The Detroit times., 1911-01-06
WILL STOP DRUG
/. TRAFFIC IN PRISON
Gov. Osborn Says Custom Of Allowing
Free Labor To Mingle With Con-
Victs Must Cease.

JACKSON, Mich, Jan. Gov. Os-
born declared at meeting of the
board OF control of Jackson prison
last night, that the custom OF allow
ing free labor TO work with the con-
victs must be stopped. Warden Simp-
son exhibited a tin OF opium which
had been confscated by guard
from a prisoner. He pointed out that
IL was impossible to stop the traffic
in drugs as long as the men employ
ed by contractors were allowed TO
enter the institution.
Il don't care about the employment
OF necessary free labor" said Gov.
Osborn. but | am going 10 put stop
To tree labor working with the con-
victs."
Gov. Osborn was invited to preside
at the meeting, but declined, and
George Merriman welded the gavel.
Another proposition which the
governor put his foot upon was the
paying of state employees SIS day
for investigation and opinion as to
the ACCESSIBILITY of installing $4,000
power plant in the prison. When the
board wants information OF this char
acter IL usually employs u. OF M. men
ut extra pay.
The question of buying farms on
which to work convicts was discussed
but no definite action taken. II costs
between $1,000 and $4,000 year to
provide wood and milk for the prison.
1t was announced that the board OF
corrections and charities has cut out
the proposed $4,000 appropriation
fo- a revolving fund for the binder
Irvine plant from its recommends
tons.
The governor sprung OH the board a
copy of the report OF Mcpherson x
Co, expert accountants, who checked
up the books Of the prison following
ex-Warden Armstrong; dismissal. IL
was the first the board knew the re-
port had been issued. The report
called attention to a nur~oer or dis
crepancies In one insta'sce II cited
the Disappearance of ~ bales OF sisal,
after It had reached the prison. and
another instance of the disappearance
of 80 bales which could not be ac'
counted for. The sisal is used In the
manufacture OF binder Irvine ana
members OF the board expressed con-
Germ To know what had become OF II.
The report also criticised the system
of bookkeeping at the prison. Judge
Adams remarked TO the governor that
the system was installed by the state.
Perhaps that is the reason the sys-
tenn Is so good" calculated the COVER
nor, who also inquired about the So
600 that has accumulated as interest
on the savings OF prison inmates. Gov
ernor Osborn and the board favor the
idea of making this interest money a
general benefit fund for the inmates
out of which to provide entertainments,
for the supplies for the prison band
and orchestra, etc; also TO be used
for burial expenses when 1t is needed.
The report also said that the insti'
tuition has a poor system OF account
ing for the valuables taken from new
prisoners when they arrive, such as
jewelry, bonds, certificates OF deposit,
etc.,-ne receipts have been taken by
the warden when these valuables were
returned The governor favored the
idea OF book in which record OF
the articles be kept, place for the
signature of the prisoner to the inven-
tory taken and also the prisoners Sig
nature to be made when the valuables
are returned to him. Warden Simp-
son was ordered to provide such a
book.