The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-07-04

wrongs exist, then remedy them by intelli-
gent legislation. Let us not be carried
away with the meaningless cry, Down
with the contract system" simply because
it has imperfectiOns 1t has stood the test
of time and there is ample proof that the
needs of the convict can be furnished under
the present system, as well as under any
other which might supplant it, unless one is
to be invented which is far superior to any
that has been tried. Where in the United
States or in the world, can be found pris.
on where the inmates are better cOntented
or in better health than here? Let us go on
improving until the needs are supplied.
True, we should be self-SuppOrting; we
should be fitted for honest, intelligent pur-
suits when we emerge from here; we should
be allowed the benefit of our earnings, if any
remain after the expense of our mainten-
ance is paid; but if we cannot earn more,
as whole, than it costs to keep us, then we
cannot hope for pay. But you say this is
prepOsterOus. that a man cannot earn more
than fifteen cents day, at most, the cost
of maintenance! But pause an instant and
calculate. not what it costs to feed one man,
but what it costs to feed, clOthe and furnish
the cell accommodations of four hundred and
fifty men. Then add to this the salaries of
the present officers, and all the expenses.
such as fuel, light, repairs, in fact all ex-
penses at present incident to the running
of the prison; then your column OF expenses
is just fairly begun. Add to it the cost of
general superintendent, say4two thousand
per annum; the skilled mechanics, and shop
superintendentS and instructors. for there
would have to be skilled instructors in the
mechanical trades; then comes the outside
business agents to purchase material and
I - L.
menSe amount of money that must be EN-
plOyed in the operation of this gigantic
enterprise. Every business enterprise must
employ all amount OF capital proportinate
to the amount of business transacted, for
between the purchase OF raw material and
the cash sale OF the manufactured article
the amount invested is dead, so to speak,
and cannot be used for other purposes.
There is large percentage of loss by a
thousand channels that do not appear in the
Colonel Sellers system of calculation. but
no state has discovered how to make pris-
on profitable. on any plan. and great many
have been tried besides that in force here.
l have never heard nf a penitentiary that
was source OF any great revenue to the
state. but have heard nf some states that
have abolished the contract system. and are
now supporting their prisons at dead ex-
pense while the inmates are locked in their
cells. Those states have discovered that to
manage business concern which employs
a large number of men. who must be trained
in the work, Superintended. guarded. clothed
and feed. and a large amount expended for
the necessary cost of managing the business
enterprise, is not an easy matter. and in
wolves much more than the mere abolition
of contract labor.
In the article before me | see many things
that would like to answer. but fail to see
their application to the matter at issue.
Some of these are apparent from the fol-
lowing summary: THE present system of
sentence and treatment is wrong" Then
follows an argument against the means the
judge has of gaining the necessary knOwl-
edge to pass intelligent sentence. He also
advocates indeterminate sentence. but
thinks this susceptible of great improve
ment. He advocates the release of all men
whom the warden and inspectors think will
ing and capable to earn an honest living.
He calls attention to the injurious effects of
imprisonment in a way that would indicate
that he holds the contract system response
BILE for all this. Then he quotes from my
former article in manner that is misead-
ing. and follows it with the ejaculation,
''Verily we must have been transplanted to
Siberia" Oh, no. we have not. nor need
we 60 so far to find as barbarOuS treatment
Of cOnvicts as can be found upon earth.
Arkansas or Georgia is far enough to trans
plant for any purpose, but for the purpose
of my statement there are a dozen states
which more than prove it and there are
none that do not recognize it in their laws,