Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-25

| me A7tINnt Report OF Harden Sntttkt--INe
Income and Expenditure amendments
Suggested to Improve the Morale of the
| Institution.
| The fifth annual report of Hon. a. N.
Smith, warden of the Wisconsin State
prison, is in the hands of the printer. From
the manuscript copy we CLEAN the following
facts:
The present number of conyicts is $50.
| Last June there were 36G, the largest num-
Der ever confined here The prison consists
of large main building and two wings 5Ox
200 feet, containing the cells. Only one
wing, the SOUTH has bean finished off. It
contains $50 single cells. Three hundred
and sixty-slx men were crowded into them,
so it became necessary to finish off the north
wing. Mr.. Smith Lad this done by Contract.
for the remarkable small sum of $4,000.
Ordinarily the State would have expected to
| pay $4,000. Pipes are laid to the engine at
the shops, and it is proposed to heat it by
steam. Over forty-one tons of iron were
| used in finishing it, and three thousand BUSH
els of sand in plastering.
| No appropriation was asked for last year.
and Notwithstanding the expense incurred
as above, none is asked for this year. War
den Smith reports a balance on hand of
$11 ,654.46, and estimates the other resources
will furnish all the needed money for the year
to come. Improvements not mentioned
above have been made to the extent of ST.
1904.
M. d. Wells 81 Co., of Chicago, employ in
the manufacture of boots and shoes $50 men,
and agree to take all the State can furnish,
paying therefor 40 cents per diem for each
man, the State furnishing shop-room and
steam-power.
The prison farm consists of twelve acres
yet from it and the hog-pens q net revenue
of $l,4l7.48 was yielded.
Warden Smith states that it is his opinion
that many discharged prisoners would not
return to life of crime if they had any
other immediate means of subsistence on
their release. But the S5sprovided for each
by the State will not, in many instances, fur
nish him transportation to the place
he came from. Mr.. Smith thinks
the Discharged Prisoners Aid society
good thing if fostered ny the State. He
recommends that some Ole of its officers be
paid salary by the Stats. equal to that now
now paid by the secretary of the board of
charities and reform. lie thinks it would
to be economy on the part of the State,
claiming that it is cheaper to see that man
try, and convict him, and then furnish en-
ployment.
There have been two escapes during the
year. Charles L. Phelps, who was SEN
fenced in April, 1877, from Sheboygan
county for five years for burglary, left Feb.
2, and has not been heard of since. George
Wilson, life convict, escaped in September,
but was soon captured Mr. Smith has lost
but one man since he was appointed warden,
nearly five years ago.
Attention is called to the fact that the
laws permit very unequal sentences for the
same crime. The warden says it is a very
prolific source of discomfort among the men
tina. one man shall be sent up for two years,
while the man he works with is in for only
six l.ionths for she sanr5~ssinle. The same
is true of the man who comes for twelve
years for horse stealing, while his cell-mate,
for the same offense, is only sentenced for
two years. Mr. Smith says: "No system of
reasoning can satisfy him or myself of the
justice of laws SO administered"
Mr.Smith enters his annual protest against
the inhuman practice, SO fraught with disast-
rous effects on prison discipline, of confnin g
in prison cells instead of in the insane asylum,
men who become insane after their convic-
ton.
The warden says that the custom of adj
hitting visitors indiscriminately to the shops
is of doubtful propriety. He admits the
right of those visiting who are anxious to
see how the prisoners are treated, but OBJ
jects to making "shoW'' of the prison. He
says it is becoming general resort for ex-
cursions and bridal parties. He would ad-
NIT all who wish to the cell rooms. but pro-
hibit mere sishtse from visiting the
shops He says some of the lady visitors
are not aware Of the extent of the attrac-
ton their presence occasions among 800
male convicts. He says others are conscious
of it, and daunt themselves purposely. He
says he will soon be compelled to limit to a
large degree the practice Of conducting Wis
itors through the shops.