The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-02-22

3ber, 1so7. to Sept Der 30, 1908.
amount 20 ;2,se5, IS. VI 4 lsSS
& Your Commits reports that in fes
spect to the last fore going charge
there IS "a diversity d opinion among
Its members AS 70 neither oil not the
traasac tions above detailed constitute
a direct violation Of section AZ Of
chapter 1863 Of the code OF West Viz
gInia Of 1906 tserial number 4s7s),
but your comittee Is OF the unanimous
opinion and so report, that irrespec-
tive OF whether or not such transac-
tons constituted violation Of the
specific letter. Of the law. they do VIC.
late the spirit. intent and purpose Of
the statute.
The Other Directors.
Your committee further find that
the firm Of Carney & Mullen. In which
firm Director Mullen Is a partner. sold
directly 10 the penitentiary furniture
Of the value Of .l.o2o.S2. and that the
penItentlary purchased from the
Schaefer & Driehorst company, a cor.
poration. Of which Director Hamilton
WAS an officer. spirits to the amount Of
s1,239.72. and from the West Virginia
Clothing Company, OF which John A..
Hloyd was owner as aforesaid. many
thousands OF dollars worth Of clothing
In addition to that sold to the con-
victs, and that the funds belonging to
the institution were deposited In Ger.
tain directors were largely Interested,
namely. In banks In which Directors
Gllkeson. Boyd and Hamilton were
severally interested.
Your committee further finds that
the board OF directors had knowledge
OF the transactions herelnbefore de-
tailed between Director John A. Bloyd
anil the convicts, and had like lnowl.
edge Of the sales made by the nrm In
which Director Mullen was interested.
Of the sales made by the corporation
In which Director Hamilton was inter.
ested, and OF the deposits made in the
ban ks in which Directors Gilkeson,
Bloyd and Hamilton were concerned.
all OF which transactions your commit.
tee finds were improper and should
by" boen prohibited by the board Of
directors. While these transactions are
possibly not In conflict with the letter
they are clearly In conflict with the
spirit OF the law. and must be Con-
demncd on general principles 'of pro.
prlety and good public policy and your
committee strongly urges that these
practices be discontinued.
In Violation Of Law.
4. AS to the charge that contrac.
tors Of labor In the penltentiary we're
making gifts to officers and employees
OF the institution, your committee
finds that the Kraft Manufacturing
Company made direct payments In
violation Of the law to Mrs. S. Horn,
matron of the institution.
The Arrearages.
S. Yonr committee further finds as
to the charge that contractors were be.
hind with payments due the peniten.
tlary, on account Of convict labor hire:
that some Of said contractors are In
arrears with regard to such payments,
and that the same Is In violation OF
the statute In such case made and
provided, but your committee reports
that the directors Of said penitentiary
are making every effort, to collect
such overdue accounts. and In one in.
stance have taken IN extra bond to
secure the payment OF the account.
We feel that the state is in no dan.
ger of financial loss on this account.
Your committee does not believe that