Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-04-06
Important Acts passed Relative 20 Ihs
PenltenttaFYs

Important Acts passed Relative 20 the
PeDltentiary.
The large number of convicts now in the
Penitentiary, and the interest felt in the
matter, justifies a more minute detail Of
the provisions Of the acts recently passed
in relation to it than we havo heretofore
given. The bill introduced by Mr. Parish
into the Senate, and which is now law,
requires the Governor to appoint three Di-
rectors, two Of whom shall be citizens of
Columbus; it prohibits Directors from con-
tracing for jobs, and makes contractors in
the institution ineligible. It allows each
Director SO per diem while actually en-
ployed; requires the President Of the
Board TO examine the institution every two
weeks in all departments; requires the
Board to settle quarterly with the Warden
and make written record Of their examina-
ton; the Board to appoint Warden for
three years; the warden to give bond in
| $4,000 to receive a salary of $1,000, and
with the consent of the Directors to appoint
Deputy Warden at $500, clerk at 81 900,
and assistants and watchmen at S45 per
month each. The Deputy, clerk and assis-
tants are required to give ample security
for the faithful discharge of their duties
The directors are authorized to appoint a
physician at salary of $500, who is re-
quired to visit the institution daily, and re-
port quarterly. Penalties are imposed upon
any of the officers named for receiving any
lperquisites whatever, and any officer conni-
wing at the escape of prisoner to be i'm
prisoned at hard labor in the Penitentiary
from one to three years. The Directors are
also authorized to appoint a chaplain at
$500 per annum, who shall also be teach
er in the institution. Minor convicts are to
kept separate, and the time of labor of con-
victs is fixed at ten hours daily, Sundays
excepted. The Warden is required to class
ify convicts according to their ages and dis
position, keeping minors.in separate work
shops, and as far as practicable at such kind
of work as will be benefit to them on
their discharge. The incorrigible offenders
are to be kept by themselves The Warden
is made the executive officer of the institu.
ton, and is to purchase all articles for it.
He is required to file monthly statements
with the Auditor of State, specifying each
item, DC. The shower-bath mode of pun
ishment is prohibited, and refractory prison
ers arc to be subjected to solitary confne
ment on bread and water.
The institution under the control of thC
present Warden, l.. G.. Van Slyke, has beer
we'll managed. He has brought order ant
system into it, and under his careful an'
prudent administration of its affairs, insteaC
of being drain upon the Treasury, it ha
been source of revenue. He has flleC
the position of Warden with great credit tC
himself and advantage to the institution.
The bill to provide for the enlargement
of the institution was introduced into the
House by Mr.. Voris, of Summit. 1t au
thorizes the extension of the east cell houst
in an eastwardIy direction to sufficien
capacity to accommodate one thousand malc
prisoners. The chapel, hospital, dining hal
kitchen, bake room and wash room are also
to be correspondingly enlarged. Two new
workshops are to be constructed in the nor
thern part of the prison yard sufficient fo
100 convicts, the cooper-shop is to be re
moved, and the work is to be done by con
tract, under the superintendeqce of tht
Warden. The lowest responsible bidde
is to have the contract and convict labor il
to be used whenever practicable. Th,
sum of $4,000 is appropriated for the en-
largement.
The number of convicts now in the prisol
is 927, and there are no cells for larg
number of them, who have to sleep in tn
> chapel and hospital under the supervisio
of the guards The health of the prisoner
has been remarkably good, notwithstandiD
they are packed in almost as thickly as he
rings in barrel. After the enlargemer
is completed, the prospect is that nev
penitentiary will be absolutely required b
> the necessities of the State. The numbe
then in prison, it is thought, will be NOR
than sufficient to occupy all the cells prov
ded for by the bill for the Enlargement.
The Governor has appointed Theodor
Comstock and N. Merton, of this city, an
I; Henry E. Parsons, of Ashtabula county, t
: : be Directors of the institution. The aC
takes effect from and after its passage. w
understand that Mr.. Parsons is now in th
city, and it is probable the new Board wi
organize at once.-O S. Journal.