Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-01-22
by the warden or members of the
raIeott TELLS Facts,

en- each an opportunity to speak ant
Mr.. Talc0tt took it upon himself tt
give the facts as to the Irvine plan
and the penitenttary fund.
Mr.. Talcott remarked that thi'
whole matter OF the charges agains
the board of control under tn:
Rott resolution seemed. to have
resolved itself into an attack on thu
penitentiary by Mr.. Hellstrom ant
nothing else but that he desired t
see it through and a full investiga
ton made in the light Of the insinu
ations and %innuendoes thrown out by
the ex-warden. This morning." sale
Mr.. Talcott, lis the first time that tt
my face anyone has impugned my mo
tives or attacked my integrity"
First taking up the alleged Irvine
plant deficiency" the warden tolt
the committee that MIR. Helstrom haC
| forgotten to refer to the outstanding
credits of the Irvine plant, which
when all collected will amount tc
about $4,000 over all present indebt
edness.
He also pointed out that outstand
ing bonds to the amount OF SIS 900
with accrued interest, had been taken
up during his administration. Also.
that while tina ex-warden congratulate
ed himself and the taxpayers of the
state upon the profitable purchase OF
fiber for the 1913 run, he; upon TAX
ing charge Of the p~enitentiary, was
compelled to purchase more fiber to
complete that run.
Last fall, when sisal fiber struck
the lowest point il IA or Is years."
said Mr.. Talcctt, we purchased a mil
lion pounds in Excess Of the needs of
this years run and that has been
paid for. At the quotations Of a few
days ago the state has made a little
matter of 100000 on this purchase on
account Of the raise in price Of this
fiber" ,
Mr.. Talcott also pointed out the
lack of an appropriation for inmates
clothing during the last biennial peri
cd, the increase in population and
the expenses attendant thereon, pay
ments of surgeon a1d hospital fees
for inmates, and the expenditures en-
tailed by the erection Of new build
ings, which were absolutely neces-
sary and which now stand as an asset
to the state, with the immense
amount OF repairs AID improvements
Cost Of Building.
He told of the building of the new
deputy warden's residence at a cost
Of $3,314.6S convict labor being used
except for laying the pressed brick
and for supervision. TfE buildine
has been figured as worth from $1,000
to $4,000 by several reputable archi-
tects. The pressed brick used made
the building a substantial one and
n which will last for years.
{ As to the rb%rickyard, Mr.. Talcott
said that there never had been
enough inmates in the institution to-
run both the brickyard and the Irvine
plant at the same time during the
brick making season under his ad.
m~inistration. n<" 'h7 az = i.
The particular reason for running;
the brickyard with free labor was for
the purpose of furnishing brick for
the hospital for the insane at James
town and for the new st. Alexius hos,
pital, said Mr.. Talcott.
He also explained. that by an ad-
vantageous arrangement with the
Hebron Pressed Brick company.
which was then enlarging it's plant
an exchange of penitentiary common
brick for Hebron pressed brick at reg.
ular prices raj made and thus melt!
ed away the massive wall' which
Mr.. Hellstrom made so much Of. ..,'
The warden also told Of cleani1c
up the sewage system; of the peniten
ttiary, a step absolutely nee .ssg"v
which later in the day the ex-warder
admitted was absolutely necessary
End congratulated the board upon
having done. se .," Al,
Irvine Plant Funds.
As to the Irvine plant funds whlc'
MI. Hellstrom claimed were "misap
propriated" for the payment Of in.
mates per diem not working in the
Irvine plant. Mr.. Talcott quoted that
section of the law which provides
that convicts shall be paid out Of the
fund of the Industry in which they
are employed if there should, be such
a fund. otherwise out Of the Irvine
plant funds. a~t-I /, 81
There are sbut two industries estab.
lished at the penitentiary-the twine
plant and the brickyard.
ut seemed wise to me-" said the
warden, that the Irvine plant should
begin to pay something toward the
maintenance Of the men working in
the plant, now that it is free Of all
debt" O., = -
Mr.. Talcott presented many mor
facts and figures and all of them If
answer to some charge or insinuatior
CT the ex-warden, every charge made
by Mr.. Hellstrom as to extravaganza
and Encouragement being fully an
swered by the warden, who referred
the committee to the report of the
penitentiary and twine plant, which
is now a public record on file, ir
which everything pertaining to tn
funds of the institution is set forth
in detail and answers every charge
of padding an account, misappropria
ton or misuse of funds as chargTs
by Hellstrom.
Board Members.
Mr.. Lewis. chairman of the boar'
of control, did not hesitate in answer.
ing any of the questions asked O.
him. In answer to the first charge
Mr.. Lewis simply referred the com
mittee to page 81 of the boards re
port and stated that the expendi-
lures had been properly checked anF
that there was a triple check or the
peoples money in this department,
IL -h--N,k-I,r l@~s~l A. ~1o@0N