The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-01
TIL Il R EP U BLIC.
R REPORT
WARDEN OF THE PENITENTIARY.

WARDEN OF THE PENITENTIARY.
To the Board Of inspectors
Of the Penitentiary for the District Of Columbia;
GENTLEMEN; In accordance with custom, have
the pleasure of submitting, for your consideration
my first report upon the condition of this prison
The President of the United States having ap-
pointed me its Warden, on the fifth Of April, lS49
did not enter upon the discharge my duties
til the fourteenth of the same month These soon
discovered to be both onerous and perplexing, and
Of that nature not to admit of moments relaxa-
tion from that close attention so necessary in ma
turing and managing the best plans for promoting
''s 1 e'S s,ose thus devoving upon me may be
mentioned the purchase Of provisions and clothing
for the prisoners; of materials Tor the manufacture
of boots shoes, brooms, blacksmith's, carpenters
and cabinet makers work; the collection OF ac-
counts, and the disbursement of all money received
for the Of the place; the maintenance OF an efec
tive but judicous system of discipline among the
subordinate officers, as well among the prison
these, and many others, not necessary to give
in detail, require never-ceasing vigilance upon
the Warden's part, that nothing may arise to
mar the harmony or obstruct the regular routine Of
governing the institution in the manner contem-
plated at the time of its erection
Nor is that of disposing of the articles manufac-
tured here to safe dealers, at fair profits less re-
sponsbe than those enumerated above; for, II care
lessness or want OF a proper knowledge OF the
business qualifications and pecuniary resources OF
those who may be credited with the government
property prevail losses will inevitably follow which
experience has proved, long since, to lie beyond the
reach Of recovery.
Upon an examination of the books, soon after
taking charge Of the prison, found that loss
of $3.50 6S had been sustained by 1t within
a very short period; viz: 1855 81 on open ac-
counts, and S ,035 on notes not properly Sc
cured. This loss, as will be seen, caused in a
great measure by permitting vicious system OF
small accounts to cucumber the books. When this
accumulation of small debts, which was allowed to
stand for two, and frequently three years with
out collection, wanted for public use, the per-
sons owing the institution had either become in
solvent or had left the city; or, what was worse,
were frequently unknown to the Warden who had
could not be found, Many accounts Of this char
acter have been left with me by my predecessor,
Mr.. Sengstack, for collection, in the same way as
they had been left with him by Mr.. Cotman, the
Warden before him. which fear never be re-
claimed
This loose method Of doing business / have 30
changed as to reduce its operations within very
marrow limits, and upon basis Of perfect security
by requiring cash payments for all email purchases
of goods upon their delivery, and notes at short
dates, well endorsed when have reason for be-
ieving that the drawer is not sufficiently response
BILE himself for larger sums. Since the adoption of
this plan have the qualification of saying that not
dollars worth of the property belonging to the
place has been sold upon credit which Is not be-
heyed to be available at maturity.
The earnings of the prisoners is a subject which
also engaged my earliest attention. very erro-
neous opinion of the value and amount of the con-
vics labor obtains in respectable quarters, so as to
them, in q given time, as is earned by like num-
ber, in the same period, of the general run OF me-
chancs at large in society This impression is al
together allacious; for, while the latter are masters
of their respective trades, and have the wants and
necessities of family to supply, incentive to
! labor, the prisoners feel themselves under ply
sical moral obligation for making any such
exertions, knowing well that the government which
| Furnishes them for their crimes against society is
bound TO supply them with all their wants, whether
they work not Besides this of those
have to taught the rudimens of whatever
kind OF work they may be put at on entering 1t for
the first time; and it is only at the expira
ton of their terms of confinement that they are
| profitable to the establishment.
If their labor could be SO regulated 10 allow
them the profits arising from, or the value of the
work done, after their ordinary daily task was nm
ished, they then would have a motive for laboring
regularly and proftably, not only for the prison,
but for themselves also. By a regulation of this
sort, three things would be gained:
| First. More work would be done by the prison
| ers than what they can be made to do now.
Secondly The excess of the value of each days
labor, required from them, would be reserved for
them on leaving the place; and,
Thirdly. This excess would enable them 10 leave
| the city when released from confinement, which
! they cannot do with the two dollars allowed them
| by law.
have prepared an analysis of the average earn
ings OF each prisoner per week, during period OF
| sixty consecutive weeks, commencing September
%, lSfS, and ending November 10, ls49, from which
may be seen correct view Of the value of n con-
vict's labor while at work under the circumstances
| herein stated (Sse table marked A
Another subject of some importance TO the pros
perty Of the place. and closely connected with the
manufacture Of articles Of trade here, is the man
/ ner in which the purchases Of the raw materials
that enter into their fabrication made; for if the
vendcrs Of those articles find that cash payments
do not follow Immediately said purchases, con-
siderable advance upon the market cash value Of
them will be added This il is well known, is the
usual course Of trade. A loss, therefore, in this
| tn Of he n "
too small for profitable investment is the certain
consequence, which would be avoided If the War
| den were enabled 10 go into the market cash in
hand, for the purchase Of those materials at tho
| best and cheapest sources. Notwithstanding the
Disadvantages under which I am forced, on this
account, TO buy as best / may, l have far
succeeded in making arrangements with large
dealers in the leather line TO furnish the shoe
factory with sole leather at least two cents per
pound less than what was previously paid for IL,
and also other descriptions Of shoe leather at pro-
! portionately reduced prices. The bills for those
articles, in the possession of the clerk, will show
the extent OF the advantages gained under this
| head.
Taking into account the net available capital of
the institution the l4th Of April, lS49. state
mcnt of which having been originally furnished
by Mr.. Ashford, the former clerk II will be seen
that the assets were but S5,s6s 34 while the debts
due its creditors S4,365 25; leaving balance
in its favor, including every thing, good, bad and
| Indifferent, Of only 81 ,503 90.
But even this balance TO its credit had been, no
oOuot unintcntiOnaliy, muCn over csuinateu Dy my
predecessor, when the last inventory taken Of
! the stock ON hand, owing TO large proportion OF
| IL being old and questionable, and having TO be
sold for less than at what IL had been valued.
Being decidedly of the opinion, from an expert
cnce Of twenty years in trade and manufactures,
that great pcsuniary advantages accrue from cash
| payments in buying and selling, would suggest
the propriety Of establishing permanent fund, If
Congress will grant IL, from which TO draw sufh-
cient means whenever the wants of the workshops
may require articles 20 be purchased for fabrica-
| tion-say $4,000 The sums drawn from this
fund for such purposes could be from time to time
reimbursed from the proceeds Of the sales Of the
articles manufactured by their means, to the amount
drawn; and the residue, II any, could then be ap-
piled to the liquidation of such other expenses ne
the place may be subject to- BY this mcans the fund
would be permansnfon affording ample capital up
which TO carryo manufactures here TO the extent
OF our physical resources and II any deficit should
arise, either from unforeseen the nadequa
cy Of the value of the labor Of tho convcs TO prevent
itor 10 maintain the equilibrium OF this fund in what
may be drawn from and restored to II, as circum-
stances might warrant. Congress would, ss now,
supply II when called upon 10 do so.
To expect other and better results, from the use
a he and