The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-01-10

stltute other employees for those who
fail il their duty, without read7ertis-
ing and proceeding IS with an orig
inal contract 1 think it would be
better when the discrepancy is not
very great to allow the Trustees q
discretion, either to subdivide the
work, or to let the contract as an en-
tirety. And when any contractor
\ fails, the work should be prosecuted
| BY the Trustees, under proper re-
strictions, without delay, and with
re-advertising, the original contrac-
tor being made liable upon his
pond for the difference in the cost,
II there should be an excess. 1.-THE
contract to erect one Of our public
institutions could be awarded to q
single responsible business man.
who should be required to give a
good and Sufficient bond for the
faithful performance of his duty.
much time and money could be
saved. The interest upon yearly
expenditures which bring no return,
on account Of the great length Of
time consumed in erecting one Of
our public buildings, would amount
to an enormous sum. So far from
saving money by the present system
the loss is great and inevitable.
We have recently seen 3 magnii-
cent city, with immense blocks Of
buildings, six and seven stories
high, attractiye-and durable, spring
cut of the ashes in six months time;
yet we consume five or six years
in constructing an edifce which
ought to be finished in twelve
months, or in two years at the ut
most limit. lido not believe this to
be, to any considerable extent, per
haps it is not at all, the fault of the
Trustees; they are hampered by the
law, and it ought to be so changed
or modified as to obviate, the diff
culties which experience has devel-
oped.
OHIO PENITENTIART.
A radical change in the eonstruc-
ton of the cells of the Ohio Peni-
tentiary is earnestly recommended.
As at present constructed, they are
in five tiers, each cell being 38x7
feet, and 2 feet high. It is proposed
to build them in four tiers, the cells
to be Slx58 feet, and feet high.
There is now great breathing hole
eighteen inches wide, for each cell,
and no artificial means of ventila-
ton whatever. The air, especially
in summer, is sickening and poison
GUS. 1t is a grateful relief for sick
prisoners to get out of their cells, to
engage in the hardest kinds Of labor.
The prison physician declares that
it is impossible to prevent frequent
attacks of pulmonary diseases, so
long as the convicts are kept in such
Yitiated atmosphere. To use the
expressive language Of the Rev. Mr..
Byers, former Chaplain of the pris>
on; "Fhe men never come out Of
their cells looking or feeling as well
on Monday morning, as they do on
oLher days Of the week" During
the Sabbath, which ought to be day
of rest, our prison cOnviets are Ia
boring for breath. I am not over
sentimental about this matter, and
do not desire that criminals should
sleep on a bed of roses, or be sur
rounded with luxuries. But they
ought to be humanely treated, and
their lives should be spared, unless
forfeited under the sentence of the
law. To be sure, everything which
kind-harted overseers can devise,
is done for their well being. The
law of kindness has been substitut-
ed for that Of cruelty and brute
force. An effort has been made to
create feeling Of self-respect in
place OF. the sense of utter degrade
tion. The prisoners are more trust.
ed than formerly, and are invited to
privileges Of moral and religious IN
structions. The result has been
what. might have been anticipated.
The prisoners so treated, have only
in rare instances betrayed the conf.
denee repOsed in them. They des-
troy less material than formerly;
they DO their work better and more
Of it; and the prison, instead Of be-
ing a great expense to the State, IS
it was for so many years, is g source
ofconsiderable income. Great cred
it is due to the Board Of Directors
and the officers in the immediate
charge Of the prison.
OF course the changes proposed
in the construction Of cells, would
necessitste the erection Of q new
building, for which there is ample
and convenient room. A new sys-
tenn of sewerage is also very much
needed, and a new roof to the old
building is Indispensable.
If it should be thought advisable
to make the Improvement suggested
nearly all theWOrk could be done by.
convict labor, though considerable
time would be required. Estimates
of cost, and plans, have already
been prepared under the direction Of
the Warden OF the Penitentiary, and
are ready for inspection.
CRIMINAL Law.
Isis a matter worthy of your con-
sideration, whether or not the crimi-
nal law could not with advantage be
so changed as to provide that juries
should fix the grade Of crime-mak-
ing more grades than we now have
and that less, or no direction should
be left with the Courts as to sen
tence. For instance, there is under
our law but one grade Of manslaugh-
ter, though the court is allowed dis
eretion in inficting punishment,
from one to ten years in the Peni-
.tentiary. 1t is presumed that each
individual judge would be consis-
tent in fixing the term of imprison-
ment in all similar cases, but differ
ent judges differ widely in this re-
gard. One court viii sentence for
one year, and another for ten, in
cases in every. essential particular
alike. 1t depends upon the temper
ament, education and habits Of mind
of the Judge. 1t has occurred to me
that there might be greater uniform
itV in punishment if the Grade of