Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-01-25
HOUSE OF CORRECTION.
investigation Reveals Nothing More
Serious Than Lack of Room

The committee appointed to investigate
the condition of state institutions, consist
ing OF n. @. Williams OF Bellows Falls, II.
r. Brigham Of Bakersfield and G. II. G..
Stafford OF Morrisyille, met IN Rutland,
Jan. IL, to examine the state OF affairs in
the house Of correction.
The most important feature noted was
the crowded condition OF the Institution,
with 2Z7 prisoners in the building, and
two occupants In nearly every cell.
Supt ID. l.. Morgan testified that be be-
gan his duties in 1893 and since that time
over 5000 prisoners have been committed.
He is now receiving a salary Of 1920 a
year, and his wife has s25 a month as
housekeeper. All the guards but one
| board with the Morgans.
ID. III. Lewis, who Was connected with the
wrecking OF the Farmers National bank
at Nergennes, is keeping the prison books
at the present time for which he receives
the sum Of = week. Marvin A. Mcclure,
who was instTg mental Ia the wrecklng of
the Merchants National bank of Rutland,
is acting as bookkeeper for Manager NJ. K.
Brown Of the marble works and is, Mr..
Morgan thought, drawing a larger salary
than g week. The witness stated that
no convict outside OF federal prisoner
received a salary.
In speaking OF the manner OF punish
ment for unruly prisoners the superin-
tendent stated that they took man to a
room in solitary confinement and fastened
his wrists to rings in the walls and left
him there two or three or perhaps four
hours until he was upon the point Of
swooning from sheer exhaustion as the
result OF holding his arms outstretched.
The superintendent vigorously denied
that he had ever received any graft or
commission from purchases, etc. He
a l.ak . fsa Il Aars In
overcrowded, that as much work could be
accomplished with 80 less men.
Mr.. Morgan was esked In regard to bis
dealings with John n. Woodhn, president
OF the board OF directors, and II developed
that he had bought all his plumbing sup
plies OF him, stating that he got them at
cost. From October, 1900, to January IL,
1906, he had paid to the Lincoln Iron
Works, OF which John n. Woodfn is pres
ident, the sum OF s7l2.7s. This was for
material for repair work and Mr.. Wood
lin furnished this material at wholesale
price.
The house OF correction farm contains
seven acres under cultivation, and in the
past year netted 1901 As. The board OF the
prisoners for the past year cost $50, 1920,
or 80 is cents day for each prisoner.
Supt Morgan expressed the belief that
large percentage OF prisoners are taken TO
Rutland merely for the money there is in
il in mileage for the officers who get GER
tain rate for each mile OF the distance each
prisoner is transported in beng taken TO
the house OF correction. Mr.. Morgan said
he had noticed this particularly on the
part OF officers from Burlington, 81. Al
bans. Bellows Falls, Montpelier and Barre.
He recommended having saiaried officer
az Rutland to 90 after prisoners IN the
various cities and towns, and he thought
with the mileage system abolished the
number Of inmates would drop from 80
TO 100.
Frank Hebert OF st. Adams, prisoner,
testified that he had had breakfast many
mornings OF hash made OF tainted meat.
Vegetables hardly ever were served. The
prise were made to eat old potatoes
and new ones from the garden were sold
Merritt X. Brown, who since 1879 had
conducted the marble shops, testified as 70
the business end OF his department. In
that year be and l.. G. Bagley made con-
tract with the state to use the prison labor
at rate of from 20 TO 80 cents per day per
man according to their value. In 1891 they
made an assignment and the state bought
the machinery and stock at 30 per cent Oh
the inventory showings. Mr.. Brown mas
been Superintendent for the state since his
failure, and no wrong results were iound
in his accounts.
Supt Morgan recommended that a
building be erected to give 20 more cells
and a detention room for prisoners coming
in the night.
The commission finished its work for the
present the 18th, but Will make further
Investigations in few weeks