The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-12-15

The public has at last an opportu-
nifty to get clear glimpse of the State
institutions and to see the inside
workings OF the same in their
nakedneqs without any obscuring fogs
or shielding curtains of superficislity
to impede. The joint committee to
inquire into the matter of State ex-
penses in maintaining the various
institutions, to report upon the man
agement of the institutions, cure aud
treatment of persons confined therein,
the details Of expenditure of money
appropriated by the State for said in
situations, and as to the honest and
faithful performance of all the du.
ties of all the Officers, made re-
port that strikes fearlessly at
the bottom of things revealing the
graft and poor management found in
plain terms.
1t commenced with E. W. Cakes,
superintendent of the State prison. at
Windsor. He was appointed to that
| office by the Governor in 1858 and has
held the office ever since. The salary
of the Office was and is fixed at sum
not exceeding 81 200 per annum with
| rent and subsistence of himself and
family on the premises of the insti-
| tuition, and this the directors have fur
nished during his term together with
heat, light and n female domestic SER
| want.
In 1896 by the passage Of a law the
appointment of the superintendent
was placed in the hands of the direct
ors. In 1897 l.. D. Hazen of St.
Johnsbury, M. o. Perkins of Windsor
and e @. Tutttle were directors of
the institution and in Septernb Der of
that year it was talked by the direct
ors and superintendent that the lat
ter's salary was not large enough.
A new Office was created, that Of
housekeeper. and Mrs. Cakes was ap-
| pointed with salary of S25 per
month and this she held until Febru-
airy, 1901, receiving from the State
81, 025. At the end of this time a
majority of the directors then consist
ing of M. o. Perkins, Zina H. Albee
and j. N. Woodfin voted to abolish
the office. While Mrs. Cakes held this
Office she rendered no serv ce and most
of the time was incspacitated by ILL
ness. The committee found that the
creation of the office by the directors
was solely for the purpose of increas.
ing the salary of the superintendent.
| In 1895 Mr.. Cakes had an interest
| in a summer home at Lake Sunapee,
N. H., and here he took supplies be-
longing to the State for his family
and visitors dnring his vacation period
each year, with the nowledge IF the
resident director. This was in viola
ton OF the law. After the supplies
were gone he usually purchased more
at his own expense from stores and
farm houses near the cottage. In the
| four years from @99 to '03 inclusive it
was found that twenty railroad mile
ages were purchased at State expense
and. in few instances at least, were
used for his own private purposes
The supervision of the institution
| by the directors has been confined
principally to such as was made by
! the resident director. No regular
| meetings of the board were held and
m fhnrnnuh Ior ho IL in ~
| the superintendent management was
made, the affairs being practically
entrusted to him. In connection with
the purchase Of provisions. materials,
ETC.. for support of prisoners, ETC., the
| committee found that these had been
made at times, in quantities exceed
ing in amount $500, without advertis-
ing for proposals as required by Sec
tion 1856 of the Vermont S atutes
This section the superintendent has
construed as not relating to such con
tracts In the purchase of grain and
feed for horses in connection with the
management of the State prison, it
was found that the superintendent had
for long time purchased these neces
sites of firm in Windsor, nf which
his brother is a member. and had not
invest gated to see if such purchase
! could be made for less money at oiher
places, The committee. upon visit.
ing the States prison. found it kept
clean and in good sanitary condition
HOUSE OF CORRECTION
David l.. Morgan was q st ap-
pointed superintendent of the House of
Correction in 1893 at salary OF
200. In 1893 law was passed al