The Prescott daily news., 1915-08-14
PROBERS END WORK
 AT THE STATE FARM
VIII Go To Penitentiary Tues day and to Reform School Wednesday.-RepOrt Not be Finished for ? or 3 Weeks.
From Arkansas Gazette.

ANiii Al heliloetS NIdLtIle.
 Conditions of the state farm have been bettered steadily for the last two years and much work has been done In the last six months to better condi- tlons, according to one of the com mlttee appointed to investigate the penltentiary, but there is still room for improvement. Sheriff w. G. Hut ton and former Governor George w. Donaghey, members of the committee, returned last night from Warner, near which town the state farm is located. pr. Alonzo Monk, the third member of the committee, returned Thursday night.
 All the members of the committee decline to give details of the investi- gation because the committees report must be made jointly and because the investigation is not finished. Tuesday the committee will investigate condi- tions at the penitentiary, west of Lit tie Rock, and Wednesday will go to the helOrm Sch00l.
 Witnesses Protected
 "We examined number of the men at each of the camps," Sheriff Hutton said, ''in such way that there was no danger of their being influenced. When we called men inside building for investigation, all the guards were expelled and the men were assured that their names would not be given out in connection with their testi- mony. When we examined men at work in the fields we had them col lected together. Then sending the convict guards to one side, We picked out men indiscriminately and ques- toned them, sometimes taking their suggestions as to other prisoners who should be questioned.
 "Of course there was some conflict in the convicts' statements on the same subject, yet none so great that it could not be explained.
 "We found that the men as usual rule, work from sunrise to sundown, the time being longer in the summer than in the winter. You can see that they could not be worked before day light or after dark because they could easily escape. 1 think most of them testified that they began work about sunrise and are back at the camp by sundown."
 The investigation was said by com mittee members to have been as thor ough as possible. The men suggested by the Rev. Lee Tomme, former peni- tentiary chaplain, were examined, and the camps visited and inspected in detail. Beds, food, clothing and gen eral sanitary conditions were inspect ed and the results will be included in the report. Sherman Atkinson, coudt reporter of Little Rock, took the tes- timony and will transcribe it for the final report.
 The investigation lasted three days ending yesterday morning at the front camp, where the hispital and admis- tration buildings are located. The hearing of testimony, although closed to wardens, guards or penitentiary officials, were open to visitors not con- nected with the institution. The com mittee members said they desired that the investigation be considered pub lie when it was being conducted, al though they would not comment on 1t until after the report is made.
 The report probably will not be fin ished for two or three weeks. The investigation will continue until the latter part of next week.