The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-02-20
THE KEEPING OF PRISONERS.

heartiest THANKS OF the ASSOCIATION Dy tnelr
welcome.
THE KEEPING OF PRISONERS.
Up 10 the present time the Legislative As.
sembly has perfected and sent to the Gov
ernor but very small portion Of the legisla-
ton IL has had under consideration and 1t Is
inevitable now that that the full sixty days
will be occupied in maturing the measures
before 1t. The general drift so far Of new
legislation appears to Be toward retrench-
ment Of County and Territorial expenses BY
reduction of fees and emolume nts, and the
increase Of revenues by higher licenses for
liquor selling, amusements, etc. The most
notable of the reductions that have 30 far
passed both houses Is that fer the main.e-
nance Of prisoners in the county Jail, the
rates having been reduced from $l.25 per day
to 70 cents per day for less than five prisons
ers, and 90 cents per day for five or more.
The sheriffs say this rate will compel them
to keep prisoners on less attractive diet than
heretofore, but the general opinion is: first,
that the food heretofore furnished has been
loo attractive and too good, and second, that
the rate Notwithstanding that every
thing except the actual provisions purchased
and the help employed in cooking the Same
Is furnished by the county-is still large
enough to feed prisoners as well IS they
should be fed and leave fair profit for the
sheriff. It Is undoubtedly the fact that pro-
fesslonal bummers, FOUNDERS, and vicious
persons generally have not heretofore re.
gsrded the fare they would receive in prison
as an element Of punishment, and many of
them have Jared much better in Jail than
they do out. Under the rates now enacted
they will probably get fare that will be some
thing to be avoided, and It would not be sur
prising If this very reduction in rates would
materially decrease the numbers of those
are Indifferent to arrest and incarceration.
There have been too many Of this class main
tanned by the county. Let "prison fare" be
an element of the punishment and the mum.
Der of professional Jail birds will decrease.
In connection with this, we notice bills
have been introduced cutting down the fees
for transportation of prisoners, and that the
sentences of convicts shall include sat hard
labor" Both these measures are right. A
measure Is also on foot to authorize the Gov
ernor to contract with the authorities sfsome
State for the keeping Of penitentiary con-
victs, the rate for keeping the same in the
penitentiary At Deer Lodge being now IS
cents per day, and It being stated that rates
can be secured In eastern prisons At As cents
per day. Although some Of the Territories
have such laws we doubt the expediency or
propriety If 1t. The United States Govern
ment, with prisons all over the land, has sci
the seal of Its disapproval upon this system
by sppropriating funds to build a United
States Psnitentiary in Montana, and last year
committed itself to the proposition to COM
plet the same by an additional appropriation.
This prison will doubtless revert to the State
of Montana on Its admission. 1t has further
builded more extensively than required for
United States convicts and has continuously
entered into contract with the Territory to
keep Its convicts. The rate now In existence
can doubtless be materially reduced under
the next contract, As the amount no paid
by the Territory more than pays the entire
expenses Of the prison. Again, If these pris-
oners are sent away the Territory will lose
the benefits of their labor which Is about to
be provided for and which should add con-
siderable fund to Offset the cost of mainten-
ance. Further, considering the increased
mileage and expense by sending them east,
1t will only pay to send long term convicts
and they are The very ones whose labor can
be best utilized and will command the best
rates in the Territorial prison. Whether
prisoners heretofore sentenced to confine-
mept In the Territorial penitentiary can be
sent to another State, and whether those
whose sentence did not include sat hard
labor" can be taken away and put at labor a.
. part of the consideration of the contract for
keeping them are questions; but 1t does ap.
pear TO us beyond question that unless there
are very material advantages to be derived
from exporting our csnvicts 1t Is the better
method TO secure the lowest rates that can
be had from the United States for keeping
them here encourage the erection Of adequate
prisons in tho Territory and provide for the
occupation Of such prisoners in prison shops
intesd of sending them abroad. The condi-
tions of the country, including the suppress
sion Of horse thieves on the eastern border,
high licences to saloons, the reflex of the
tide Of rough immigration, the diminished
attraction of prison fare, and the steady but
certain growth Of better society in Montana,
are reliable indications that felonies will not
be 50 numerous hereafter and our own in.
situations should be made adequate for the
keeping and punishment Of our own crimi-
nails.