The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-16
Report From tho Committee on
state Prison.


Report From tho Committee on
state Prison.
To The Honorable Senate nor in Session
The committee on the State Prison, ly
virtue of resolution adopted by the set
ate, Oct. %, 1874, visited the state pris-
on at Windsor for the purposes conteni
plated in that resolution, and would respect
fully sub ait the following report:
The general appearance Of the prison,
including the yard AMI outbuildings, is
worthy of commentator its cleanliness
indicating Il good general supervision.
So FIJI 80 your Immittec could ascer-
tain and determine from one days exam
ina,ion, the discipline of the prison may he
pronounced equally good.
The appearance of the prisoners, while
at their work, indicated. on their part
disposition to perform faithfully and well
the duties assigned hem. Their appear
ance, also, indicated general good health
DR.. Clarke, the prison physician, t,stiiies
also to their healthy condition.
On careful and thorough examination
of the beds (if they may be called such)
in the cells of The male prisoners. your
committee feel compelled, under sense of
duty and in the interest of humanity, to
plead for such improvement of the same
as will contribute more fully to the com.
fort and sanitary condition of those unfor-
tunate individuals confused there. While
few of the cells are furnished with COM
Portable beds, carpets, rugs, pictures, &C.,
the contribution of friends, others are in
such condition as to sting the sensibilities
of those who, while they recognize the JUS
tce and necessity of the confinement and
punishment of violators of the Law, are yet
unable to see the propriety of such treat
ment as would compel the prisoner to sleep
upon couch destitute of sheets, and, in
some instances, OF pillow of any descrip-
ton, and without even sufficiency Of
straw the absence of all which is little
less than nightly torture to the human
body.
In view of this deficiency, discovered to
some extent in the prison, your committee
are unanimous in the recommendation tn t
the superintendent of the prison be directed
to furnish each couch or bed, not already
provided with them, with pillow of some
description, pillow cases and sheets neces-
sary for change. This Improvement in
the condition of the beds of the prisoners
is urged not only through the dictate OF
humanity, but we believe such change will
contribute, through greater cleanliness, tc
the sanitary condition of the conviets.
An examination of the female department
of the prison was made, in which five fc-
males are now confined, the greater num-
Der being under middle age. While the
committee are agreed that. under the pres
ent system, the confinement of these young
offenders in their present quarters seems
severe, yet in view of the fact that public
attention is being called to the expediency
of establishing mider and more reforma
tory institutions for this class of offenders
it is not deemed advisable by your com
mittee to recommend an appropriation, a
the present time, for the repair of the oil
prison; for, in the event of making change
nothing short of the removal of the old
and the erection of new building, woul'
seem to be practicable.
The present condition of the female pris
oners, as regards room, light, warmth
clothing, &C., is not such, in the opinion O
the committee, as to indicate bodily suffer
ing. or such as to admit of unqualified crit
icism.
In the absence of suitable hospital &C
commodations, (thc room formerly occu
pied for such purposes having been con
verted into a chapcl,) your committee, o
examination of the 'old south shop" fin
that it will be practicable to prepare a roor
for such purposes in the same, at an eX
pense probably not to to exceed fifty dol
rs,-said room to he so arranged as
contain four windows which will give au
pie light and room. And the necessity fc
such accommodations being apparent, it
recommended that the superintendent
the prison be instructed to prepare sue
quarters at the earliest practical momen
furnishing the same with such furniture al,
necessaries as may be required for hospit
purposes
We find that there are one hundred ar
one prisoners now confined as state prsol
ers, and two from Orleans county awaitir
trial for larceny, all confined by due pr
cess OF law.
While your committee are aware that Il
foregoing embraces all that comes strict
within the province of the resolution, it
yet deemed advisable, in view of existir
rumors, to present such facts relating to Il
finances ofthe prison as appeared from
examination o: the books of the superi
tendent Of the prison.
August LIST, 1879, the directors of 4
prison settled with the superintendent, al
found in his hands iue the state SOL
which they directed him to charge to hir
self. At that time the superintendent stat
the money was in the bank ready to be pa
over.
In the year 1873, no settlement was ma
with the superintendent by the director
though the superintendenrs books she
that he had in his hands 80. 5l0.54 on 4
first day of August of that year. On I
first day of August, 1874, the directors ma
a settlement with the superintendent, a
found due the state from him the sum
S4,450 10, which said sum the directors
structed him to charge to himself. in NJ
account. At this time there was ella
against II. II. Mawhinny Co., of 81, CS
Go, due August l. 1874, but not payal
till August Is, 1874, which claim was pi
TO the superintendent.
Out of the aforesaid sums six thousa
dollars have been paid into the state tre
ury by the superintendent under the instr'
ton of the directors.
A balance of about eighteen hundred u
lars, after providing for the wants of
prison, was shown 10 be in the hands of I
superintendent at the time of our visit,
which he stated he had expended some Il
or six hundred dollars in the purchase
provisions, &c., for the prison, the lite
for which had not, at the tiipc of our vi.
been transferred to the prison books. i
remainder of said balance, he states, v
invested in private business, to be refund
as the demands of the prison might requi
The superintendent excuses himself
using the state prison fund on the impl
permission of the directors, inIthat he was
rected to place to his account the seve
H.. Al atafa a