The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-03-06
Prison EXPENSES

date for Governor he arratgned the
Democratic administrations Of Ten
nessee with bitter inveciye and de
clared that "the trail Of the serpent
was over every department Of the
4 Government" From this the average
taxpayer would have cherished the
hope that when Patterson got at the
helm of State there would be Reform
with a capital r in all the depart
ments of Government. This hope,
however. was only a delusion and a
snare. Treasury statistics have
demonstrated beyond controversy the
falacy Of the claim made by Patter-
son partisans that the AFFAIRS of gov
eminent had been economically ad-
ninistered.
Having been forced to admit that
extravaganza and prohigate expend-
lures had run riot during the Patter-
son administration, the partisans of
the Governor have been looking for
some department where favorable
comparison might be made between a
reform" and machine" administra-
ton. The books of all the institutions
save the penitentiary were scanned
in vain for any facts or figures that
would sustain the promises Of the
"Reformers, but when the books Of
the State prison we're reached, the
Governors officeholders shouted "Eu-
reka. at last we have it," Without
delay the Governors warden at
Brushy Mountain rushed into print
with long interview showing how
much more money Patterson manage
ment had made the State than had
ever been made in any previous year
Warden English discourses learned
ly and at length concerning the large
sum saved during the past year. I'm
fortunately for Mr.. English and his
patron saint the rec Jrds do not sus-
tain his claim. The books of the in
stitution show that although the sell
ing price or coal was nine cents per
ton more in 1907 than in 1906, aggre-
eating on the 1906 output over $4,000,
as a matter Of fact the receipts of
the prison in the past year we're only
$4,000, more than during the previous
year.
The records show that the expenses
Of operating the Brushy Mountain
mines in 1906 were $145,OOO, while the
expenses for 1907 were $177,42O In
1906 more than $4,000 was spent for
betterments and permanent improve
ments, while in 1907 practically moth
ing was spent on this account except
warden. Every department OF the
prison shows an increase in operating
expenses over 1906, except one. Dur
ing 1905 there was paid out to officers
and employees $5S,8O7.5O; in 1907 there
was paid to officers and employees
63,134.43 an increase In one year Of
nearly ten per cent. This despite the
fact that the average number Of con-
Eicts maintained during 1907 was less t
than the number for 1906.
Patterson's first appointee to the
Prison Board assumed Office on July
/, and since that time partisans of
the Governor have been appointed to
all the responsible ofices in the
prison department. A statement Of
the cost of maintaining the convicts
1t the mines during the last four
months of 1907 with the corresponding
period of 1906 shows an increase In
expenses of more than $4,000 or over
20 per cent. The expenses for Sep
tember, October, November and De-
cember of 1906 were $27.395.33; for
the same months Of 1907, after Patter-
son appointees had assumed control
If the institution, we're $33.986.48.
These facts are another evidence of
he charge, already abundantly sus-
aimed, that the Patterson admins
ration is the most profiigate and the
most extravagant In the history of
Tennessee. At this rate It will be but
i matter of time only w1ien there win
,e no profits from the States penal
Salaries have been in
reased at the mines, additional
yards have been appointed to pay l
'olitical debts and other places Gre c
ted for the same purpose at a rate
hat makes that institution a public |
candal. g
,