The Detroit times., 1911-02-24
HOUSE TURNED
ALL TOPsY-TURvY
Peculiar Line UPS Result From Reso-
luton To Investigate Marquette
Prison Flogging.
,From . stan Corr..pond.nu.


LANSING, Mich, Feb. 24.-Consid-
Grafton OF a resolution by Rep Bierd.
for the appointment Of committee OF
five to investigate the treatment Of
prisoners at Marquette prison. follow
ing an investigation some days ago
into the case OF Convict Rodebaugh,
brought a peculiar combination Of
line-ups in the house.
Rep. Bierd, who introduced the
resolution, Is the closest friend Of
Speaker Baker on the floor OF the
house, yet the resolution took away
from the speaker the appointment Of
the committee. The committee named
contained none OF the committee
which previously investigated the pris-
on, and OF whose judgment the new
committee will be test, and yet the
members Of the old committee voted
for the resolution. Moreover, mem
bers who have been opposed to Speak
er Baker, spoke against depriving him
Of the appointing power, ard the
speaker intimated that there was no
occasion for their doing 80.
The seeming Inconsistencies are ex.
planned in the eort Of the speakers
friends, as well as those who have
been opposed to him in many meas
ures, to clean up some OF the cob
webs that have hampered the effective
and harmonious working OF the legis.
lative machine. The Rodebaugh Incl
dent and the statement Of Warden
Russell, OF Marquette, that he pad
died" prisoners when they became re-
fractory, and used other strong hand
measures. has been one Of these cob
webs. Rodebaugh, who Is long-term-
er. gave certain testimony when the
committee OF which Rep. Robert Y.
Ogg, Of Detroit, was a member went
to investigate the prison two years
ago. Rodebaugh shortly afterward
was removed TO Ionia as insane, and
after being under the care of DR.. O. r.
Long, medical superintendent until
apparently cured, he wrote a letter
saying that he was afraid that he
would be returned to Marquette and
would be badly used. Rep. Whelan,
who was member of the investigat-
ing committee sent to get Convict
Rodebaugh's testimony this year,
made an infiammatory amendment to
introducing 1t said that Warden Rus
sell ought to be behind the bars him
self
Warden Russell. who was in Lans,
ing shortly afterward,- seems amply
able to take care Of himself. He said
that he really padded prisoners. that
1t was done under the supervision Of
the prison physician, who safeguard
ed the health OF the prisoner, that II
children could be spanked in school,
hardened criminals could stand 1t. and
that corporal punishment was some
times actually necessary to keep or
der among the hardened criminals.
Gov. Osborn has every confidence
in Russell, and does not think that
ne ought to be dragged into an investi-
CATION, which must leave some stigma
from the very fact Of its being asked
for. The facts, however, have caused
rumbling among the members OF
the legislature. During the last week.
little knots OF men have been gather
ing around in the aisles outside or
sessions, and there usually was some
one who declared that things were
not right.
1t was decided that the matter ought
to be investigated by committee
which would be above all question OF
partisanship or prejudice, and for this
reason, Rep. Bierd introduced the res
olution, naming q committee embrac-
ing both the friends and opponents
OF the speaker, and the sympathizers
and non-sympathizers with Warden
Russell
Rep. Ashley, OF Detroit, put In sub
stitute to provide that the regular
prison committee should accompany
the special committee, and an amend
ment was proposed by Rep. Ewing.
who lives in the upper peninsula, to
let the sum standing committee, OF
which Rep. Martz, OF Detroit, Is chair
man, do the work.
Speaker Baker sarcastically thanked
several OF the members who had not
been friendly to him in some other
measures for their solicitude that the
appointing power was being taken out
OF his hands, and then voted for the
measure so did rs others.
The committee consists OF Reps.
Perry. Warren, Straight. Henry and
Kalmbach. SANFORD.