The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1921-12-09

111S11Vs
SUGGESTED NAMES !
Governor Dixon's telegram suggest
ed the following men for the enlarged
committee:
w. c. Lange, Havre.
George w. Farr, Miles City.
A. w. Miles, Livingston.
Norman B. Hotter, Helena.
By increasing the committee to
seven the governor said, there would
be more complete state representa-
ton" The three appointed Satur-
day by Lieutenant Governor Story
were c. H. Mcleod of Missoula, Col
onel 0. F. Goddard of Billings and D.
J. Hilger of Lewistown. Mr.. Nc
Leod already has resigned on account
Of illness and it is runored that Mr..
Hilger will decline to serve, taking
the ground, it is said, Mat the prison
investigation, originally was begun
under Governor Dixon's direction and
that in the temporary absence of the
governor from the state it would be
improper to take part in reopening
of the matter. Governor is attend
ing a national conference of govern
ors at Charleston.
A message which reached Governor
Dixon early Monday on his arrival
at Charleston was his first informa-
ton that the new prison investigation
had been launched. His suggestion
that action be delayed until his re-
that the probe board be increased and
turn to Montana was telegraphed inn
mediately.
Story's Action O'K.'d By Board
Announcement Of the second in
vestigation was made late Saturday
afternoon by Lieutenant Governor
Story. It followed a number of ex-
ecutive sessions of the board of pris-
on commissioners, in which the lieu
tenant governor is member in the
absence of, the governor. The other
members are Attorney General Well
ington D. Rankin and Secretary of
State Charles T. Stewart. Lieuten-
ant Governor Story said the attorney
general and the secretary of, state
had been consulted and had approved
his plan of naming th/ investigating
committee.
Belief that the work of the COM
mittee could be completed in 10 days
was expressed Saturday by Lieuten-
ant Governor Story He thought
they could begin their labors by
Wednesday Of this week. In his tele-
gram, Governor Dixon said: eff anv
real investigation is to be made, it
cannot be made in 10 days.
History of Probe.
The history of the prison probe
goes back to April II, when NJ. W.
Potter succeeded Frank Conlev as
warden. On July 6, Governor Dixon
announced the appointment of T. H.
Macdonald of Kalispell, former coun-
ty attorney and member of the leg
lslature to make an investigation of
the rumor Of the management of the
prison by Mr.. Conley. The following
day Mr.. Conley and his attorney,
Colonel c. B. Nolan of Helena, ap-
peared before the board of prison
commissioners and asked that board
to take charge of the probe. This
was not granted but a public hear
ing was promised. Mr.. Macdonald,
with several assistants, including e.
E. Stewart, state accountant, exam
ined prison records and books until
October l. Their report was COM
pleted, given to the governor and by
him transmitted to the prison com
mission on November 29th.
Appalling conditions at the prison
in the Conley regime were alleged by
MI. MacDonald. He summed up as
follows: Every avenue of curtail-
ment Of expenses has been diverted
to the private treasury of the form
Ter warden and every industry at the
prison has been prostituted to his
enrichment"
In transmitting Mr. McDonald's re-
port to the board, the governor called
for the immediate employment of the
full power Of the. state government to
bring about restitution Of $500, 900 re-
ported to have been misappropriated
| Continued on Page Eight)