The Big Sandy news., 1912-10-04
ISSUES ANSWER.
O'SuIIIvan Tells Aims d New Prison
Commission.

Frankfort. KY. Sept. 25.-Daniel
u. O'suIliyan. chairman OF theBoard
cf Prison Commissioners. issued the
following statement to-day regarding
two employees who recently we're dis
charged and who are suing TO retain
their positions:
"No matter what may be the de-
clsIon OF the courts In the injunc-
ton suit brought by Pythlan and
stamper 70 prevent their removal
from the positions they hold In the
Frankfort prison. the Board OF Pris-
on Commissioners will pursue tbs
policy II has already mapped ou'.
The board has no intention OF maxi
ing Wholesale removals from the ir'-
stltutions under its charge. and.
the Court OF Appeals finally de-
termines that the board has the
power to dismiss every man employ
Cd In the two prisons and the e'hons-
es OF reform. the board will not
take advantage OF that decision and
make wholesale dismissals OF guards
and other employees. In the nature
Or things II will be necessary to
make some changes. because there
are men employed In these inst.tu-
tons who are neither capable nor
deserving. These men win be re-
moved without references to shs's
political influence. and their places
win be filled BY sober and efficient
men.
"whtn the present board took
charge OF the prisons they found
that number OF the best men In
these institutions had been removed
for political reasons and their places
given to men who had been able to
bring political influence TO bear up
on certain members OF the Legis-
lature. The board will investigate
every one Of these appointments and
win take such action as each In
diyidual case demands.
1T has been charged that seventy
five employees have been removed
from the Frankfort and Eddyvilie
prisons and men who we're creatures
OF political machine had been pu;
In their places. There Ii no truth
In these statements. The board haS
made only twenty-five changes dur
Ing the four months Il has been or
ganlzed. and In every instance the
new appolntees will render the State
better service than did the old ones,
when Il IL understood that this only
represents ~ per cent. OF the peo-
Pile employed in the institutions un-
der charge OF the Prison Comm.r-
sion, and that So per cent Of the
old employees still are in office. II
will be seen that the charge that
wholesale removals had been made
has no foundation.
''It Is the intention OF the pres
ent board TO enforce the law strictly
and TO give every man appointed bg
them for the four-year term the
right to hold his position so long as
he Is capable. sober and efficient.
In every one Of these cases. when
charges are preferred. the accused
will be publicly tried and will have
the privilege OF calling witnesses in
his defense and will be given every
opportunity TO answer the charges.
Here are some OF the things that
the Prison Commissioners have done
In four months:
ut has made It impossible for
the clique OF lawyers and politicians
who have been trafficklng in paroles
to continue their profitable ani
Iefarious business. The board will
expos any lawyer. or other person.
who charges fee for securing a pa
rolr for any prisoner in the peni-
tentia-y.
'Tt has put into operation a law
which gives every convict In both
prisons a portion OF his daily earn-
ings. which can be given to his fam
lily. or put to his credit until such
time as he is released.
Under the old board every con-
vict paroled was made to serve
thirty days longer. so that the pris-
on contractors would not be de-
prived OF his expert services without
having a man to take his place. The
present board has cut that time
down to ten days.
THE board has instructed thc|
Vardens that cruel and inhuman
iunishment will not be tolerated
1T has decided to make the
Frankfort prison State Reforma-
t@ry. as is provided by law. and 70
tl.nt end all future life term prison
81 and others sent up for long
4 ms for heinous offenses. will be
s'IAt 70 the Eddyville prison. and
short-term prisoners will be sent to
the Frankfort Reformatory. It is he !
purpose OF the board eventually to
establish trade schools in the Frank