Arizona citizen., 1876-01-15
Disposition Of Prisoners.

In our issue of January 1, we mention
 ed that Attorney General PierTepont
 in his annual report urges the erection .Iof more Territorial prisons, stating
 that it costs the Government $750 tC
 transfer a single prisoner from Arizon;
 to New Mexico.
 We learn from Judge Tweed the oc
 casion which called the attention of the
 Attorney General to this matter. The
 expense referred to however, is based
 upon an estimate of the cost of transfer
 ofprisOners from Arizona to California
 and not to New Mexico, and came tC
 be stated as above under the following
 circumstances
 Upon the conviction of Giles, late postmaster at Prescott, he was sen
 fenced to two years imprisonment Some tune since, Judge Tweed was ad yised by the Department of Justice al
 Washington that arrangements had been made with the State of California for the confinemen to persons convict ed in this Territory of offences against the laws of the United States, in the California State Prison. Not having with him, at Prescott, the circular on this subject, Judge Tweed wrote to the Department of Justice, making a careful statement of what it would cost the Government to send Giles to Cali fornia, and at the same time advising the Department that the expense of keeping Giles at Prescott would be but eleven or twelve dollars per week, that the jail at that place was reasonably secure, and that the chances for his es- cape would probably be less there than on the route to the California prison.
 Just before the Judge left Phenix for Tucson, he received directions from the Attorney General, in response to his letter. directing that for the sake of economy and convenience Giles be left to serve in the jail at Prescott,
 The amount of Judge Tweed's esti- mate for the transportation of Giles 10 the prison at Stockton was $7jO, cer- tainly not a high estimate, as it would have been necessary for the Marshal to be attended by an assistant to keep his prisoner secure. Giles could not have been ordered to confinement at Yuma, as the act of Congress upon the subject only cOnteml la;es the incarceration off prisoners, for infractions of UnitedI States laws, in a State or Territorial prison, when provision is made there for by the State or Territorial legIsla- ture.
 The above estimate of cost of trans. portation is not a general estimate but was made with reference solely to the case in hand. In number of cases it might reasonably be more, and unless at the expense of security we cannot seeI that It could well be less in any oneI case. It would at least seem to be en- tircly safe and within bounds to take this as a general average of cost of transportation of United States pris- oners out of the Territory, and our| Delegate in Congress might use this with other arguments 10 urge the build ing of Territorial prison in Arizona by the general Government, for theI sake of economy, convenience and greater expedition in punishment.
 The decision of the Attorney General permitting the incarceration of Giles lt Prescott, was a decision and permis- sion for that case only, and must not be taken as a probable guide in the conduct of future cases of similar i'm