New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-18
Ar. Raglan, from the Committee on Prni-

tr. Ha1an, rom Iuc Oohhhhl'0o VIZ az
tertiary, made the following report;
TO the honorable president. and Menbers OF the
senate OF the State OF Louisiana;
ESr!.EMES-Pursuantt to resolution
passed by vo,r honorable body, the under
stoned your Committee on pcn:tcDt.ary,
proceeded TO Baton Rouge, and, SO far as
D,:ic.icablc gave the penitcntlaTy a careful
and thorough examination.
The committee take pleasure n com.
men.iing the Board OF Control for
the deficiency cvinced in the super
vision OF the States interest of that insti
tuition. More especially does the inspector
merit 4 favorable notice because of his con
slant anxiety manifested in it, daily visits
ana evident care for the comfort. health
and religious enjoyment of the prisoners
IL his connection die committee would
suggest the utility OF creating. by law. the
Office OF Inspector. with salary sufncirnt
~ induce Il competent person to accept ana
discharge faithfully the Indispensable duties
% tn" pn>.tion.
There are row three hundred and seventy
n.a tonyicts-one hundred and eleven
.cilitc- and two hundi ed and sixty cOlorcd:
three hundred and siXty-three males and
rirl!: females. With but few exceptions
tnry are all in good health. Their beds,
clothing and food seemed to be comfort
able and substantial But few complaints
We're liiditf ny lIf iiisN'1ltlS CoilIt
tons uii neglect however. were perceiyablc.
for while at religious services. on Sabbath
morning. few men were present without
having changed clothing. apparently. Tor :,
week. The prisons catin9-room is com
lIOllpU- Ill every respect.
Religions mini>trations are regularly OBJ
Srlrrd every sabbath alternately. by min
:StcrS OF the various denominations located
III Baton Rouge. From information. we are
y.
these ministers. in the imI'aitation of moral
and rcli goi;S instruction, have been followed
bv ;he most excellent results.
The most UntaVori able feature connected
with the management Of the prisoners. Is
the fact hat all of the guards are men who
have n deep prejudice against black
Inrn. 1t seems to he point with
the officers to employ no other class. Nrare
informed that those guards are excessively
crue, t. the colored c"nvirtS: there should
b. a remedy for this in Justice. A sentinel
should prevent prisoner from escaping,
but he should not he allowed in any manner
- in.lict punishment.
The business department OF the pcnitcn-
t;nry j. III a prosperous condition. The
manufacturing of WOODEN aud cotton IA bIirS,
the shoe factory and coOperaye. seem to he
r1le ciliet branches of Labor; a knowledge of
either is useful attainment for
are carried ON by machinery, all of which is
in good order. wonderfully developing the
labor saving principle. The committee can
not withhold an expression OF the high ap-
probation entertained OF the quality and
effectiveness of all the machinery now in
operation. 1t should not be overlooked
that among the valuable improvements
made in connection with the institution is
the strength. durability and consequent
! h,, nt az,
ZION of the walls around and about the
premises We must after Il careful survey
Of the conyenienccS. acknowledges the alb
solute necessity OF other Improvements. Il
building 70 be used for Il cOmmiSSary. bath
Ins rooms. chapel in respective separate
apartments. Three strong walls one hun
! ire,i and fifty feet in length, and forty or
nifty feet in width. with proper inner ar
| rangcluent, we think would be sufficient.
The committee would. therefore, most
urgently recommend that the Board
ot Control he authorized and directed
- erect upon the premises such Il
| i,;;ilding. These improvements are OF vast
Importance to the preservation OF rationl,
tlr cleanliness OF the body, and the moral
and religious training of the conyic.S.
| The expenditure of n structure % the
| above. description would. AZ an early period,
lar-nI,- be repaid by its beneficial results.
Permit Us at this point TO cmbracr Ii
opinion suggested by conversations had
| wiih a number OF persons. Namely
| that u hope OF pardon has much to
F, do with the good conduct and d,ci-
bi;na O.. them. We would not propose
am legislation. but our observation would
seem % Justify lis III the belief that the ire
! uurn- exercise of the paroOning power
l1on reasonable grounds oteoulse, would he
productive OF good order in the prison. The
| indeb; rduc>s of the institution has. with the
exception OF, perhaps, thousand dollars
| been 5a;d bv certificates given by the PresI
| den. -t the Board OF Control. under the
| provisions of the act approved January !
1863 appropriating Si2,:Gi - 10 pay the
| Indebtedness OF the Louisiana Penn
Tertiary. In view OF the labor per
formed by the inspector in the dis
| charge Of his duty as required by thc board
! youI committee recommend that an ade
| uutte compensation be awarded TO that Off
, ccI. iour attention is respectfully called
to the fact that the President OF the Board
OF Control was required by law, withou,
| compensation provided rs isSiic to each in
| diyt,;al creditor a warrant tor the amount
! claimed, and AZ the various items are quite
| small. Il vast amount OF labor must have
been performed in issuing separate ccrtifi
Gates to the amount of the appropriation
| which was done, as the book of the board
! vii! show. The rent of an Office in which
to do the work for one year taken N the
! account. we are of the opinion that an ap
preparation should be made which viii ade
| qila-ely reimburse and pay that officer.
In conclusion. your committee desire tC
call the attention of the Senate particularly
to the reliable information that the lessccS
! have. authorized their officers to intiict cor
poral punishment upon the prisoners
| YOU" committee can not cencclvt
| by what right this kind of pun
i-hn> mt. is inflicted: it is. however, in
iiicted whenever the officers deem necessary
Your committee are OF the opinion that
proper action should be taken to prevent the
lntiicc;on of such punishment upon the I'M
fortunate human beings now iucarccratcd
in the State Pententiary.
In the opinion Of your committee, the
punishment that may be authorized should
be the placing in . irons, or a dungeon,
OF any prisoner who may violate any rule
or regulation Of the prison
G. w. Raglan, Chairman;
II. l.. $ Words.
JAMES H. INGRAHAM,
| W. l.. THOMPSON.
Mr.. Campbell, from the Committee OF
Railroads, reports favorably upon Senate
| bill No. II. to be entitled an act relative t,
the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad
COMPANY, to provide for the extension O.