Duncan Arizonian., 1913-03-05
HUNTS WISE MESSAGE
Governor Advises Legisla-
ture Wishes of Florence
citizens Be Respected

AOlAOW1HS IHC0OdSC Was
sent to the legislature Thursday
afternoon by Gov. Hunt:
To the Senate and House of
Representatives, First State Leg
lslature of Arizona.
Gentlemen:
In view of the hearing conduct
ed by joint committee of the
Senate and house of representa-
tlves, of certain charges, per-
ferred by citizens of Florence,
respecting the management of
the state prison, | wish to say
that | shall with pleasure accede
to the wishes of the people of
Florence in those matters which
they hold andI doubt not hon
estly hlod-as affecting and i'm
periling their physical and moral
welfare
No fact was deduced at the
hearing that would justly me in
yielding anything of my belief
that no wrong has been commit.
ted, no harm wrought and no in
jury done to any man, woman or
child; but | feel that if the peo-
pie of Florence have tears which
the Management of the prison or
| can quell, it is a plain duty to
quell, those fears, and if they
hold views regarding the pre-
sence among them. even though
that presence be infrequent and
and wolly legitame in purpose. of
inmates of the states penal ms
titution, it is my conviction that
those views, regardless of my own
and of the prison management's,
should be respected.
1t is but fair to state that until
the preferring of the charges
upon which hearing was held
by the legislative committee,
neither the superintendent of the
prison nor myself had knowledge
of the views held by the people
OF Florence, as expressed in their
petition for an investigation; nor
yet was it suspected that objec-
ton was had to inmates of the
prison entering the town, since
that practice had been constantly
encouraged by citizens of Floren-
ce during the life of the present
administration, and has main
tanned, without complaint,
throughout all previous admins
trations, and until the appearance
Of the charges referred to the
matter had not been brought ad-
versely to the attention of the
prison management or of myself,
though that would have been
the regular and proper method
of representation or complaint,
and would have promptly induced
the action | shall now take.
Despite the irregular and un-
necessary course of the notice
received, | shall, in Difference to
the expressed wishes of the citi-
zens of Florence, issue instruc-
tions to the superintendent of
the prison that no inmates of
that institution shall hereafter
be permitted to go to Florence,
either on business or pleasure.
This will cause some inconve-
nience to the management of the
prison, and deprive the members
of the prison orchestra of a sour
ce of income which has hereto
fore been regarded as lentirey
legitimate but these consider
ations are of little moment or
under the circumstances.
AS regards the purchase of
for the prison, | feel,
that this is matter in which
every taxpayer of Arizona is con-
cerned, with rights equal
10 those of the merchants of
Florence, and the policy of pur-
chasing where supplies can be
secured the cheapest will prevail
n the future as in the past. 1t
s the hope of the administration
hat the saving of approximately
s25, 900, which marked the past
1ear's conduct of the prison,