Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-01-25
MILEAGE CRAFT"
supt. Morgan Says the State Is
Mulcted of Thousands Annual
ly by Officers
LARGE TOWNS ARRAIGNED
Large Percentage of Trnmps Arrested
there That Officers Can Get Mileage
Fees-A Snlaricd officer to Get
Prisoners Would Mean Less
Commit cnts.
LARGE TOWNS ARRAIGNED

Rutland Jan. Disappointment D. I.
Morgan Of the House OF Correction and
county Jail while on the stand before
the special investigating commission to
day gave sensational Testimony relative
to the manner In which the stare -
mulcted of thousands of dollars annual
ly as the result of mileage graft" and
instances were given where as many as
six men were arrested together on the
tramp charge and brought here to serve
six months. They were respectable young
men of North Adams. Mass, and all
had homes. 1t was generally believed
that a large percentage of the men
brought to the House of Correction are
committed mainly for the money there
is in it for the officers conducting them
to Rutland. This is especially true in
regard to the larger towns. those which
were mentioned being Burlington. St. Al
bans. Bellows Falls Montpelier and
Barre.
HONEST MEN INCARCERATED
In some instances Mr.. Morgan testified
a tradesman out of work goes into a
town and instead of beginning from
house to house for something to eat
applies to the town for lodging. lie is
at once Jailed for vagrancy and in a few
hours finds himself in the House of
Correction. lie had done nothing to
warrant such treatment but the officers
arrest him because of the graft" and
the public knows nothing of the mat
ter.
One instance of six Young mon looking
for work was cited. They were unsuc-
cessful in New Hampshire and boarded
n freight train for Vermont. but be-
fore they could get off after arriving
in this State some officer saw his chance
and ran them in for six months. 1t
paid him to do so and he apparently saw
no reason why he was not benehtting
the STATE.
MIR. Morgan said that he believed that
something should be done to remove
this expense to the State and at the same
time make fewer inmates at the insttu-
ton. What he recommended was that
the state Legislature enact a law that
would provide for the placing of n
salaried officer at the House OF Correc-
ton to make trips to the jals in all
parts of the state and bring real Of
tenders" to the prison. This would do
away with the sentencing Of men FOR
the benefit of the officers" Under such
conditions the superintendent believed
that the number of inmates would he
below $50. Besides this there would be
fewer short term men which means that
those who were sentenced would be OF
more use in the marble shops.
NO EXERCISE FOR WOMEN.
II was brought out in the testimony
that the women prisoners have practically
Inc exercise although their sentences on
the average are longer than those of the
men. Their work is almost entirely in
side the Jail. This was not in accord with
what the committee desired and it was
stated that yard should be provided
where the women might exercise every
Iday. There is one case now where Il pris-
oner serving her fourth sentence is suf-
fering from the first stages of consump-
ton due to close confinement
Mr. Morgan said he was satisfied that
there were no immoral actions at the
institution. He found one such case OK
listing when he took charge of the inst-
tuition in 1893 but it was stopped imme-
diately. lie exercised "A great amount Of
caution in this respect and considers that
he is successful in his efforts
The testimony of the directors as to
tho effect that the crowded condition
should be relieved. They thought that
before any money was expended by the
State to enlarge the Jail it would be ad-
visabc to try some means of lcssening
| the number Cf prisoners.
| II these failed it would be time to pro-
vide larger quarters for the criminals
During the past few years the increase
| l,,.
ceeded the increase in the population by
a large percentage.
COMMITMENTS FOR 1908.
with summary of the commitments
| to the House of Correction for the year
! 1905 The returns Ivy counties follows: