The daily gazette., 1877-01-30
For the Gazette.
A STATE WORK HOUSE.

To THE EDIroR OF THE GAzErrE:-I
find in looking over the papers of Will
mington, that nearly all, if not all of them
who have expressed an opinion on the |
subject, are favorable to the act before |
Legislature, for the establishment of a |
state Work House. Or something of the |
kind; yet none of them seem to mani |
fest any enthusiasm on the subject
To my mind there has been no subject |
before our Legislative body, OF so much |
Importance, for very many years, Both
the moral and material welfare OF the
people of the whole State are concerned
in this matter. There can be found, no
mind so stupid or Indifferent that will
not consent to the proposition, that all
persons convicted of crime and sentenced
to imprisonment, should be required to
work at some employment for ther main
tenance not only, bnt as n means for their
moral elepdti0n.
Now, if this is the universal testimony
why should any one oppose the act be-
fore the Legislature, for establishing
Work House, the object of which is to
secure just these results. Some think the
cost will be too great in the first place.
That instead of 500, 900, $500, 900 or $780,
| 900, will be wanted. Those who talk thus
ifthe bill should pass and become law,
will be very carefully avoided in the Sc
| iOOoiOh Va tnC lucII W carry Oub buc DEO-
visions and intentions of the act, as men
| OF economical views, will be required.
| 1t is proposed that the Judges of the
Courts of the State, shall nominate to the
| Governor the men for appointment as
Board OF Managers, to mango the institu-
hon, having no regard to their party pre-
delections, only seeking men of the high
est moral integrity, who will take pride
| and pleasure in serving the State, with
out fee or reward, who possess the high
est business qualificatio ms, and who will
see to 1t that fat contracts are not given
out and that the Institution is not man
aged In the interest of any ring but solely
in the interest and for the benefit of the
State. This result to some minds know
seems improbable. They know moth
ling of the sweet pleasure of doing good,
of spending time and means for the well
fare OF others, accepting no compensa-
hon except that of good conscience,
a sense of duty done to the State and hu-
manity.
L cannot think that the State of Della
ware has less disinterested benevolence
within her borders than have other
States. In every emergency which has
arisen in our country's history, Delaware
has never been wanting in men who have
distinguished themselves in both field
and forum. And when men are needed
and called for, to undertake the impor-
tant work of reforming our prison system
which is so much out of JOINT and in
which we are so far behind other States.
am not one of those ready to cry out
that honest phid1thropic men enough can
not be found in yourState to work out the
reform, to successful issue, and bring
up our system to an equal with that of
the best in the land.
There are plenty of men in our State, I
have no doubt possessing, abundant
wealth and leisure who would be glad OF
such an opportunity, for the employment
of their time, and would wish no remu-
neration, save actual expenses incurred
in serving the Institution. The prison
affords an interesting field oflabor fol-
: the Christian and Philanthropist, and
such persons having the means and leis-
ure will gladly accept, and Willingly
avail themselves of such an opportunity
, for doing good.
prison management over 6,000 per an
mum for feeding our convicts, or an aver
age of nearly 40 cents per day for eacl
one. If the Work House system is in
augurated and put in successful operation
: the expense of feeding our prisoners cal
be reduced to $1,000 per annum or al
average of 124 cents per day for each one
which is difference OF S11 900 in favol
of Work House; a sum suffi 'ient to pa.
the interest on the cost of Work House
land and buildings and still leave bal
=. ance of $4,000; and to this amount there
/ may be reasonably added 500 per veal
or more, as the earnings of each convict
which will make for 113 prisoners (tht
present average of prisoners in the State
S11 300. Hence from savings and earn
ings there may be reasonably realized tho
sum $1,000, besides $4,000 paid ou
! for interest on costs of Work House
\ buildings, Sc.
5 In this view of the case, and am sur,
I L have not overstated what may be re
allied. the establishment of Worl
House would not be any expense what
: ever to the people of our State. Ou
i burdens in the way of taxes would bt
|, greatly hghtened by our convicts support
y ing themselves by their labor, and what t.
so desirable, our prison population would
: be so very greatly benefited morally il
!. being regularly and constantly EN-
= lployed.
which have enumerated. which are 81
= desirable, the very best men will b.
:, needed to manage the Institution, and ;
# first class man, highly qualified for tn,
position will be needed for Superinten
dent, who must be strict disciplinarian
and thoroughly systematic in every de
partment of his office. His position will
: be no sinecure, he will have abundant o
WOlh bOuO1 dANt eiAo AAOoo AtSSi q
: Isalaraly for the right man, will be al
y economical measure at the outset.
e In criticising the bill now before the
Legislature notice correspondent II
your issue of last week seemed to thinl
4 that the section prohibiting intercourse
: with the convicts very harsh. In reply
n would saw that in every well regulated
/, prison, just such rules as these are il
;, force, but the managers may and dt
u admit interviews with convicts unde
: such rules as they see best to adopt, bu
!, no interviews are ever permitted excep
J, in the presence of an officer, Th'
Z best PRISON authorities of this land o
other lands I am sure. will justify the sec
ton condemned by your correspondent
1t may scene hard, but we know "th'
way of the transgressor is hard"
The use of weapons by keepers of pri
lsons was always allowed in any an'
every prison of which l ever had an.
nu,1 rho a11fhnrifU of priSnl