Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1897 — NEBRASKA PRISON SCANDAL. [ARTICLE]

NEBRASKA PRISON SCANDAL.

Expert Jewell Says the State Has Lost $537,871 by Jobbery. A report as to the Nebraska State penitentiary scandal wgs submitted to Gov. Holcomb by Expert Acountant Jewell. It discloses irregularities aggregating $537,871.87. Mr. Jewell says that only $5,526:04 is recoverable by suit against bondsmen or the men responsible. The report scores the contract system formerly in vogue as against the present State control, saying that the former resulted in a steal of over $500,000. Under the contract system convicts cost the State about sl3 a month and under State control a fraction over $3. It adds that the profit of the contractors from Oct. 1, J. 887, to Aug. 1,1895, was somewhat over $500,000.