East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-02-01

Custom, IN the Interest OF the /
State.
Governor Chamberlain took occa- |
sion to deny the charges of malad-
ministration which have been pre-
sented to the legislature by Attorney
L. H. McMahan against Superintend-
ent James and Warden Curtis, in the
management of the affairs of the
prison, in message to both houses
of the Legislature yesterday after
noon.
The governor assumes all of the
responsibility for the alleged misap-
preparation of the betterment fund
and, although he does not prevail
upon the legislature to forego the
special investigation asked for, he
asks that the same committee which
examined the management of the
prison be instructed to conduct the
same inspection of the other state
institutions which he alleges, are con-
Quoted in the same manner. His
message says, in part:
Charges Rave been made against
the superintendent and warden of the
penitentiary and resolution has been
/ introduced in the senate calling for
an investigation of the management
of the affairs of this institution.
THE gravamen of the charge is
that a portion of the betterfnent fund
has been expended illegally in pur-
chasing furniture for the quarters oc-
cupied by the superintendent of the
penitentiary and the warden; that
these officers and their families are
supported out of the commissary of
the state, and each of them permit
convicts to do menial labor in their
respective households.
Governor Is Responsible.
This is the only institution at Sa-
lem that is under the exclusive con-
troll of the governor. and l deem it
but just to say to you that upon as
suming the duties of the executive l
found that but little, if any, of the
furniture in use in the quarters occu-
pied by the superintendent and the
warden was fit to be further used. and
under my direction new furniture
has been purchased out of the better
ment fund and 1t is being used by the
officers referred to. though the prop
erty belongs to the state.
at has always been my opinion
that the necessities of the state re-
quire that these officers and their
families and all of the guards and
"a, Nfs 1,a ghnnl1
live at the prison, and what is being
done in this respect is being done un-
der my direction. There is no eX-
press statute upon this subject, but
as the head of this institution l have
adopted such rules for its regulation
and management as would procure
for the state the best service.
1.-THE governor, in addition to hav-
ing absolute control of the peniten-
tiary, is a member of the board of
trustees of the Oregon state insane
asylum, the reform school. the deaf
mute school and the blind school.
"In the case of the Oregon state in
sane asylum. section 3611 of Bellinger
and Cottons code, after fixing the
salary of the superintendent and the
figst and second assistant physicians.
iGrovides that each of them shall be
furni ished a room, household furni-
ture. provisions fuel and light at and
from the supplies of the asylum and
requires that the superintendent shall
reside at the asylum.
state Keeps Employees.
..The salaries of most of the em
ployes have been placed at a low fig
ure because il was contemplated that
they would be permitted In most
cases to lodge at the several institu-
! tions and be supported at the expense
| of the state. The practice Is one
which has been followed for many
years, and experience has proven that
| in no other way can the state get the
most efficient service.
"If this practice meet the disap-
proval of the legislature, l think II
but Just to the present officers of the
| state as well as to those who may
come after them, that the whole sub
ject be inquired into and that rule
of action for the future conduct of
these several institutions be estab-
| lished.
ITO that end 1 respectfully request
that the whole subject of the conduct
of all of these several institutions In
the matters hereinbefore referred to
be, taken up by the Legislature and
| submitted to some committee with
instructions to fully investigate the
questions involved and report to this
| eaocton of the lePiSlature.'