The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-08-28
THE KEEPING or coNvICrs.

The NEW NORTH WEST Of last week re.
marks: at 10 not probable any favor will
be shown the Dakota scheme OF importing
our prisoners" When II can be shown 10
the people Of Montana that there would be
clear saving Of $s7, $50 In transferring fifty
prisoners whose average term of service Is
five years or more TO the Bismarck peniten.
tiary, the probability Of such q transfer fine.
Ing favor becomes strong, and those In au-
thority will find 1t rather hard TO answer q
neglect 10 save such . sum TO our heavily
taxed people.
The transfer OF fifty fve-year convicts
from Deer Lodge TO Bismarck saves IS cents
each per diem for keeping. 1t allows the
transfer Of 80 more from the county jalls,
where the keeping costs $3.50, to Deer
Lodge, where the keeping Is So cents per day.
Here, then, Is . clear saving of $50 per day
by the change, which amounts to Sis, $50 In
a single year, and SOL $50 In five years and
If 81 1000 is allowed as the outside cost OF
removing 80 TO Bismarck. It would result In
a clear saving Of $S7.250. This would be
enough to build us pretty respectable pen
itentiary.
Deer Lodge would not have any cause to
complain. The penitentiary would be kept
foil all the time, but with short term instead
of long term prisoners. The only citizens
Of Montana who would lose anything are
those who make profit on keeping prison.
ers In the county jails at S1.5O per day.
IL Is question for the responsible author
tiles to settle with the taxpayers Of Mon
tana, and IL seems TO us that IL ought not to
take more than half q minute To settle II.
Until II Is settled 10 the interest of the peo.
pie IL will never be settled at all.-Heiena
Herald.
III the cost Of keeping couvicts were alone
TO be considered, the several States and Ter
tories, or all united, would probably find it
a saving TO establish penal colonies like
Botany Bay or Siberia, rather than the next
thing-exportingt to any other outside prison
that will keep them cheapest. Our remark,
as quoted, was made on the broad principle
that the theory Of such practice is entirely
wrong, and this view Is endorsed by the
United States in It's having established, built
and maintained expensive prisons in the
several Territories when for a 1.-THE of the
amount 1t could have had Its convicts sent
TO existing United States prisons. The dis
cussion Of the principle Is beyond the space
at disposal this morning, but the wrongful
ness of such q system will impress itself
upon any one who will give 1t considera-
ton.
We have not seen this Dakota proposition,
but two or three things relative thereto we
know. The Bismarck penitentiary Is the
outgrowth Of the division fight in that Ter
ritory, and when 1t was completed there
were but three prisoners TO 60 in 1t. The
proposition to Montana is simply to fill 1t
up and by having convicts from other Terri
tories impress upon the U. S. Government
Its necessity, and afford plea for more ex-
tensive buildings. Montana Is therefore to
be made cats paw TO rake In Dakota chest
nuts.
The Herald's argument embraces the as
sumption that Dakota would keep these
prisoners fire years. How do we know9 If
1t Is under Territorial law, the next Da-
kota Legislature may break up the arrange
ment and compel the return Of the Montana
lift is under United States con-
tract they are made but for limited time at
best, and q change of administration or off,
GERS may result the same.
The Herdid's estimate is based upon there
being q large number Of Territorial prison
'rs now held In county jails. As soon as
he south wing Of the penitentiary Is COM
here, can be accommo dated In the u. 8.
prison, and with the increase In numbers the
pro rata cost of keeping will be materially
The contract cost of maintenance
was at one time rs cents per day, and the
act ual cost less than that. We believe, after
he erection of the south wing and the I'D
mission Of oil convicts, the actual cost will
not exceed, If 1t reaches 90 cents per day
he maximum price now allowed for keeping
county prisoners. The additional 10 cents
ser day would not pay transportation, the
increased expenses of visiting officials and
the mileage of Sheriffs, ETC., to
ay nothing of the prisoners being beyond
he Jurisdiction of the Territorial officers. |
The actual cos. of maintenance cannot be |
much more here than In Dakota, and II the |
United States can afford to build two pris |
,ns there, 1. can afford to build one adequate
me here. If 1t Is some Territorial tub-to-
he-whale scheme cooked up In Dakota and
lnder Territorial control, as we rather sus.
'ect IL is, the less Montana has to do with 1t |
he better.
We make these remarks without exact in
ormstion as to the Dakota proposition, or
What authority 1t is made by. On Its face 1t |
ooks to US like the penitentiary monstrosity
hat was thrown into the Legislature last
winter and found many ardent advocates
Vho had never stopped to investigate and
discover its crookedness.
at seems TO us it ought not to take more
han half minute" for Montana to go slow
m this Dakota prison scheme.