Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-03-06
From the Ind. Journa
The Penitcntiary Bill.

A bill has passed the House of Repre-
sentatives, and has been ordered to Sec
ond reading in the Senate, repeating all
laws now in force, for the government of
the Penitentiary, and substituting in their
place an act which changes, materially, the
present manner of managing the State
Prison.
Among other things the bill provides
for the election of three directors by the
present Legislature, one to be elected for
two years and two to be elected for four
years each, the salaries Of the'directors to
be $500 per annum; the directors to elect
the Warden OF the Penitentiary, whose
term of Office shall be four years, whose
salary shall not ereeea 81 600; the Warden
to give bond in the sum of $4,000; the
Warden to have power to appoint Deputy
Wrdens, who shall receive $500 each as
salaries, and who shall give bonds in the
sum of $4,000 each, and they are not to
be in anywise connected with the prison
contracts; one Of the directors to be presi-
dent Of the board, to be elected by the
board itself; provides for physician to be
appointed by the board at salary Of $500
and who shall reside near the prison; the
directors to appoint Moral Instructor
who shall hold his Office during theft
pleasure, who shall reside near the prison,
and be able to teach the rudiments Of an
English education; provides for the APP
pointment Of clerk by the board Of di-
rectors at salary of $1,000, who is to
keep the accounts Of the Prison,&c.
The bill says nothing about the com
pensation Of Moral Instructor, which is az
item of consequence in the expenditures
OF the Prison
The bill requires the Directors to visit
the Prison, personally, every two weeks
and collectively, every two months.
All contracts for the labor Of the con.
victs are to be awarded to the highest re-
sponsible bidder. The Wardens are al
lowed to use such means for punishment
as they may see fiji, provided II is not ex
treme or severe. Each convict, when dis
charged from the Prison, is furnished will
S15 in money, and all clothes and othe
articles taken to the Penitentiary with hin
are delivered up at the expiration of hi
term of service.
Aside from several good features in tn,
bill, il looks little too Democratic, in tn,
manner In which new offices, with fat sal
aries attached, are created to satisfy hun
cry partizans who desire TO serve the pub
lie for liberal pay. The bill has an ex
travagant cast In nearly all of its features
II is in consonance with the last report o
the Directors of the Penitentiary. from
which not syllable of intelligence cal
be gathered as to what the PenitentiarI
costs the State, and which report says tina
the State should never seek to make tn
Penitsntiary a source Of revenue. Their
| is an artful dodge and a cunning sugges
ton in the report. The bill now before
the Senate follows the report, and seek
to make the Prison heavy burthen t
the State for the purpose of feeding, lux
uriously, eager Office seekers. The repor
Of the Directors is the precursor of tn
bill. The people must not expect a reve
nue. from the Prison. and not be surprise'
liz it becomes heavy charge upon th'
tax payers Of the State. Hungry part
zans are to be fed, and the bill provide
for several Of them.
We hope the Senate will examine IN
bill carefully before taking definite actor
upon it.