Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1920 — WHAT A DEMOCRAT CAN DO [ARTICLE]

WHAT A DEMOCRAT CAN DO

Warden Fogarty Making Money for State at Penitentiary. Michigan City, Nov. 30. —It has been a pleasant task for the legislative visiting committee to investigate conditions and needs of the Indiana state prison, for here is an institution that is not only self-support-ing, but actually returns a surplus to the state. Edward J. Fogarty, Democrat, warden of the prison, told the visitors that he hoped to do even better this year than last, when about $40,000 more was turned into the state treasury than the. total sum expended for the upkeep of the prison.

The reason the state legislature is asked to provide a regular maintenance fund for two years and appropriations for whatever Improvements that might be needed is that all the profits from the prison industries must be turned into the state treasury. Mr, Fogarty thinks that in the future it will be possible for the prison to turn into the state treasury each year from $150,000 to $200,000 more money than needed to run the Institution. At present the prison population Is considerably smaller than it has been ip the past. There are only 960 men in the institution. From an industrial point of view, Mr. Fogarty could use from 200 to 400 more men to advantage, but he is not sorry that conditions do not lead to a larger population. In addition to the regular maintenance fund, a request for about $36,000 for improvements is being made, the largest item being for contemplated improvements in the department for the criminal insane, which is one of the remarkable features of the prison. Owing to a miss of train connections after an inspection Monday of the Indiana School for Fooble-Mlnded Youth, at Fort Wayne, State Senator Estes Duncan of Cloverdale, State Representative David N. Curry of Carlisle and Mrs. Ida Besler, secretary to the committee, did not arrive at the prison until midnight, but the warden had a warm meal prepared for the visitors at his residence. Then he took them into the greenhouse, which Senator Duncan said reminded him of California. Warden Fogarty told how the binder twine factory in the prison had been developed frpm a losing venture to a profitable industry for the state and about Improved conditions for the criminal insane by getting them interested in the weaving Industry. A phase of the visit most impressive was that the warden seems to know individually every inmate in the prison and affectionately referred to most of them as good fellows. His house man and other prisoners who looked after the comfort of the visitors are all “lifers” but men who are trusted absolutely by the warden. Representative Otto G. Fifield of

Hebron, who was detained by the death of his father, joined the visiting committee here. During the morning a tour was made of the industrial departments and other features of the prison which were found in flourishing condition. The committee planned to leave late in the day tor Lafayette, where they will visit the State Soldiers' home. Before returning to Indianapolis they will Inspect the Northern Hospital for the Insane at Logansport. Senator Duncan and Representative Curry were pleased with conditions at the School for the FeebleMinded at Ft. Wayne. They spent some time investigating the need of Improvements on the Black Hawk farm, a part of the institution, and a fine piece of ground, but which needs considerable tiling.