New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-29
.BENHAM AND GERM
DENY ALL CHARGES
Warden and Physician of Au-
burn Prison Declare BIake's
Report Biased and Untrue.
EACH PRAISES THE OTHER
Both Comment on Long Years
of Service Before the Sud-
den Discovery That Every
thing Was Wrong.

Auburn, n. Y, April 2s-Both Warden
Benham and the prison physician. DIR.
John Germ, came out to-day with fiat
denials of the charges of incompetency
and mismanagement of the Auburn state
prison made in his report to Governor Sui
ger by George w. Blake. Each praises
the other and both intimate surprise that
It should now be suddenly discovered,
after long years of service, that every
thing they have done has been wrong.
In the reply issued by Warden Ben
ham he says:
II had supposed that during my in
cumbency of over seven years | had done
at least things for which | was entitled
to commentator. even from a partisan
commission The report seems to carry
out the idea of the conception of the in
vestigation. and I think that most people
understand the animus OF the report.
AS for recommending my dismissal,
this must appear humorous. as 1t Is well
known that my resignation has been
rendered 10 various persons in authority
during tho last two and onehaif years
and only within the last two weeks
have offered To waive the legal question
"a to whether or not anybody was in
authority To receive the resignation by
agreeing 10 turn the prison over to Judge
Potter I'm charge of the prison depart
ment, upon condition that he would fur
nish "A receipt for the moneys. inventories.
etc. but this has not been accepted.
with reference to the method of pur-
/ ola
show that all articles of supply. with the
exception of very few small items. are
purchased after competitive bidding and
contracts awarded to lowest bidders.
AS TO the means of maintaining dis
cplinc. our methods of correction are
specifically prescribed by law, and IT is
the same system that has been I'm vogue
since 1859. when tho yoke, buck, paddle,
cato mine tails and other similar forms
Of punishment were abolished. The splen-
did department Of the inmates Of Auburn
Prison ranks second to none in the coun-
try.
1T seems strange that this prison. hav-
inE been Investigated from top To bottom
and from all sides by various commits
sious during tho last eight years; ac-
counts. involving transactions Of upward
Of Sl0.c00..o periodically audited by *
pert accountants. both from tho various
Investigating committees and the Stat,
Controllers office; the general policy and
method of the care and treatment OF the
inmates examined ard approved by num-
bcrlcss experts on the subject from all
over the country. it now develops that
the whole thing is wrong
In the statement made by Or. Germ the
prison physician says:
Il have neither the inclination nor de-
sire OF entering into a discussion OF my
treatment and management Of my pa
ticnts. whether I'm or out OF prison /
have done I'm the prison only what any
good physician would or should do-tlat
which to my judgment was indicated to
the best interest Of health and NE.
In every well conducted hospital Or
institution adverse criticism and fault
finding are no novelty.
1T is over three wears since any child
was born In the womon's prison. Every
child born in tho womens prison and
every mother had proper care.
II have served under six different Gov
ornors. three different superintendent AMI
three wardons. all men OF the highest
character and dignity. solictous and
uatchful. in close touch with prison ar
fairs. mer actuatcd by the highest M
;ivcs to give good and proper care To
those placed i'm tho states custody. and
only now my brutality and incompetency
are discovered