or until such time as the terri
tory may see fit to erect a suitable build
ing for convicts in the event that state
hood does not come soon. Mr. Ford has
had an interview with Governor FeTgu-
son and was told ito submit his PROPOSE
ton in writing. and the matter is now
being worked on by attorneys.
Mr.. Ford is well known in Oklahoma
and states that he has $4,000 in cash TO
put into such a proposition and believes
that with this amount and other capital
which he can secure that al objections
that may be raised on account of proper
funds to erect a penitentiary and care
for the convicts will be done away with.
Mr.. Ford came to Guthrie at the opening
Of Oklahoma and has recently disposed
OF his interests in Kansas City. lie spent
one week at the Kansas penitentiary
with Warden Jewett in order 10 under
stand all conditions at the Kansas in
stitution. so that a proposition covering
eli details might be made to Governor
Ferguson.
By a law enacted by the last legislature
the governor is empowered 10 contract
with persons for the care of prisoners
in Oklahoma and under the new con-
tract with Kansas and Oklahoma, Okla
homa officials can abrogate the contract
by giving two months notice Under
the laws enacted by the legislature is
a clause which states that the governor
may contract for the use Of convicts sem
tenced 10 five years or less for public i'm
provement purposes. II the convicts
were confined in OklahCt1.a this law could
become operative.
In the interview which Mr.. Ford had
with Governor Ferguson the oklahoma
executive stated that Oklahoma has no
fund to transport the convicts to the ter
ritory from Lansing. The governor ex-
plained that there would be the expense
for prisoners and also the guards Mr.
Ford expressed Willingness TO pay this
tract desired He also offers to con-
struct a building OF native stone and
brick. making it proof i nevery respect.
1t is the idea of the would-be contrac-
tor to secure &. section Of land near Guth-
RE and there erect his building.
For four years the territory has paid
the state of Kansas s. cents per day per
person for the care of the convicts. and
it is stated that there has been an av-
erage of 800 persons in the penitentiary
from Oklahoma during that time Under
the new contract, recently signed, Okla
homa pays Kansas 40 cents per day
per convict and in a recent interview
Governor W. J. Bailey advocated doubling
the price per person, having understood
that Oklahoma did not intend TO erect
q penitentiary during the next two years
Governor Ferguson states that Kansas
could take care of Oklahomas convicts
FOR Is cents daily per person and then
make money off Of the contract. 1t is
well known that many of the convicts
from this territory are skilled mechanics
and tn eresults of their labor in the
Kansas institution goes to that state.
Warden Jewett is said to have made the
ss5 600 from the contract and Oklahoma
pays the state something like $4,000 per
annum. In addition to the cost at the
penitentiary, there are transportation
charges, which amount to no small sum
during each year
In the ne wcontract for the care OF
oklahoma's convicts there is a clause
which states that all persons adjudged
insane by Kansas authorities must be
returhed to the territory. Seven persons
have been adjudged insane and must be
brought to Oklahoma. All Of the seven
are sentenced FOR murder or manslaugh-
ter and 1t is believed by Oklahomans
that at least a majority of the seven are
not insane It is claimed that by having
the convicts in Oklahoma. none but Okla
homa officials would have anything to
say about the insanity matter.
At the end Of the last quarter. June
81. 1903. there were 2S7 persons in the
Kansas penitentiary from Oklahoma,
SiXty-nine were received from the terri
tory during the three months: twenty
eight were dismissed and two died. 1t
cost Oklahoma $le.7841o for the quarter
and of this amount 420 was paid for
clothing for discharged prisoners and $3.50
was paid in cash to the same prisoners.
The remainder was paid for maintenance
at the penitentiary.
The Ford proposition is sure TO he care
fully considered and in fact much inter
est has been taken in the matter by those
who know anything Of the details Of the
proposed contract TO b submitted TO the