Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-16
Official Report on the Investiga-
ton of the House Of Cor
rection.
NO SIGN OF DISHONESTY
Present Marble Business the Rest Flint
Cam he Conducted Thcrc-Account1
Accurately aud Honestly Kept
The Dismissal of One AS
sistant Recommended.

The Dismissal of One AS
sistant Recommended.
The official report of the state investi-
eating committee, consisting of Gen. n.
e.. Williams Of Bellows Falls, ii. F.. Brig
ham of Bakersfield and G. II. \. Stafford
Of Morrisvillc, on conditions at the House
Of Correction at Rutland was made public
Saturday. one of the interesting fea-
lures of the report is the statement OF
J.. S. Pratt of Btattleboro, the expert ac-
countant, who has also been employed by
+. w. Clement, that
"This report deals only with
the mor important matters con-
nected with the business. but III
getting at the results here pre-
scented the examination was car
ried into the minutest details. and
| have no hesitation in reporting:
"First-That the accounts have
been accurately and honestly
kept.
"Second-That the business
has been prudently and skilfully
managed.
"Third-That no unnecessary
help has been employed or excess
sive salaries paid.
"Fourth-That there has been
no graft for any n connected
with the department.
(Signed)
"F. S. PRATT.
"Brattleboro. Vt. July %. 'O5.'
The full text of the report follows:
Hon. Charles j. Eel, Governor.
The undersigned. duly appointed by you
TO investigate the State Institutions, re-
erectfully submit the Glowing report as
10 the House of Correction at Rutland;
HOUSE OF CORRECTION.
The act, authorizing the establishment
and construction of a work house, now
the House of Correction, was enacted in
1876. and the Institution was first opened
for the care of prisoners December :, 1873,
the original appropriation for its construc-
ton being $4,000. Since then there has
been appropriated:
s2o. 600 in 1894 for boiler, prison wall, and
extension of buildings.
5000 in 1895 for 16 acres Of land.
$1,000 in 1902 for light and water plant.
making the total appropriation for con-
structlon, $40. GOO. The property was APP
praised Mt $4,000 at the beginning of Mr..
Morgan's torn as superintendent and at
$4,000 at the present time, the increased
value over cost representing the savings
by the employment of prisoners and.
which If applied on current expenses,
would have materially reduced the cost to
the State of maintenance.
RUTLAND COUNTY JAIL.
BY the terms of the act authorizing its
construction. 1t was provided that the
House of Correction should be located
within such county as would contribute
the sum of s20,0o0 toward the erection
thereof, and that said county should have
the right TO use the same for a common
Jail, the superintendent performing the
duties and subject to the same Liabilities
as keepers of fails. This act also provides
fottthe making Of repairs and the method
of appropriatinE the expenses therefor be-
tween the county and State. We find the
quarters used for jail purposes have been
inadequate at times for the accommodate
ton of ne commitments thereto during
the past three or four years. Rutland
>AtH'N q ''H'IlbNl'I ipWaTN me cost
OF repairs and extension to tho House of
correction since its erection, the sum of
$50.
pr-r1 D1xCc Ann cpo,~r
we ma the buildings in good condition
nallv tho gro,r1. ,..r rnn. .a.nr.n.
Hld out, ana made attractiVe with flowers
ana shruhhery.
MAE1-EAr -r-p,~c
IN view or the criticisms which have
beeh made with reference thereto, and Of
Inc important relation which this depart
meht bears to the institution, we caused
II most thorough ana comprehensive ex-
tmlnatlon 10 be made OF all matters per-
'Hlhlng 70 II by Mr.. F. 5. Pratt of Brat
uehoro' the expert accountant employed
hF us IN our Investigations. His report
Is so complete ana exhaustive that We APP
pohd III" same hereto With our endorse
Moht OF inc findings noted therein.
o'''oh ''lHs OF the Revised Statutes pro-
Nldes that the directors of the State
]rlson ana House of Correction may con-
tract Tor not exceeding five years to any
person, the labor of all or part of the
c"nVicts in the State Prison and House Of
Correction In such manner ana upon such