Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-08

ture of the kuhner gasoline engines.
/ For the present Edward Kuhner and
Guy Hardness will assume charge of
1.-THE business for the new owners. The
T plant will be reopened tomorrow.
-
tain that he does not make a profit
now.
Sheriff KIttiiscn Explains.
h Sheriff Kittilsen was interviewed by
a representative of The Argus on the
subject, and in speaking of the condi-
tons in Chicago he said that he had
been informed that one sheriff few
years ago in Cook county said he was
making $4,000 year out Of the board
of prisoners. why. in Chicago they
can feed the prisoners for almost moth
ing. They get a half loaf of hard,
dry bread, a cup of water, and some
black, unsweetened Coffee This tai
lies with a part of the statement of
the Citizens association. Speaking Of
) the food served in the county Jail here,
Sheriff Kittilsen said: Il do not know
what the actual cost of the food give
the prisoners is. 1t varies, but in Chi
caSo no such meals as are being serv-
ed in the Rock Island county Jail are
| served. Prisoners here are given 4
light meal for breakfast. with bread
and molasses and coffee, and for those
who want it there are vegetables and
a little heavier food: For dinner every
man gets a half pound of meat, with
extras on Friday and Sunday in the
of ril I'd
rot roast and gravy on Sunday Each
man gets a quart of good soup. and
the same kind Of soup is not served
two days in succession. 1t is good
nourishing soup. Then all prisoners
are given plenty of bread, and besides
POTATOES one or two other vegetables
are served, and the men get good COZ
fee. The supper is another light meal,
and the prisoners are given ''leftovers"
from dinner. The vegetables and
meats are worked up into good meal.
Prisoners who have been frequently
in Jail have told me that they never
have seen Jail where such a good
bill of fare was provided as here
Cook Official Runs store.
One condition that the Citizens as
ISOLATION takes occasion to criticize
severely in Chicago is not to be found
here The Cook county sheriff permits
TO be operated in the Jail veritable
store. and coffee rolls and various
other supplies are sold to the pris-
oners. 1t is charged that the store is
operated by relative of the sheriff.
, and man who has been in his emploi'
in different capacities. 1t is charged
that this store makes profit of not
less than $15 day on coffee alone,
the quality of the beverage sold being
i, superior 10 that of the stuff served by
the sheriff with the meals. And Jail
TRUSTEES do the peddling of the store
supplies through the Jail.
The report relative to the Cook
county institution declares that it is
the duty of the county board to put an
end to the waste of public funds arts
= lug from the profit which the sheriff
4 is making out of the dieting of jail
d prisoners.
h suggests Remedies.
d 1t concludes as follows:
j. "As matters stand the county board
h is plainly party to the sheriff's viz
, lation of the law. 1t is undcniably the
s right and the business of the county
board to be informed as to the exact
=, cost of the food served to the pris
q oners. 1t has no legal right to pay
Il a cent mere than this actual cost and
II oversteps the law when it does pay
= more. Unless it approves the sheriff
bills that official cannot collect them
"The county board should at oncf
ask the legislature to amend the laN
so as to place the dieting of prisoner
in its hands, as the system of farming
out the feeding of the prisoners to tn.
sheriff is essentially vicious. 1t :!
hardly conceivable, under the circuDl
stances, that the legislature would re
fuse to comply. with such a request
Meanwhile the board should place It
purchasing department at the dispose
of the sheriff, with the suggestion tha
he make requisition ON the superin
tendent of public service for food sup
plies as needed, just as he now doe
for clothing, bedding. etc, for the pris
oners.
Advises suit TO Recover.
"In case the sheriff persists in tai
ing advantage of technically to maxi
an Illegal profit at the expense of thu
Taxpayers the county board should in
a stitutc suit against him and his bonds
\ men to recover the amounts that hav
e been paid him during his term of Of
Y fee, over and above the actual cos
j of feeding the prisoners. The court
S have held that county can recove
any excess of compensation paid
g county official over and above what i
$ legally due him. IL the present salar
e of the sheriff is too small the count
= board should ask the legislature t
increase it,
should he Investigated.
The disclosures, and the citing q
the law en- the subject have been tn
subject of considerable discussion |;
4 III SI<. l.