Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-11-24
Whole number of inmates

Ter security OF the proper tios, ana the lives
| OF the inmates, thata ulght watohman be
permanently employed, and that one of
| the buildings bo connected with the tele-
phone exchange
Ga Wednesday afternoon wo visited tho
ohildren's home aud tho county prison.
| Az tho home we were met 10y u committee
oI the board of trustees, and the ma'ron,
Mis' Hamaker, who showed us through
every part of the building an1rding us
eyeiy opportunity of facquaintug ourselves
| WIN the nature aud condition Ot this most
excellent Institution. We found every
,nhng IN perfect order, aud we tako great
pressure III saying well done" to tho de
Noteu mon aud women who have labored
80 long, 40 earnestly, aud 40 hopcluIly in
the interest of helpless children. Tn, hom,
ut present has 02 white boys aud 10 white
| Hlris, ana III black bOys and Q black uirIs
~ total OF lii--all IN healthy condition.
from our own observation and from in.
| formation furnished ~ a conference with
the trustees and tho matron, we learned
that there IL a pressing domapd for more
room Tor various purposes. Happily no
| contagious disease has over broken out
IN the home. 1t is among the possibilities,
there should, therefore, be ready at hand
a suitable place TO which tho sick can be
removed. The bed rooms are full-too
fun, for all the Children are compelled To
sleep two IN u bed whilst quito number
ot them are too large to sleep that way
with any degree Of comfort. The trustees
| OF tie home have been notified
that hereafter all children two years
old aud upward brought To the
almshouso will bo sent to them. They are
not prepared to receive them. Increased
| accommodations are necessary, and we
earnestly recommend that tho county
commissioners mako an appropriation sui-
ilcient to pay for an additional home
buildlng-to DO built of brick, two stories
| high the cost not to exceed 5000.
We thon visited the county prison aud,
under the guidance of the keeper and some
OF his assistants, wo were shown through
tho building and grounds. An examina.
ton OF the building satisfied US that tho
recommendation OF tho grand inquest at
tho August session, 1888, that preparation
should be made at once for the erection of
a new and larger prison was not prema.
ture. lt is needed, and we trust there
viii be no further delay in the matter.
Bummers' Hall has not been divided into
| cells, as previously recommended. The
men are crowded into that building like
oeasts and kept III perfect idlencss, and
| on the plea oi suPpressng the tramp nuis-
anCe, men who wont work aud many men
whose only otiense iS that they are tempo
rarily without work and friends, are
| treated i'll manner which offers d high
premium to crime. For tho contrast DO.
! tween tho comforts, privileges aud conve-
niences OF the prison cell, aud the utter
| absence of them IN Bummers' Hall, IL so
great that the commission of crime is
made the passport To comparative Para.
| disc. by rule of the board of prison IN
spectOrs, the daily fare of those CON.
| mitted to Burners Hall il
quarter of u loaf of bread, weighing
| about one pound, given to them every
motning-a ration OF soup twice a week.
aud water al libitum. We recommend that
these men be given some steady employ
ment, that the bread ratiOns be- increased
| one-half, aud be served To them in two
| equal shares, morning and evening. We
| do this because we believe numbers get
there who would gladly work II they can't
| ENJOY a meTited freedom. There are IN the
prison at this time 50 cunviCts, AZ of whom
| have been sentenced to long terms at hard
labor aud solitary confinement. awaiting
trial under indictment for murder, and 43
for drunken and disorderly conduc
Total, 90. The prison contains 80 cells,
but Il are used for prisoners The other
nine tue keeper ~ Obliged To uso tor other
purposes, The A. long term prisoners
occupy 80 Cells--which shows that AZ the
some prisoners as the law requires they
should be punished, and afiording them
opportunities Tor planning and carrying out
projects OF escape which they should never
have.
The recent escape Of large number OF
the most notorious inmates led to an exam
nation of the mode Oi prison government
We find that the keeper has no voice IN the
selection or removal Of his underkecpers
and watchmen, and consequently cannot
seclre that constant aud faithful Obedierce
to the rules governing the conduct of the
prison officers which is absolutely necessary
to proper management. Seven differ.
ent night watchmen have been employed
during his term. We find also that he is
compelled to employ prisoners to clean the
corridors, and carry needed articles TO and
from tho cells lie selects tho best Of
those ut his command, and must trust
them. II would be too much trouble
to be searching them all the time, yet he
feels that herein lies great source of evil
Forbidden articles get into tho cells In
spite of his prohibitions. Ho has for.
hidden tissue paper curtains to he put up
in tho cells, yet he found II big roll Of such
paper in BTimmeT's cell.
From these and other statements We are
firmly convinced that tho present mode Of
prison government IL contrary to every
good business ruCiple-SubvGTslyO of
efficient management, aud calculated to
afford numerous facilities 10 the prisoners
TO escape. We recommend therefore that
tho keeper be given the sole right of choOs-
ing and changing all the employees about
the prison, and that he DO given authority
to employ sufficient help t0 enable him To
dispense with tho aid Ol Unuyic's in clean
ing the corridors aud ministering to the
wants of tho prisoners. We recommend also
that the underkeepers aud night watch
men be required To give bonds Tor tho
faithful performance of their duty. In
this connection we would report that the
keeper assured us it waB his intention To
bring charges against tho escaped prisoners
as fast as they arc recaptured.
Touching tho manufacturing operations
of the prison we have but little TO report.
No cigars are now made, the contractor
having thrown up his contract and removed
all his stock at tho time tho smallpox
broke out in the prison. Forty.six of
tho prisoners are employed in various
mechanical operations. such as weaving,
making baskets, fish nets, brooms, shoes,
etc. The carpet business is tho only ono
which pays. Since Sept. Goth, 1888, 3,O15
yards of carpet aud JOi yards Of sheeting
and bed stuff have been made.
We arc Of the opinion that u thorough
examination of the prison in all it's work
ings would be of much value, and result
a IA. Il