Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-05
SHALL THEY WORK?

The Employment of the Prisoners ut the
County Jail Considered-Propostti to
Unite Filth St. Paul and Establish a
York Shop.
The committee appointed from the city coun-
ell , consisting Of AID Woodland, Morse and
Walsh to confer with citizens in regard to fur
nishing employment for the prisoners confined
at the county Jail, met at the council rooms
last evening. ..
The meeting was called to order by Aid.
Woodland, who called upon the chaplain of the
Jail, Rev. DR.. Knickerbacker. The reverend
gentleman spoke at length in regard to the
system of herding the young aud petty GRIM
inals and what are known as professional
tramps together, and he heartily supported any
method that would furnish employment for
those who were confined in the jail, as he
thought it would benefit them both physically
aud morally.
Mr.. Samuel Beck being called on
advocated the plan OF separating the young
criminals from the older aud more hardened
ones. ii
The condition of the jail was then taken VI
by the speaker, and the ventilation and room
afforded the occupants was discussed at length,
and woodward or stcne-pile, such as now
used in st. Paul and other Cities was advo-
Gated.
Mr.. Beck read several statistical reports
punishment of petty criminals instead of con-
fning them in Jail. Mr. Beck stated that in
conversation with Mr.. Cochran and the late
Sheriff Becht. of St. Paul, both of the gentle
men were in favor of establishing workshop
which could be used by both Minneapolis and
st. Paul to send petty criminals to, instead Of
combining them in the jails. --
Mr.. J. B. Bassett was in favor of u workshop,
and stated that with the money paid out by
the taxpayers in the last four years, for board
of prisoners at the county Jail, substantial
workshop could have been built.
Mr.. William Grimshaw was also in favor of
workshop, and thought that if no other
place was provided the prisoners should be put
to work on the street.
Mr.. John DeLaittre was of the opinion that
the city council should devise the best plan
known for the employment of prisoners, and
read an extract from the report of the Massa-
chusetts bureau of statistics, in which the
system of workshops was fully explained.
Judge Young not in favor Of putting the
prisoners on the street. the object of punish
ment was not to make a prisoner mental,
but rather to punish and benefit them. He was
in favor of separating the petty criminals (sueh
as those confined for drunkenness) from the old
and hardened offenders, and although he had
no definite plan in view, yet he was in favor Of
any method that would furnish employment
for prisoners.
Mr. Chute was in favor of uniting with st.
raul anu StaFtlnS WORKSHOP, anu 1uouSn6 Inbt
the matter should be considered by the city
council.
Mr.. White was in favor of stone or wood
pile, SO that the tramps who apply for lodging
should be made to work for their meals and
lodgings, and thought the same would do away
with nearly all the tramps who now infest the
city and vicinity.
Remarks were made by Aid. Camp, DR.. Tat
tie and others on the subject, and the commit
tee, after thanking those present for their at
tendance, adjourned the meeting.