Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-05-17
rHn prNrrrNr1ARY pIREoroRs
Make Their semi-Annual Report TO TIL
novarOOr

which has been before published in the
REGIsFER:
MotxpsvILLE, W. VA April %. 1886
To tie Governor Of Vest Virginia:
SIE: The Directors of the Penitentisry
respectfully submit the following semi
annual report for the ak months ending
March 81, 1886:
The repairs and Improvements referred
To II our last report have been made and
We expended for such work the sum OF
81, $50 81. But little, if any. further work
of this kind will be necessary for the pro-
lection of the State property or the sue
cessiul management Of the prison prior to
the next session OF the Legislature, when
we will ask for such an appropriation as
will be necessary for the purpose. The
prison population has been gradually in,
creaying and now reaches 40 men aud IL
women, q total OF 2S2 convicts.
During the latter part of 1885 we be,
came convinced, from the number OF con
vic.s then in prison, and the probability Of
an increase, that an sddiiioual contract
might be made, after furnishing the pre-
sent contractors with their maximum
numbers; and on the oath of last Novem
Der we directed On advertisement as re
ouired by law. asking proposals for the
labor of forty (40) convicts, but to this We
had no responses. Again, on the 24th o
January we advertised the labor now EN-
ployed by Messrs. Weaver & Bsrdall under
contract which expires on the 18th day o
August next, consisting of one hundred
lOC) able-bodied men and about twenty
| i've (25) who are not able.bodied. Fol
this labor we had but one BID, that o.
Mesrs. Weaver, Bsrdsll & Co, at fort!
(4Ol cents per day for ablebodied men anc
uroportiouately lees for those not able
oodied, as they might be able to earn
This we did not consider reasonable
compensation for the labor and We rejected
the bid.
The general depression Of business
throughout the country, growing sent
ment in opposition to contract convic
labor threatened, and in some instances
actual boycott Of prison manufactures, tend
to make prison contractors timid; and 1t Il
possible that they are inclined to take sd
vantage OF these circumstances to secure
contracts at lower rates than The INTEREST,"
oil the State would permit US to grant
While the present outlook for making
contracts for this labor, at fair prices, Ii
no, fattering, we do not think that delay
ing for time can result in serious loss
in fact. we believe that it would be better
for this labor to remain unproductive tor {
me than 10 let it at such low rates for I
long term, therefore furnishing just
grounds tor the complaint that this lsboI
furnishes prison contractors Unfair compe
ution with manufacturers employing hon
est labor.
On the l2h day Of February, 1883, or
engagements were made by the Director
with the Department of Justice et Wash
ington, d. c., for keeping Federal prison
ers convicted in the L. S. Courts Of thi,
State, without other compensation than thu
labor of such convicts and the gratuity
furnished them by the Department on thell
discharge.
This arrangement we found had been
made when contractors we're anxious Il
secure contract labor at bett er rates thai
are row offered and the prison was no
able to furnish the maximum number OIL
State Convicts called for by existing con
tracts. Now the contracts are all full, sd
veriisemenis are made for bids with few /
auy RESPONSES. and no immediate prospect
Tor letting at reasonable rates After fully
considering the matter the Board, on The
26 Of January last, notified the L. s
Attorney General that no more .. S. con
victs would be received without Compensa
ion for their keeping,
This notice was followed by other and
similar notices on the 9th of February
and the 24th OF March, the latter fixing
such compensation at htty cents per day
for each convict. This is subject, how
ever, TO notifications. Temporary ar
rangements have been made with the De
partuent for keeping such convic;s
The reports Of the several officers OF the
prison are here with submitted. showing the
transactions in detail, the financial and
sanitary condition, the health of the in
mates. a..
We are pleased to be able to report that
the rules for the government of the Peni'
Tertiary have been firmly but kindly en-
forced, that good order prevails and that
the effects of good discipline are apparent
in every department.
(Singuedl Fl R HowARp, President.
j II. MARCUN,
IonN NJ COLLINS,
J. W. GALIAIER,
NJ REILLY.