Great Falls tribune., 1921-11-30

Attorney General Rankin was out
of the city Tuesday and the report was
merely submitted at q meeting of the
governor and Secretary Stewart.
Macdonald Appends Conclusions.
investigators Macdonald Tuesday ap-
pended to his report to Governor Dixon
his conclusions on the inquiry. They
are. in brief:
THAT the element of criminal in
tent was not considered, it being deem
ed more appropriate to ascertain facts
in order that action should be taken by
the proper officials.
2-It is recommended that Frank
Conley, former warden. be required to
account for approximately 100000
lost to the state through various trans
actions detailed in the report.
3-Further investigation of pur-
chasing contracts at the state prison
is recommended.
4-The leasing or purch esing of
5.-That "every avenue Of curtail-
ment of expenses has been diverted
into the private treasury of the for
mer warden and every industry at the
prison has been prostituted to his en-
richment"
sufficient land and cattle to supply the
needs of the prison is advised in or
der that the prison may be made
self supporting The institution of GER
tain prison inquiries is urged in order
to lessen the cost of upkeep and re-
lieve the various counties of the sup
port of families of prisoners.
"AppaiIins" Says Investigator.
In closing his conclusions the invest
igator states:
1--WE would say that no man can
make reasonable inquiry into the his
tory of Montana state prison without
being appalled, that such state of af-
fairs has been permitted to exist"
Governor Dixon, in transmitting the
report to the state board of prison CON-
also submitted letter
from himself to the board concerning
the investigation. He said in part:
Under the provisions of the law,
you two gentlemen and myself consti-
tute the board of prison commissioners
whose duty it is to see that affairs of
this institution are managed with fidel-
ity to the interest of the people of the
state.
After careful and considerate
reading of the report, / cannot escape
the conviction that this institution has
CANT basis and with little regard for
economic administration.
IF approximately 100000 of the
states money has been misspent or
during the past few
years of prison administration. it
seems to me that some immediate ac-
ton should be taken looking to the
restitution of this money to the treas
ury of this state.
II believe that justice will not be
done unless the full power of the state
government shall be Immediately en-
ployed, through legal proceedings, to
rectify, so far as possible, the appar-
EFT wrong that has been done to the
tax payers of this state in what ap-
pears to be wasteful mismanagement of
their funds.
..As one member of the board shall
be glad to cooperate with you In TAX
ing appropriate action In this impor-
tant matter"
Preamble.
The preamble to the report which is
signed by T. II. Macdonald. leads off
with the commission executed by Gov
ernor Dixon to Mr. Macdonald author
izing him to conduct the investigation,
and concludes with the following his
tory of the work.
The investigation in Deer Lodge was
concluded by me on the first day of
October, since which time your COM
mittee has been engaged in writing this
report. The investigator was not com
plete. Several important branches OF
prison activities, notably the sawmill.
the purchasing Of beef, groceries and
other supplies have not been investi-
gated, or have been inquired into but
slightly.
The investigation has not extended
into these lines for the reason that
great deal Of time was already con-
sumed at considerable expense to the
std se.
Whil4 yons committee does not as
n ID conclusively correct in its