The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-23
investigation of BOtkin Re-
solves Itself Into a Battle.
Between Those Who Hold Jobs
and Those Who Don't.
JEALOUSY SOURCE OF TROUBLE
Fifty-six Dollar Men Are En-
viOus of $66 Ones.
OepOsed Warden Will Testify
at the Prison.

Lansing, Kan, Aug. 23.-Conditions
n the Irvine plant of the Kansas state
prison was to be the subject of teSti-
lnony of several witnesses at the re-
sumption here today of the hearing
of charges recently filed against j. ID.
Botkin, warden. Among todays wit
nesseS were the superintendent OF the
Irvine plant and a number OF en-
: ployees, including E. c. Lands, cash
ier whose records, as offered as evil
dence, showed that the revolving
working fund of the plant has been
insufficient, it having been necessary
70 borrow large sums of money from
banks during the producing season.
Dr.. J. T. F'alkner, prison physician,
! also was summoned by attorneys for
the defense to testify as to the phys
tical condition of the inmates and to
the sanitary arrangement of the
prison.
Lansing, Kan, Aug. 23.-The bat
tie of the ms and the outs in
the prison probe was resumed this
! afternoon by the special investigat-
, ing committee appointed by Governor
/ Capper. The big fight this week Will
. be the effort of the ms to disprove
have asserted that Botkin is unfit for
: the wardenship for fifteen separate
and specific reasons.
Every phase of prison management
will be discussed this week in the eX
animation of the men now in control
of the prison work. Many of the
witnesses who have testified against
Botkin have not seen the inside of
the prison walls for periods of three
to eighteen months. This week the
present employees, or most of them,
Will tell of conditions as they exist at
the present time.
The fight for Botkin's job to date
has resolved itself largely into a bat
- z.I.-
. and those who do not, with a side at
traction of fractional jealousy between
the men who draw $50 a month and
I those who draw pay checks for S66
month. OF the fifty witnesses used
by the state to testify concerning
reasons for Botkin's removal, more
than One-half of them are discharged
employees. Others are currying favor
with the administration and hope for
their old jobs or oven better places
when Botlzin walks the plank. 9th
ers are Jealous of some person high
er up. Admissions to this effect were
made by several witnesses under cross
examination.
The Wage Scale.
One of the big sources of trouble
in the prison concerns the wage scale.
1t is asserted that the men who draw
salaries of $50 month work as hard
and as long hours as do the men who
draw S66 a month salaries So some
of the men with S56 jobs are dis
gruntled. They see the prison going
TO the perpetual bow vows and they
see relief only in Botkins removal.
Whether they also see a betterment
of their own conditions by advance
ment to one of the $66 places is quite
another thing. Then there are the
men who have lost their jobs. Most
of them admitted they wanted their
places back. Their chances will pos
Sibly improve when Botkin leaves.
on the other hand, the testimony
this week will concern itself largely
with the evidence of men who now
hold jobs and want to continue on the
state pay roll. They realize that win
ter is coming and a state job isn't
bad thing when the snow and wind
come out of the north and the gas
meters clatter and rattle and don't
provide gas. But of course, these
the scenes. Botkin is on trial for his
job and the commission itself will pass
final judgment on the credibility of
the witnesses.
Whole Day for ROtI1in.
Warden Botkin himself expects to
spend a whole day on the witness
stand. He will probably be forced to
testify i'll Lansing Last week the de-
Tense planned to send the prison head
to the stand when the Stigating
committee returned to Topeka. Now
the prosecution has asked that Bot
kin testify at the prison.
1t was asserted by the complainants
that a number of books and records
would be needed in the cross exam
ination of Botkin. These records
cannot be removed from the prison.
For this reason. it is asserted, Bot
kin will probably tell his story be-
fore the commission leaves Lansing.
The investigation of Botkin here,
however, has given rise to a rumor
that the prison official may be i'm
peached. Attorneys in the case have
refused to discuss such d report. 1t
is known, though, that a number of
unfriendly former prison employees
will hear the Botkin testimony and
for this reason it was asserted that
Impeachment might be sought.
Nearly an entire day will be spent
by the attorneys in the examination
of affairs touching the management
of the prison Irvine plant. Charges
and counter charges regarding the af-
fairs in the Irvine plant have been
made and BOtkin's attorneys have
stated that they will produce records
to show that the present manage
ment has exercised good business
judgment in handling the affairs.
Personal Inspection.
1t is probable that the commission
will conduct a personal investigation
at the prison before closing The case.
Several of the members have ex-
pressed a desire to visit the shops,
the prison store, the mine, Irvine plant
and other departments. AS a result