The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-02-04
HIS DICTUM
GOVERNOR SENDS SPECIAL
MESSAGE TO LEGIS-
<LATURE.
1t Bears on-Psnitentiary Charges
Matters Complained Of Prevail
atState Institutions-Sug-
., gestions Made.

MATTERS Complained vi IroVall
atState Institutions-Sug.
gestions Made.
Salem, Or, Jan. 30.-Since the
legislature is about to begin the in
vestigation of the subject to certain
state employees at the peniteptiary
securing homes and provisions for
themselves and families at the ex-
/ pense of the state, Governor Cham
berlain wants the investig CATION ex-
tended to the other institutions, and
for that purpose addressed Especial
message to the legislature today.
The governor says that the prac-
tice to which objection has been
made is not confined to the prison,
but Is followed at the insane asy-
lum ,sreform school, mute school
and blind school. The message
was referred to the committee on
resolutions in each House. It is
las follows:
To the Honorable Sanate and
House of Representatives-Gentle-
/ men: Charges have been made
Eagainst the superintendent and
warden of the penitentiary, and q
resolution has been introduced in
the senate calling for an investiga-
tion Of the management OF the af-
fairs Of this institution. The grav-
amen of the charge is that por-
tion of the betterment fund has
been expended illegally inpurchas-
ing furniture for the quarters occu-
pied by the superintendent of the
penitentiary and the warden; that
| these officers and their families are
supported out of the commissary OF
i the state, and each Of them permit
convicts to do menial labor in their
llsaspees; haaseehela s.4..s-.---.aals.
I This ls the only institution at
Salem that is under the exclusive
control of the governor, and [ deem
it but just to say TO you that, upon
assuming the duties of the execu-
tive, found that but little, if any,
of the furniture in use in the quar-.
ters occupied by the superintend.
ent and the warden was ft to be
further used, and under my direc
tion new furniture has been pur.
chased out of the betterment fund
and it is being used by the officer:
referred to, though the property al
belongs to the state.
It has always been my opinion
that the necessities of the state re-
quire that these officers with theil
families aud all of the guards ano
employees of the peniten.jary should
live at the prison, and what is be
ing done in this respect is done un
! der my direction. There Is no ex
press statute upon this subject, bu
as the head Eof this institution, :.
{ have adopted such rules for its reg
ulation and management as woule
procure for the state the best ser
vice.
The governor in addition to hav
ing absolute control of the peniten
tiary, is member of the board o
trustees of the Oregon State Insan'
Asylum, the Reform School, th'
Deaf Mute School and the <Blint
School.
In the case of the Oregon Stat'
Insane Asylum, section 3611 of Bel
linger and Cotton's Code, after fl
ing the salary of the superintend d
ent and the first and second assist
ant physicians, provides that eacl
of them shall be furnished room
household furniture, provisions, fue
and light at and from the supple
Of the asylum, and requires tina
the superintendent shall reside a
the asylum. There is no expires
provision of law which allows an,
of these officers to have their fam
lilies reside with them at the asy
lum, or to support them from tn
commissary department. of the state
and there is no statute which au
thorizes the third and fourth assist
ant physicians either to reside a
the asylum, or to have their famil
les reside there with them, or tina
| authorizes their support from tn
commissary of the state. Yet i
the government of this institution
| the board of trustees has deemed !
best to require all of these officer
: to reside at the asylum with thei
. families and to be supported at th
| expsnse of the state. Further tina
| that, these officers and their famil
| les and employees are permitted t
| have three mattresses to wait on th
| table and one assistant cook, a.
/ paid by the state, though there