The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-12-15
GRAFT FOUND.
Disclosures by Investigating
Committee Reported.
Superintendent CAKES.
Committee Recommends That He
Be Removed from Office. Con-
viCt Labor at Rutland. Other
Institutions Reported On.

I lowing him not more than 81, 200 O
yea and 9 ubs istepoe. etc., for his IA
mily, which he received from the di-
rectors as In the case of the States
prison. including expenses of perform
auce Of all household duties. During
portion of the time his family con-
sisted of himself, his wife, son,
daughter. child and her husband and
also of the officers of the institution,
and at one time consisting of thirteen
members in all. For about five years
his son-iu-law was appointed by him
as an officer OF the institution. For a
part of this period the son -in-law
paid for the board CT his wife and
child but for period Of one or two
years during the last part was allowed
such board as an increase OF his sal
airy.
In 1896 the same directors as were
first mentioned in the States prison
report created the office of houskeeper
and Mrs ID. L, Morgan, wife of the
superintendent, was appointed that
office at salary of $25 per month.
During all the time Mr. Morgan has
been superintendent cook has been
furnished at State expense, who has
done all the cooking for the Morgan
household. Mrs, Morgan performing
the other household duties, but moth
ing more than she did previous to her
appointment or after it was discon-
tinued in 1902 following the discon-
tinuance of the same office in the
State prison management.
Previous to about 1890 the convict
labor at the House of Correction was
sold to marble firm in Rutland at
small price per diem. About that
time the firm became insolvent and
/ quite heavily indebted to the institu-
tinn for the labor of its convicts; and
for the purpose of saving something
for the State, as the director then be-
lieved he could, the institution
through it's directors, took certain
stock on hand belonging to the insol-
| vent firm and from that time until
the present time las employed its
convicts in the manufacture of stock
subsequently purchased, and has car
ried that business on within the linn
its of the grounds and buildings of
the institution, purchasing material
for the manufacture when necessary
and selling the manufactured goods as
circumstances permitted In conduct
ing such business it has been neres.
sary for the institution to purchase
machinery and coal to furnish motive
power to carry on the industry. In
later years, and since Mr.. Woodfn
has been director, the repairs or sup
plies for repairs have been bought of
a corporation of which he had con-
trolling interest aud was president
Director Woodfin has had control and
management OF the labor of the con-
viots with the aid of manager,
member OF the insolvent firm before
mentioned, whose salary at the present
time is set at Sl15 month, and
bookkepaer who is pad $50 month.
In addition to these are three foremen
whose salaries are fixed by the said
director at 81. 70, Sc % and So 90 per
day respectively The superintendent
of the institution has no knowledge
and practically no information with
reference to the conduct, control or
management of the marble business
and discaims all responsibility with
reference thereto and claims that he
is in no way responsible for any mis-
management of that business. and that
he is not liable therefor under his
bond to the State. Neither the man.
ager nor the bookkeeper has filed any
| bond to indemnify the State for any
loss which it may sustain, if any, in
consequence of mismanagement of said
business or the misappropriation of
any of the States funds
No details of the moneys paid out
or received by the institution on ac-
count OF the business have ever been
rendered to the auditor of accounts
| The committee prints the only report
Civ II any State officer in relation 10
the business as ic appeared in the BIZ
ennial report of the institution under
Manufacturing Department +" The
entire charge of the sale of monufac-
tured marble is entrusted wholly to
the manager, Since the institution
went int business for itself it has
sustained some losses on account of
sales to persons WHO afterwards proved
to be financially irresponsible.
| In regard to the sanitary condition