Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-12-14

In the report of the last grand jury,
which made intelli gent observation OF
some of the most striking features in the
management of the public institutions Of
this county, appeared the following with
relation to Bum ners' hall - at the
prison
Bummers' hall has not been divided into
cells, as previously recommended. The
men are crowded into that building like
beasts and kept in perfect idleness, aud
on the plea Of suppressing the tramp nui.
sance men who wont work and many meu
whose only offense is that they are TEN
porarily without work and friends are
treated in n manner which offers high
premium 10 crime. For, the contrast be
tween the comforts, privileges and coOveu
fences Of the prison CELL ard the utter ab
sepce of them in BummeTs' hall is so
great that the commission OF crime is
made the passport to a comparative para
disc. BY rule of the board of prison in
spectors, the daily fare OF those committed
to bummors' hall is quarter of loaf OF
bread, weighing about one pound, given
to them every mOruing-a ration Of soup
twice a week-and water al hbltum. We
recommend that these men be- given some
steady employment, tho bread ratons be
increased one half and be servcd TO them
in two equal shares, morning aud evening.
We do this because we believe numbers
get there who would gladly work il they
can't enjoy merited freedom.
We learn that these recommendations
have not been put into force, and per
sonal observation cOnvinCes u5 that the
nh &c 90 hl it,F niYNf
the place were in no wise eXag gyerated.
They are such rs should receive more
practical attention from a Christian
community and humane system OF
government than they have thus far had
1t is true that in single room, Of no
great size, are nov ColHued some fifty
men and boys, whose condition is very
little better than that with which the
average Lancaster county farmer sur
rounds his beasts Of the barnyard.
The stories which this class Of men
tell are not to be relied upon, aud there
are no doubt among them many harden
cd wretches upon whom any ameliorat,
ing influences would be lost. But the
indiscriminate budding together Of
sometimes rs many az "a hundred men
and boys, picked of the streets
some for vagrancy, some for crime
and some for poverty, cannot serve
any laudahle purpose of organized
society IL the supposed object 10 to
punish crime, 1t iS indefeusible because
OF the inordinate character of the penal
ty In relation with the Offense. The
conditions of the criminal system prac
ticed at our Jail are such as to encourage
these men 10 steal 50 as To be housed in
comparatively comfortable cells, clothed
and fed, instead Of being herded in a
filthy pen, associated with the most
loathsome company, physically and NOR
ally, and kept on bread and water diet.
Ii the Bummer's hall system is intended
to prevent crime, 1t certainly fails of it's
purpose because it can hardly be other.
wise than that its associations make IL a
hot bed Of vice There are bows of
tender years men OF respectable appear
ance, aud totterlng imbeciles crowded in
unfortunately with the vicious and
reckless.
1t is an infamous system. No intelli
gent man can look upon it and reach any
other conclusion. The problem Of better
ing 1t may be difficult, but men not able
to grapple with it are not Gt to be en-
trusted with the management of the
prison.