New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-24
THE STATE PENTTENTIARY
REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEES
WHAT is GOING TO Be DONE ABOUT II?
A REVIEW OF THE CASE

.-.-.-.--N..---
On the fourteenth of January discussion
arose in the Senate relative to the Peniten.
tiary. AS Senators Burch and Barber con.
sidered the investigation of 1873 full one.
and Senator Wharton asked a further ex.
animation, to the latter must be ascribed
the credit or blame for inaugurating Sc.
ries Of events and the result that may be
caused by them.
January 2. the REPUBLICAN published an
article entitled "Our State Penitentiary."
1t gave what purported to be "a convict's
story. reviewed the reports Of the board Of
control Of 1870 and 1873 and yentured to
offer some suggestions to the Legislature.
1t seemed to make sensation. The inves.
tigation asked for by Senator Wharton, which
had seemed to have become palsied, suddenly
.prang into life. Mr.. Williams. chairman of
the House Penitentiary Committee. asked
leave of absence to visit the institution. Mr..
Devices asked to have them Investigate the
'charges of the REpUBLlcAN." Mr.. Allan
introduced resolution prohibiting convict
labor outside the prison. The Senate COM
ullCIets WHICH udu Iio ~ iSOA Ohh"
ary II, but had not reported. took more tes'
timony. Mr.. James wrote long letter to
the REPUBLICAN. which was published on
the seventh instant. We have two reports
from committees who went to the Peniten.
tiary. and minority report from gentle
man who did not.
We have seen nothing in these documents
or che testimony they iucloss to detract
from the credit we gave to "a convIct's
| story" the business Of our crit cisms on the
report Of the board Of control or the pro
| priety of our suggestions TO the Legislature.
The committees. the reports of tho board.
| Mr.. James, Mr.. Benham's minority report
| and Mr.. Adams resolution all strive for
| different results. The Senate Committee.
| while asking further time. aim nearer at
our obiect-to improve the condition OF the
convict. The House committee desires to
break tho lease. Mr.. Adams resolution is
for the benefit Of free labor. Mr.. James de.
sires to defend himself and Mr.. Benham
comes in as q free lance to attack the House
comm tees weak points, apparently with
a chivalrous idea that Mr.. James is the
under dog in the fight. The latter does not
think so, for he says he will maintain his
ground until United States court decides
that contract with the State is worthless,
and that the lessons have no rights under
| theirs
ALI these objects are pertinent to the is
sue, but they are included in ours and no,
superior to it, and that the Legislature and
the people may not be led away on side is
sues We will briefly recapltulate what not
one convict said. but many an enfeebied
and SCARED man wh6 has in times past en-
tlured what his story unfolds.
He told the story Of conviction. sentence
and transportation to Baton Rouge: that he
was washed. dressed and put to work. Tie
gave in a paragraph the routine of five
years. 1t is too general to be injured by al
analysis of the hours OF work. bu: of that
| later. He complained. not Of work, but OF
the punishment when unable to do 1t: OF tht
food. no. Of its quantity. but quality; o.
working in the fields and on the levees Will
.hackles on; Of no examination by the doc
tor; of the terrible silence: Of working Sun
day; of lack of preachers: Of being compel
ed to steal, not that the State was loser
of the strap and solitary confinement: o.
brutal treatment and curses: OF deception
practiced on investigating commit tees: o
the extent to which the cruel treatment
was carried; Of punishment in the absence
of the warden. and of no opportunity t
make complaint to the board Of control.
In addition to all this he can say now
| that
April I, 1873, we came back from the rail
road to the factory. large numbers being
! crippled with scurvy, and one dying nearly
every day. On the railroad there was plen
~ of corn beef that was rotten and sinking
| pork in small pieces and corn bread. We
| had no fresh meat or vegetables IN April
In May we had fresh meat twice week
| and each day potatoes. greens and COW peas
Same parts of the year We were up al
half-past two, sometimes halfpast .hree
sometimes we had fifteen minutes for din
ner, sometimes thirty. We worked til
! eight at night till the gas was cut of from
the factory. From October II We had bu
] two meals day.
There are fifteen wooden basins TO wasf
in for nearly 500 convicts. Those who die
I not have them used their tin drinking cups
not have one half soldiers ration.
This last fall and winter we had plenty
OF fOod-spoiled corn bread, the crumb:
saved and put together for tuture use, ant
boiled meat put into the boiler just "a i
came from the commissary. Two months
OF the time We had no meat.
There W as much scurvy on the railroad
and the men that died were buried there
Those that die in the prison are buried II
the old graveyard. near the garrison.
! All Of Conyict's first story mas beef
proved by the investig CATION. The last maj
be taken as rebut.inS testimony OK d!sre
gafded.
We did not ask shat he should be be
lieved unsupported. We only wanted Il
have other conyicts heard. too. and taxi
the combined statement for what 1t 4
worth. The investigation has not dom
that. for it only went to the Penitentiary
and had no time 70 run all over the STATE
after conylets who are working 300 miles
from it. But they have confirmed hi
anonymous story by the acknowledged
deed. OF his prosecutors. Even Colone
James comes voluntarily to his aid. and
with grim humor says:
1t has never been my intention or desire
! 20 make the Peni,entiary pleasant plac.
of resort for criminals. nor have I consd
| cred that the Convicts there confined were
especial pats of the State. to be well ted
allowed to do ~ they please. ana do NJ
work.
It will be made apparent that his EN-
ployes have no: ventured to entertain diff
| ferent sentiments.
The reports of the boards OF control