Morris tribune., 1911-03-31
EDDY AMONG
The LAWMAKERS
SHOCKED AT RED WING
DISCLOSURES.
Pokes Fun at the Perquisites-
The Direct Primary and His
view on the klemer Episode.
Ry F. Nj. Eddy.

By r. M. EDDY.
St. PauI.-The Legislative Com
mittee appointed to investigate the
charges made against the Red Wing
Reform School have finished their
task and will probably make their re-
port in tho near future. 1t matters
very little whether they sustain the
charges or not the concensus of opln-
ion is that ex-senator Stephens has
sustained his charges and that the in
vestigation has disclosed condition
of things in this Institution that is
no credit Of the State of Minnesota.
The report will probably exonerate the
Superintendent from all blame and
sustain his management and at the
same time will declare his conduct
has been reprehensible and the man
agement unsatisfactory. The report
will probably read something like
this: "We find everything all right
at Red Wing but don't do it any
more.''
The real facts in the case are that
the managers of this School are tWen-
ty-fve years behind the times. They
conscientiously administered the
school according to their ideas that
governed the management of such in
stitutiOns q quarter of a century ago
and while the management of all penal
and semipenal institutions have under
gone marvellous change since that
time and have made tremendous strides
along lines of humane advancement
this Institution at Red Wing not only
has made no progress but if anything
has retrograded. The entire manage
ment should be retired from top to
bottom and new deal had and man.
agement installed that is up with
modern ideas.
Perquisites.
Considerable amusement and no
little comment has been created by
the perquisites that have been dis
tributed among the various members.
Up to date each member has been sup
piled with about five knives, three or
four fountain pens, two or three pairs
of scissors and ink-Wells. pencils and
various other accessories. There is
really no more reason why the state
should furnish the legislators with
pocket knives, scissors and fountain
pens than there is that it should fur
nish them with clean collars-not so
much in some cases. It has become
the unwritten law, however, that
nalDbers of legislative bodies shall be
furnished with these things, and every
body is more Jealous in seeing that
the unwritten law is enforced than
they are that statuary legislation
should be observed, especially where
there is something in it for them. No
one cares very much if the Legislators
do get few extras at the State eX-
pense, but surely there is no reason
why one member should be supplied
with a five dollar fountain pen and
another have to content himself with
one costing a dollar and half, that
one man should sport a four collar
tortoise-shel handled knife and ano-
ther be supplied with one costing a /
dollar and quarter. 1t does not
seem just right that the state should
pay four dollars for pair of scissors
for solon to present to his lady
friend and then buy him a sixty cent
pair to give to his wife. And there
is no reason why one firm should be
practically given the monopoly of |
furnishing ali these supplies.
All these abuses could be obviated |
by four line bill providing that each |
member should be allowed a reasonable |
amount for contingent expenses to be
drawn from the State treasury. the
same as is done with the Senators and |
Representatives in Washington. Then
every member would be treated exact
ly alike. Each could buy his supplies
wherever he pleased one or two firms
would not get all the "velvet. "
Chocolates could be bought for friends
instead of cutlery, which would be
much better-for chocolates leave
no record behind them, everybody
would be satisfied and the state would
save money.
State Wide Primary.
The Senate wrestled all Monday