The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-06

sewer at the joint expense of the State and the
city of Indianapolis; hut, as the consent OF the
city 10 bear it's proportion OF the Outlay was
requisite before the work could he undertaken,
the work fell through, the city not having given
the needed consent, As the sewer will be of
material benefit to the city, 1t is just that 1t
should bear a due proportion of the expense.
The necessity for q walled enclosure Tor the
purpose of allowing "A space for neeuful exercise
for women sentenced for crimes, whom it would
be unsafe TO permit TO he at large upoh open
grounds, is evident, and an appropriation OF the
comparatively small amount asked for by the
managers would seem to be most proper.
The States prisons at Jacksonville and at
Michlgan City are more nearly self-supporUlng
than they have been for several wears.
The average number of prisoners at the former
prison during the past year was 564. The aver
age number of prisoners AT the prison at Michi-
gan City was OIL.
The specific appropriation bill which failed at
the last session of the General Assembly, on ac-
count of its consideration having been deferred
to too late a period of the session, contained an
appropriation OF So, 900 for building special
wards at the prison at Michigan CRY for the use
OF insane prisoners, and tor "A transfer TO that
prison of all the insane prisoners in the prison
at JeHersOnvllle. | earnestly urge the appro-
priatiOn of a proper sum of money for the build
ing of cells ut the former prison for insane prls-
oners, v hich shall be remote from the cells of
other convlcts. The insane convicts are mt pres
emf. for want of any other provision, kept in cells
so near those OF other prisoners that their cries
at night disturb and frequently destroy the rest
OF these hard worked m"n, whose condition at
tile end of each days labor requires that they
should have undisturbed repose. Ii is cruel and
discreditable TO require prisoners deprived night
after night successfully of needful sleep, to per-
form the lahOrious daily tasks demanded of them
by the practice of the prisons. Insane persons
require, also, a very different attention from
that given to the sane, aud from that which nee
essarily they are now accustomed to receive.
The abbreViariOn OF the terms of sentences al
lowed by statute to prisoners for good conduct Is
believed not TO he sufficiently liberal. Nc .ncen-
tive to good behavior Is found TO be so strong
with them as "A knowledge that such behavior
viii shorten the term of imprisonment. l ear
ntStly recommend legislation giving to prison.
ers whose conduct has been continually eXem-
pLary "A larger credit for good conduct on their
sentences. The effect of such legislation would
be followed, / have no doubt, by "A great i'm
provement in discipline and "a lesseninG OF eX-
pense in The conduct of the prisons.
Complaint is made by the city authorities of
Michigan CRY that the 81 wage of the prison at
thar city, which is conveyed into a small stream
called Fish Lake creek, occasions n nuisance in
furious TO the health of the inhabitants. The
growth of the city has recently been rapid, and
It's limits now extend beyond the point at which
TINS refuse is conveyed into the stream. The ne
cessity for the construction Of Il sewer by the
State seems to he urgent.