The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-07

for It, and TO institute suits for the recov-
cry of the debts due the Penitentiary
Further. he Is required on the first day Of
each month to report 10 the Board Of
Directors the receipts for hire OF the con-
victs, etc He is also general purchasing
agent. and II Is made his special duty TO
enter into contracts for the employment OF
the cOnyicts within the walls Of the
Penitentary." Such being the duties Of
the Superintendent. he should be required
to hire out all the conyicts whether
they are TO be worked within the feniten-
tiary or upon the railroads. The Supefih-
tendent should take charge OF All thls
work. under the advice of the Board ot
Directors and hire out an OF the cOnWcla'
and collect the money for their hire. The
Auditor is n very busy man. and has no
time to see after the collection of the
money due the Penitentiary. There ls
no wisdom I'm having divided responsible
tiles. AS the law now stands. IT thefe
was danger Of a loss. and prompt actlon
was necessary. the Auditor might say tnat
there is no authority on him to collect TINS
money. The Superintendent mlEht say
that 81 was rot his duty: and thus, by
negligence and delay, a debt once goOd
might be lost.
/ recommend that the statute be- chang
hire out All cOnvicts. and TO take bonds
payable 20 the state with good security;
and that he be required 90 collect the
money and pay II over 90 the Auditor or
Public Accounts lie should also De re-
ouired TO give a sufficient bond in case or
default on his part TO make the state sale
Convic's' work.
Humanity requires that the Jaw hiring
convicts TO be worked ON the railroads
be repealed. The result shows that the
change form the heated WORKSHOPS
rooms. and cells 90 the exposure reccssarl-
" incident 10 the work and confinement ON
the railroads. is so great that 80 rudangers
the health and lives of the conviciai ana
I exposes them 90 "A risk TO which they
were not consigned when they We're ien-
fenced "to hard labor in the Penitentary.'
They have not forfeited their lives by the
commission Of crime. but only ther hHef-
ty and they should not Dee compelled 20
labor in an exposed position. where their
health may be endangered. by am rNami-
nation Of the reports OF the officers Of this
institution. you will see the difference IN
the rate Of mortality among those who
work on the railroads and those who are
employed inside the prison, and the differ
ence is fearful.
The shoe Factory.
Influenced in part by these considera-
lions, and after repeated interviews Wl'n
the Superintendent and the Board OF Direc-
tors I detrmined that. both for tho pur-
pose Of health and profit 81 would be
best TO enlarge the workshops and IN
crease the force hired there. From these
shops is derived the greater part Of the
profits from the hire of convlcts. and the
work is done with more comfort TO them.
rtrff lTffNT
health. All these things are subjects ior
considerations and had their due influence
I'm persuading me OF the wisdom of m
'rcasinc tle workshops Ind charging tne
management in this regard. I'm order 20
carry out this plan. TT became necessary
to eniaree The workshops. DO viii cost
a considerable amount. but the increas-
ing number of couvcts makes 81 noces-
sarv that we should have more room.
We have the money TO pay for this oX-
penditure without taxing the treasury of
the State. and she contract has been made
and the work i'm great part finished. The
Board of Directors clearly had the right
10 apply the means of the institution "tO
enlarge the shops ana increase the mum
ber of cells"
Before incurring this expense. 7 ap-
proved contract mace by lue Board ui
Directors with the Davis Boot g. Shoe
Company 10 extend their stll uncom-
pleted contract 20 thirteen years. t0 jua-
tify them also I'm ircreasine their plant hy
a large addition OF machinery 90 carry
ON their work After much consideration
and a long Investigation / believed the
work TO be necessary and. therefore, mp
proved it. and feel assured that in Jew
years. with proper MANAGEMENT, the iu-
crease in revenue Co the State will pay
all the expenses Of the institution and will
reach the sum of $4,000 year-perhaps
$1,000.
Danger
When these factories are completed
you Will have more convicts I'm the build
ing than ever; consequently. more danger
of disease, and we should. in every way
provide against this state of things Sup
pose an epidemic should prevail among the
convictsl What could we do with them
To keep them confined would be inhuman,
TO turn them loose upon the cuntry, ly
pardon, would be TO subject innocent per-
sons TO the wrOng-dOings Of these laWless
people. which could not be justified nor
excused TO anticipate such am emer-
gency as this. / think it wise 20 lease
with an option of purchase, good farm
at some suitable place and erect on it
cheap. but secure prison-house, well pro-
tecteu by stOckade, in which, If it should
become necessary, the prisoners may be
confined, cared for and guarded, az but
little expense
At all times, we should have q place
Of this kind where the old, the invaIids
and the boys, VINO are sent 10 prison FOR
a time sufficient 20 learn a trade. could
be placed, and required 20 cultivate the
farm and make food for the rest and
thus be a great saving So. for two rea-
sons-for sanitary purposes. and 10 enable
US 10 utilize the labor of those who are
unable, from any cause. to work in the
factories-I recommend that this be done.
Punishments.
The law inflicts punishments upon GRIM
inals for the protection OF society, ana TO
deter others from committing crime
rather than from the hope of reformation
upon the part of the criminal. This is
done IN great part by confinement in the
State prison FOR a length Of time proper
tionate TO the enOrmity Of the offence
committed; hence the difference of the
terms meted out 10 each criminal There
is another way in which society hopes 10
be benefited by the influence of punish
meut, ard that is by reforming the Grim
inal This cannot be done by cOnhne-
ment alone. / think that you will find
upon investigation of the facts, the crlm-
inal class belongs, I'm great measure, TO
those who do not work and have no regu-
lar. useful employment. They have no
credit; they have lost favor with the
people. and they endeavor TO revenge
themselves upon society (Which they de-
spise) and attempt 10 live in utter disre-
gard of the laws and of the rights OF
others.