New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-14
MILLS BOTH PRIVATE
AND PRISONS AGENT
Denies to Suffers Department
Investigators That There
Was Any Competition.
COLONEL SCOTT ANGRY
Declares That 1t Is Contrary TO
States Policy to Make
Department Self
Supporting.

Supporting.
BY Tclesrspi, 20 The Tribune
Albany, Feb. r. Having decided mat
the most vulnerable spot In the record OF
Colonel Scott. superintendent of Prisons.
was the administrator Of the industrial
department, of the prisons, Governor Sui
gers department investigators spent ali
Of to-day .nG,irins INTO il. Colonel Sco''
ana Governor Sulzer are at loggcrheads
because the Governor has promised inc
lob Of warden at Auburn Prison 10
Charles i. Esttigau. in pursuance OF an
sr-cen,en, he made with Thomas Mott
Osborne and other antl-Tsmmany Demo
Gratis Colonel scott says bell resign
sooner .han appoint RattiSan. II woNl'
no, xrisvs the Governor If his inIes'isa-
tors found "A lot OF holes in the Prison
Supe-interdent's Rork.
Colonel Scott was on the witness stanj
all the morning The investigators wantea
10 know why he had rot made the pris-
ons department. self-supporuns by m
creasing the output Of the industrial de-
nsr,men, 10 that point. The prisons su-
perinteraent said it could be done, hut
held that u was contrary 20 the state 5
policy Of teaching prisoners useful trades
ard turning them back into the world IN
condition 20 be sclf-sEpportnS, decent
members of society. He said that TO coA-
vert tho prisons into profitable 'rduStriai
units on scale large enough 70 pay All
the expenses II the departments W0lld
be equivalent TO making the prisoners
mere poems.
Taking another tack. the Investigators
wanted 30 know IL he had not allowed
special privileges 10 Harry +. Tha". CO..
onel Scott said ne had allowed Tina" 10
hold long consultations With his lawyer
but though, any prisoner seeking release
should have this privilege. Answering
some questions about his dismissal o. en-
ploves of clinton Prison Colonel scott
said they had stolen stuff.
:. n. Mills or the Stand.
ills who came 10 tho investigation d =
companied by his lawyer. Was placed OH
th, stand IN the afternoon. his teSu-
mcnv showed that he WAS more than tHe
sales agent for prison products lie az
United ,ha; he practically ran tho in""-
trial deps-tircnt. giving suggestions ana
orders about what to make in the various
prisons and how much % il 20 make. ana
when 10 make II, Also he admitted that
"a was usrallv on his recommendation
,ha, certificates OF releases were issued
permitting state departments or munich
psli,ies 10 purchase goods from private
concerns on the ground that the indus
trial department OF the prisons could not
furnish them.
Millions and millions of dollars, said
Governor Sulzer. will he saved FOR the
state annually II five bills which his in
vestigating committee recommended to-
DAY in a preliminary report are enacted
into law The Governor is sure that they
viii pa.-. and saws he knows Of nothing
at present more important to tho people
81 the state. Aaron Levy. majority leader
Of the Assembly. who dropped them into
the bill box tonight, was quick TO second
the Governors declaration.
The first bill starts the economy pro
gramme with the creation OF depart
ment Of efficiency and economy, which
Nin require an immediate appropriation
Of $4,000 TO be organized and placed on
an efficient and useful basis"
The second bill creates state board OF
estimate 70 be composed Of nine mem
bers-the Governor. the Lieutenant Gov
ernor. the Temporary President and the
chairman Of the Finance Committee Of
the Senate. the Speaker and the chairman
OF the Ways ana Means Committee Of the
Assembly. the Controller. the Attorney
General and the Commissioner Of Efici-
ency and Economy. The Governor is 70
Re the president and the Commissioner o;
efficiency and Economy the secretary
Board of Contract and Supply.
The third bill created state Board OF
Contract and supply. composed OF these
same officials. except the chairman Of the
Finance Committee Of the Senate and the
WAYS end Means Committee OF the As
sembly.
The fourth and fifth bills. in the words
OF the committees report. will give TO
the Controller an effective and efficient
force for the real audit OF all accounts
against the state
The COMMISSIONS Of Efficiency ana
Economy is TO be appointed Tor FIVE Years
At salary OF $1,000 year. and the BIZ
would allow him 10 appoint as many
clerks and assistants "as may be neces-
,ary' and sx their salaries "at such rea-
sonable suns as shall fairly compensate
them for their service" lie is TO make
4 careful study OF tie conditions IN each
o. the state depa rtnlents and recommend
sny changes that viii better their bust
ness methods.
The Board Q; Estimate IS 10 arrange
the state budget. ana the Board Of Con
tract and Supply viii regulate The pur-
chase OF all supplies. materials and fur
r.shinrs for state Institutions and de-
psrtments OF the last two bills. the
committee SAYS that the State Controller
should have a real audit Of all accounts
against the state and that IL is the
opinion OF the great body OF citizens that
ne now hes that audit.