The Mena weekly star., 1921-03-24
Used Convicts.

II also stated that the penitentiary commissioners permitted one Robert Rice to use the states convicts to clear his own land, and that the state realized no return for this service. The committee, however, says that is was political thunder
 q also charged that the states mules were traded for an automobile, after Mir. McQuiston had failed in an attempt to purchase the automobile with state funds. Hon. John D. Ar buckle, ex-attorney general, told me that McQuiston came to him for an opinion authorizing him (McQuiston) to issue a voucher in payment for a high-priced automobile, that he (Ar- buckle) told MT. MeQuiston that same could not be done legally. In the face of this opinion, Mr McQuiston traded several of the states mules for the car. Mir. Townsend characterizes such testimony as political bunk
 "I also charged to the committee that the farms were poorly managed. In evidence of that charge I cited, that while the farms of Arkansas were not even self-sustaining, other peni- tentiary farms not only supported themselves but were sources of great revenue to the state. For example, the farms of Mississippi not only sup port themselves but annually produce more than million dollars revenue above expenses of operation. MT. Townsend states that our financial system" is to blame for such condi- tions and not the commissioners.
 "Mr. Townsend, as a member of the Senate. voted to appropriate $450, ,000 to pay the debts of the penitentiary. He also voted to use $180,000 of the permanent school fund for the same purpose. He did all this in spite of the fact that the legislature of 1919 appropriated more than $800,000 for the support and maintenance of the penitentiary. The appropriation of 1919 was found inadequate so de- ficiency appropriation for more than S1OO.O0O was issued in August, 1920, for the further use of the penitentiary Yet in spite of all this money, peni- tentiary warrants are below par.
 Says Charge Admitted.
 .'On last Saturday night, March 5, went to the Marion hotel, and there l I met MT. Townsend. He told me that Robert Rice had appeared before the committee, upon summons, and testified that he had used the state convicts to clear his land as charged but that he had a contract with te commissioners. I asked him Clown send) what he was going to do about it. After lying down across the ta- ble at which we were standing, he said Well, it is not up to us lthe commit4 tee) to get after him Yet this f 4 IL. fnf 1nx7f boi i've found nothing wrong
 q also talked with the prosecuting attorney, Mir. Emerson, who helped te conduct this investigation, and he told me that he was shocked and sur prised' at the report and knew noth ing of it's contents until after 1t was reported in the press. Mir. Emerson said he certainly did not approve thu report. '.
 report admits, however, that the com missioners have made mistakes but we believe they were homes mistakes He attributes the deplor
 able conditions to the financial sys Item, which as caused lots of trouble
 and has actually caused con siderable loss to the state Does h.
 believe that the troubles complained of enter into the financial loss? Evi dently not, for if he did, he did no have the backbone to say so.
 "When this report was filed with tn Senate. two of the members of tha body made the statement: Il ar glad of this report. it will be the las of Tom Terral.' Another gentleman who now holds state office, and wh
 contemplates running for governo to succeed the present incumbent, re
 marked: q am glad the committe
 issued this statement as it will dc stroy Tom Terral.' M "It appears from the above remark that the report of the committee wa
 prompted by selfish motive, rathe than fer ths eoed of ths people as D uAe2s.e .xslss.ss -ss sn rzzzf-xzz -xT -.ts4 ts"t 2