The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-08
Governor Bailey Thinks State
Institutions Well Managed.
Changes Suggested by People
Who Want to Do Something.
BOARDS DO WORK WELL
Thinks II Would Be Mistake to
Consolidate Them.
Management of Penitentiary Of
fers Most Serious Problem.

I do not believe there ought to be
TOO many changes made in our system
or managing our state institutions
Neither do 1 believe that there should
be any radical changes made. There is
danger that a lot of harm NAV he
done"
THESE are Governor Bailey's views on
the different propositions to consolidate
abolish and change various boards
which manage the different state insti-
tutions.
1 think much of this talk comes
from the people who want to do some
thing, and are not particular what it is.
They have not studied the situation
from a practical standpoint and are not
conVersant with the facts. For instance
IL would be great mistake, in my
judgment, to combine the boards of
managers of the penitentiary and the
Hutchinson reformatory as is suggest
ed by some. The institutions deal with
two entirely different classes of people
Inc reIormatory has for its object pure
ly the reformation of young bovs who
are not actual and hardened criminals
While the penitentiary deals with the
criminal class. A man who is a success
IN managing one institution might not
be in the other. The extra expense of
having two boards is not great enough
them.
=
about cutting down the board of chart
ties from five members to three. 1 will
ADMIT that three men might perhaps do
the work, but I think that five can do
II enough better to more than pay the
extra expense of the two additional
members. When you consider the large
number of institutions that are under
the direction of this board, and when
you consider that upwards of half Of
the taxes raised by the state are spent
by this board, the state wants mighty
good board, and five men are better for
the work than three.
1T is my idea that when we get a
good man in the management of our
state institutions we ought to keep him.
That may not be very popular with
some people, but / believe in it, And
don't believe in turning things upside
down simply to get change. We need
70 go mighty careful about making
changes.
THE hardest business proposition
among the state institutions is the man.
agement of the penitentiary. It's a big
institution, and it is a problem how to
employ the convict labor to the best ad-
vantage all around. 1 believe it is now
in splendid shape. The purchase of adj
dlttona1 coal land so as to extend the
face of the penitentiary mine makes it
possible to work more men in the mine
and to keep them separated without all
lowing two or three to work in the
same room; the establishment of the
brick plant, and the establishment of
the Irvine plant have made 1t possible
to employ all the convict labor we have,
and all contracts for prison labor ought
to be abolished as rapidly as possible
and the prisoners kept at work in these
industries where their services are of
value to the state but where they do
not come into competition with free Ia
Dor. OF course 1 Would continue the
tailor and shoe shops which make the
clothes and shoes for the prisoners"