Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-09-06
BOARD OF CONTROL
IS NOT HARMONIOUS
OIcott "Whereased' But Kay
Would Not "Resolve"--
The Flax Outlook

The question of authority and man
agement at the state penitentiary bob
bed up again at meeting of the state
board of control yesterday.
The matter was precipitated by the
introduction by Secretary of State Oh
colt of a resolution along lines similar
to an oral agreement entered into some
time ago by Mr.. Olcott and State Treas
urere Kay, to the effect that Warden
Mimic of the prison should have full au-
thority in prison affairs, this author
| ity extending to the hire and discharge
of officers and employees of the institu-
tion.
Governor Withycombe stated that the
resolution was directed against Parole
Officer Joseph Keller, and there is an
understanding among people unofficial
| ly interested that this statement is cor
rect.
| Mr.. Kay declares himself as being ia
vorable to the resolution, but inasmuch
as the statutes covered the same points
as regards the authority of the war
den of the penitentiary he did not con
slider the resolution necessary.
The resolution was laid on the table.
1t reads as follows
|. Whereas, 1t has come to the know
ledge of this board that conditions at
the Oregon state penitentiary are not
such as to produce the most satisfactory
results in the operation of that institu-
tion, and
"Whereas, John w. Mimic, warden
of said penitentiary, has definitely stat
ed to members of this board that it is
impossible to operate said institution
satisfactorily without full authority in
the management of same being given
him; therefore be it
Resolved, by the Oregon state board
of control, That we do extend to John
w. Mimic, warden, full authority to
hire and discharge such officers and en-
ployes of said institution as in his iudg-
ment is conducive to the best welfare
o. such institution
Parole Officer to Stay.
In an opinion given to Warden Minto
by Attorney General Brown yesterday,
the attorney general says: ''1his office
has heretofore advised that the parole
officer is an independent officer, and
that his appointment is made by the
board of control. To hold that the parole
officer is an assistant to the warden,
or is an officer whose duties require him
to be on the inside of the prison, it
would be necessary for us to hold that
you as warden of the penitentiary may
appoint and remove the parole officer.
This authority we do not believe YOU
have. unless specially authorized by
the board of control. The
power and authority of the warden and
the parole officer should not be permit
ted to conflict -
State Treasurer Kay stated this morn
ing that in view of this opinion he does
not see wherein Warden Mimic has any
further cause for complaint. According
to Mr.. Kay Warden Mimic has had prac,
tically full authority at the prison since
he assumed the wardenship, and in no
case has the board failed to uphold him
in any action.
While the board of control has auth
ority in all matters pertaining to the
state institutions, Mr.. Kay does not
consider it consistent for the board to
usurp the prerogatives of the parole
board, of which Parole Officer Keller is
a member, and which has the appoint
ing of the parole officer.
An estimate of the amount of mon
ey needed to carry on the flax work for
the remainder of the season was intro.
duced by Superintendent Crawford at
the meeting. The sum needed is given
as $20,420. There is now on hand about
$4,000, which leaves about $4,000 FOR
the emergency board to provide for at
/ 70 m apfino nax+ houloy
Mr.. Crawford states that after the
pulling of the flax is completed he may
use $50 prisoners in the various pro-
eesses and will need four guards. max
ing monthly payroll of $469, while the
prisoners working every day would
come to about $940 There will be no
product of the plant that can reach a
cash market before that time.
Paroled From Training School.
The superintendent of the state train.
ing school for boys was granted per-
mission to parole 10 boys. They are:
Lawrence White, George Speindler,
Fred Williams, Jacob Renner. Donald
Brown, Elmer Green, Vern Holland. Pc
ter Ritthaler, Wayne Marhofer and Ben.
ME Etzwiler.
Permission to grant parole to one
girl, Gladys Clark, was given to the
superintendent of the school for girls.
Warden Mimic was authorized to in.
crease the pay of one guard at the pris-
on to $15 month.
DR.. Tamiesie, first assistant superin.
tendent of the eastern Oregon hospital !
for the insane, was granted a leave OF
absence covering period of from three
to six months at the discretion of the !!
The secretary of the board was in.
strueted to draw lease for the purpose
of securing the use of AZ acras af ionl