Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-12-06
MR. GARLAND's REPORT.
He Appeals to Congress for the Com
struction of Government Penitentiaries.

He Appeals to Congress for the Com
struction of Government Penitentiaries.
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Dec. 6,-Attorney
General Garland, in his annual report, makes
AN earnest appeal 70 congress to provide for
the construction of government peniten-
tiaries and refoT1matories Recent laws that
have been enacted by states with respect ia
the labor of prisoners prove more con
clusiyely than ever, he says, the absolute
need of such institutions
Provision should at once be made looking
to the erection of at least one United States
penitentiary, ard if possible a reformatory.
The objection in the minds of many that the
cost of conducting such an institution would
be so much greater than the existing ar
rangement, is being almost overcome by the
fact that tte favorable contracts which the
department has heretofore been able TO enter
into can no longer be made.
This arises from the fret that laws passed
recently by several of the states and by con-
gress,prevent the employment of prisoners on
contract labor This necessitates resort &c
experiments in other systems, as provision
must necessarily be made for the working of
convicts If dis sipine is to be maintained and
the prisoners health and comfort considered
A large number of prisoners convicted in
United States courts are those who have
committed but single offenss, and who have
but commenced a career of crime IL they
could be prevented from associating with
hardened criminals and not confined in an in
stitution which in every way suggests q
criminal life, many, perhaps, could be re-
formed. Besides, many are young men who
have held positions of trust and responsible
ity, and who, through temptation, have com
country. These, AMI the class referred TO
above, should not be confined in prison, but
the government should provide suitable re
formatory, where proper influences could be
thrown around them and their reformation
effected, as is done now in several states
In addition to all this, he says, it would
seem that the United States should have
model prisons and reformatories of its own
in which to confine its criminals, and provis
ion should be made for the employment OF
the inmates at some suitable industries on
system of labor which would not violate the
recent act Of congress nor be inconsistent
with the laws passed by the several states
and the prevailing opinions relative to the
subject of contract labor
The attorney general recommends a special
appropriation of S375,000 for fees and ex
penses of United States deputy marshals, and
a readjustment of the marshals' fee bill,
which has not been revised for thirty years.
He also suggests the reorganization OF the
official force of the department, and an in
crease of the force to correspond with the in
creased amount of work done during the last
four years On this subject the attorney
general says:
''The work Of the department during the
pase year was q continuation of what has
been its policy during the whole of the pres
ent administration, a strict and vigorous
enforcement of the laws For nearly -four
years the department has kept this object in
view, and the eesults of its action are very APP
parent. Because of the diligent prosecution
of suits for the cancellation of fraud.
ulent patents and against timber tres
passers and plunderers of the public
domain, it has come TO be understood that
the laws enacted for the regulation of the
public lands, both as to their general disposi
tion and management, and as granted to
railroads and other corporations are of bind
ing force, and are to be rigidly and impair
tially executed