Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-12-18
PRISON AFFAIRS
CAUSE new TIL I
Of STATE HEADS
Discharge of Conley's $
Brick Superintendent
Springs Board Rift.
Governor and Rankin
Take Opposite Sides
on Dubie' Claim.
Special to The Tribune.

Especial to The Tribune.
| Helena, Dec. 17.-With Attorney
General Rankin insisting that the
board of prison commissioners is en-
trusted by law with supervision over
all matters relating to the state prison,
and Governor Dixon holding that a
literal observance of that authority
in relation to the prison and to all
other of the states institutions COM
| ing under control of boards-would
result in a chaotic condition, those
iurday and engaged in a long argu
ment in a meeting of the board of
examiners
/ The argument was precipitated by
the appearance of ]. N. Dubie, who.
for the second time, presented his
verbal claim against the state by
reason of having been discharged from
his position of foreman of the prison
briekyard, Sept. IL. 1921. after having
| taken the position early in 1926 under
verbal contract with Frank Conley.
| the former warden, for period Of
| three years.
| Quit Good Job for conIey's
| Mr.. Dubie said he had given up his
position as foreman of the brickyard
Of the Butte Brick & Sewer Pine
per day, only upon the assurance Of
Mr.. Conley that he would be retained
| for three years. After Warden Potter
! took over the prison he dispensed
with Dubie's services on Sept. II.
1921.
Dubie stated that, while the plant
had been losing money before he took
liz and had deficit of $1,000. he
had made it paying institution and
at the oen end Of 1920 had shown profit
brick in 1921 and 1000, 900 in 1870
and that the failure of the brick
plant to show profits in past years
had been due to the fact that the
bricklayers of Butte had refused to
Hay convict made bricks, but that this
obstacle had been overcome by tech
nically selling the brick to John Berne
at 50 per thousand and that Mr.. Berne
re-sold the brick to contractors at the
same figure.
Mr.. Dubie said the new warden had
closed the plant down early last season
in the face of the fact that it had
an untitled order for the insane asylum
at Warm Springs of 10000 face brick
and $1,000 tile. which then had to
be bought on the open market.
Mr.. Sauls. who was former deputy
warden at the prison. also was pre-
sent and related that when Mr.. Potter
announced his intention of closing the
brickyard: he had informe5 him that
it was for the interests Of the tax
payers of the state to permit the
plant to make brick for the other
state institutions, but that Mr.. Potter
had replied:
MoraI ObIication Save w n
Let them go on the open market.
Mr.. Rankin said this matter should
be taken up by the board and if Dubie
has anything coming from the state he
should be given consideration.
do you hold that warden can
make a three-year contract?' asked
Governor Dixon.
No." replied Mr.. Rankin. II would
hold to the contrary. But do hold
there is some moral obligation here"
The attorney general added that if
the law had been strictly followed.
there would have been no change Of
wardens and that Conley would have
held his position as warden until the,
confirmed by the state senate.
He insisted that this plant was
under the control of the prison com
missioners and that it is the one insti-I
tuition that has been making money for
the state.
One Asserts Loss, Other Profit
''rhe report of the state accountant
shows loss of $4,000 per year for
this plant" said Governor Dixon,
whereupon Dubie said the plant had
earned $1,000 in 1920.
well, the board of prison commits
sioners is in control of the prison and
not the warden" said Mr.. Rankin.
.'Why, Of course, it is" replied the
governor, s'but do you expect the board
to be concerned in the hiring or firing
of every guard or deputy warden!
DO you, as member Of the board for
the insane, know who is being hired
or discharged at the insane asylum:
Why, if you sought to direct every de-
tail OF these institutions over which
you have control it would result in in
stitutional chaos. Why should you go
over the head Of the warden in this
matter? He knows the situation exist
Ing there?"
Doesn't Like Potter's Use Of Power
I'VE don't have to go ever his head"
replied the attorney general. He
troll of the prison. The law provides
that the prison commissioners have
supervision over all matters of the
prison"
why, am satisfied the board Of
prison commissioners never heard of
this man. Dubie, and never know that!
he had been hired by Conley," said the
governor.
ANell, the board should have known,
it and If it has been neglactful OF It's,
duties or any other of the boards have
been neglected. that is no reason whyf
this board sh6ald continue to be ne8.|