The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-01-26
INCEST ~ HISTORY TWO SEWER DAMS
Mr.. TAFT DNAWTS1ITf If BONDS GARRY
SPECIAL ESSAGE
OF THE GOVERNOR
On the State Penitentiary
Scandal is Here Given
in Full.

The fun text 81 Governor paw.
sons special message to the legisla.
lture dealing with the State penitea.
larry scandal is as follows:
TO the Legislature of West yir.
glnia: Serious charges and asser.
tions concerning wrong-doing by al.
rectors of the West Virginia pen.
tsntary ana others connected wits
that prison having been made to me
a day Or two before. on the 18th Of
this month, I went to the penitentiary
and met the board of. directors in
their regular monthly meeting and
spent that evening and all of the
next day at the prison. Before GO
ing and after these charges and az.
sertions were made to me, 1 ascer-
tained from members OF the special
Joint committee, appointed at the ses-
sion of 1907 to investigate the condi-
tton of the several state institutions,
that this committee mad not investi-
gated the matters involved in the said
charges, that the committee did not
finish their investigation of the pent-
tentiary, owing to the illness of the
late Warden Haddox and sickness in
his family.
"on the day that went to the
penitentiary the most of the charges
that were made to me were repeated
in the house of delegates by a mem
ber thereof in speech, So. for that
reason and for other reasons, / do
mot think it necessary nor proper that
I repeat or summarize the charges
and assertions made to me at the
time aforesaid and since, and, es-
pecially, also, because take Ii that
the legislature will agree with me
that these things should he thorough.
ly Investigated and the whole truth
be made public and nothing be hid
den or covered up.
THE directors of the penitentiary
said to me. and they have since stat
ed in the public prints that they de-
sire such an investigation. Section
1855 of the code of 1906, provides
that the board of public works may
appoint committees to investigate
the penitentiary; and while this law
conveys upon that body full power
for the purpose OF making such in
quiry as ought, in my opinion to be
made, yet it seems to me expedient
and proper that this investigation
should be made by the legislative
department rather than by the execu-
tive department. and especially as the
said joint committee appointed at the
1907 session is stil1 in being, and,
owing to their experience in the busi-
ness and acquaintance with details.
can, perhaps, conduct such an inyes-
tigation speedier, more thoroughly,
and at less expense than new COM
mittee. have conferred with mem
ibers of this committee as to this, and
find that the committee is quite will
ing to make the investigation, but as
the legislature is in session they feel
that it would be respectful to await
directions from your honorable body.
Il, therefore, recommend that you
adopt a joint resolution authorizing
and directing this special joint COM
mttee or a subcommittee thereof to
proceed at once to the penitentiary
and make thorough inquiry into the
said charges and assertions and into
such other matters concerning the
prison as they think best and to
make full report thereof to the
legislature as soon as may be.
1T will be my pleasure to coop
crate with this committee or with
any other committee appointed by
you for the purpose stated"
HETc YEAp ANN nav