Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-12-16
STATE INSTITUTIONS REPORT.
Prison Director Woodfin Reviews
and Answers Charges.

The report of the special com
mittee from the legislature appoint
ed to investigate the condition an
management OF state institution
given to the general assembly las
week was substantially as follows: Il
1896, the power of appointment o
the superintendent of the state pris
on was transferred from the governo
to the directors. In 1897, the drec
tors. l.. ID. Hazen of st. Johnsbury
Nj. o. Perkins of Windsor and Il. c
Tuttle of Rutland agreeing will
Superintendent T. W. Oakes that tn,
salary of the latter was insufficient
created the new office of housekeeper
to which Mrs, Cakes, wife of the su
perintendent, was appointed at a sad
airy of S35 a month. She held this
office until Feb. |, 1901, receiving
from the state $1,025 in all. but per-
forming no duties other than she hat
previously performed. Her name was
not included in the list of officers OF
the institution published by the di-
rectors. Feb. |, 1901, the directors
then consisting of NJ. o. Perkins, Y
III. Allbee and j. n. Woodfin, abol-
ished the office. Each summer after
1885 the superintendent and family
spent short vacation at a Sunapee
lake cottage, taking supplies be-
longing to the state with them for the
support of the family and guests.
This was done with the knowledge of
the resident director and was in vio-
lation of law. The superintendent
Also in few instances at least, used
for his own private purposes mileage
books purchased from 1898 to 1903
at the expense of the state, no credit
being given to the state. Complaints
have been made that guards were
overworked and that inferior officers
We're furnished with inferior supplies,
causing injury to the discipline of the
institution. The directors have en-
trusted the supervision of the insti-
tuition to the superintendent and have
made no thorough and regular over
hauling of his management for sew
eral years. The superintendent has
purchased supplies for the institution
without advertising for proposals as
required by law. He has also pur-
chased feed for horses, etc, in con-
siderable quantities and for some
time of a firm in Windsor of which
his brother is a member. The COM
mittee found the prison clean, order
ly and in good condition.
In the house of correction the
committee found that Mrs. d. L.
Morgan, wife of the superintendent,
had been appointed housekeeper at
salary of $25 per month, the office
having been created by the directors
in 1890 and held by her ever since.
This office was not reported in the
state officers report until 1902, and
was omitted in the public report of
1904. Since Superintendent Morgans
appointment, a cook has been fur
niShnH for Mr. MS 20 nd
the other household affairs have been
attended to by Mrs. Morgan and the
female prisoners.
Since Director Woodfin has held
his office, repairs or supplies for re-
pairs of the machinery in the convict
labor department of the institution
have been bought of a corporation
Of which he had a controlling inter-
est and was president, and certain
portions of the manufactured mar
bic has been sold to said corporation,
within the last two years, amounting
to about s1,725. Director Woodfn |
has had the control and management |
Of the labor of the convicts with the |
who have been subject to his direc- |
ion and control The superintendent |
mas no knowledge and disclaims all |
with this part of the |
Neither manager or
oookkeeeper has filed any bond to the
state for possible indemnity and the
,nly account given to the state audi
or or other state officer except the
director is shown in the
biennial report of that institution,
which shows net assets of $34,709.47
md net earnings of S33,S60.14. The
manager has had full charge of the
H. e.. Il II
ome losses hive been met, on account
# sales to irresponsible persons.
The sanitary conditions of the in
titution are fairly good, difficulty
eing principally due to over-crowd-
ng at times. The water in the school
5 inferior and repairs on buildings /
re not properly kept up.
The recommendations made by the j
in connection with this +!
eport have already been given. '
In answer to these charges Prison I
director John N Woodfin of Rutland
ays that what marble the Lincoln
ron works, in which he is con-
erned, has purchased from the house
rice fully as high as would have been
aid had the marble been purchased '
sewhere. Mr. Woodfin states that
ne books containing complete rec f
rds of all these transactions are
pen to the public and that they will Y
low that he has charged the house :
correction the same prices for re- +
airs, machinery, etc, that are
larged to anyone else.
In regard to losses, Mr.. Woodfin
lys that the firm owning the loss of !,
bout $4,000 mentioned by the COM !,
ittee was rated high but went sud- y
enly into insolvency. Director Cud- !, >
orth, however, says it will in time y
ly 100 cents on the dollar. Super
tendent Brown says the total losses
r the four years ending June 80 last
ere about five-eighths of one per II
mt of the total number of bills sent 3
It. The marble shop has paid the g
ate $4,000 in these four years. clear y
oft u
As to the charge of superficial ex- ~
ninations Mr.. Woodfin says the di- te
ctors have seen and checked every u,
Il paid at Windsor since they have o.
en- in office. He says the summer Il
ttage charge is ridiculous because -
r. Oakes and family should get
cir board from the state whether
ey eat their meals and entertain
casional guests at their summer
ttage or at Windsor. He says that
r. Cakes bought the grain of his
other cheaper than Mr.. Woodf1n
uld buy it of any Rutland grain