The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-14
The Third Annual Report Made by
the Board Of Commits
sioners
Reasons for Not Beginning Work
on the Billings Pen at
Once.
The Convict work ON the Deer Lodge wall
a Plea for Discharged Men
statistics.

state prison commissioners has been pre-
parei for D sssntation 10 ths nsHt lsRisla-
turs. II lie for the hsoAl year extending
from Dec. l, 1892. 30 Dee. I. 1893 The
board IL composed of Gov. j. 4. Rlokatds.
Attorney General IA. J. Haskell and ssere-
tarJ Of State Louis Rotvitt. Their report
refers 10 the law passed by the last loeials-
ture, appropriating S28. 600 for improve
ments at the Deer Lodge psnitentiaTy aud
$4,000 for the eastern states prison a.
Billings. OF which $420 900 was 20 be sx-
pended in 1893 and $50 600 In 1894. On this
subject the report savU Much 10 the dis
appointment of the hoard ID was found i'm
possible TO take further action in the cree
tion OF the eastern state prison. Owing TO
the financial depression In the money mar.
ket aud also 10 the fact that much of the
states money was tied up by reason OF
numerous bank failu -es. the board deemed
il insEpedisnt 10 incur any extra
expense. nor did they feel Justified in draw
ing warrants. or in fact ineufring any ex-
pense whatever or al all. 40 long as they
had no cash available with which TO meet
the warrants. They decided that Of nsoes.
sitT they we're obligated TO safely care for
the prisoners In the Dssr Lodge ptniten-
tisry. and therefore agreed to make such
Improvements a. would prevent the escape
Of the inmates there. The most Rlarine
need which presented itself in this oonnso.
tiOn was a stone wall 30 take the place Of
the old board fence, which was becoming
rotten in places. and which had been re-
peatedly Repaired.
Owing TO the almost depleted treasury
/ il was thouQht best 30 employ prison labor
d IN Ia Al - - - al A
intendeat was appointed whose duty IL WAS
10 take entire oontrol and charge OF the
work. AZ number Of the pisoners
/ we're ignorant even OF the rudimentAry
principles of mason work. the boar de-
/ oided 10 would be better so EMPLOY one
| competent 70 eman who should engage &C
tivsly In she work. With tue exception Of
these two men so emploTed the laborers
have all been conviets. The work has rro-
crossed VERY Satisfactorily. and much
credit 10 due 10 this SUI sriniendent. In
! order 20 furnish An incentive to good.
tho ough work the board resolved that they
would recommend TO tho governor those
men who have labored faithfully in the
performance Of the work given them. and
| suggest that their sentences be diminished
| by pardon. Acco dinghy 5his plan was
| adopted. and in almost every instance has
proved successful, the men especially
those whose to ms won expire at an unfa-
vorable time of year, and who would have
been discharged In the middle Of winter,
/ having worked diligently and faithfully 10
acquire a elimination OF their ssntencs Of
one month. One month has been the average
| time that has been recommended to be
diminished from the sentence Of men
working upon the wall, but IN one OF two
instsnees. in the csss OF men who have
/ been very active in the performance OF dut-
les assigned them, and who have besn bus
| liz engaged since the commencement OF the
] min
months has been suggested.
although il mst with opposition from
| the outside. mainly through the press. the
/ plan OF employing convict labor in she con-
struction of the wall has succeeded admir-
ably. Both the mo ais and health OF the
con victs can be improved b. the mind aud
muscles being interested in employment.
/ here Is no place where more evil can arise
BY reason OF enforced idleness, than in
prison Physical decay, moral weakness
and insanity are some OF It's sure results.
4 ne state whose laws have been violated
should not Wrssk its vengeance upon the
minds, bodies or souls OF its prisoners.
The ma iority OF the eonvicts are eager and
anxious 20 work and most Of them have
proved TO be very efficient worhmen.
Some OF them-in fact maniac
Young and have never learned trade, but
re willing 20 begin at the foundation aud
work up. Self-imp,ovement with eelf-ro-
epsct i TINS aroused aud stimulated in the
direction Of better manhood"
The report also speaks Of the matter OF
giving disehargs d conviets an opportunity
TO do something that would prevent them
lapsing INTO their Old ways OF life. Ga this
subject the board say; we would like to
suggest that some course of action be taken
ia relation to discharged convicts. ltssoms
~ thouRh IL we're the duty OF the state in
some WAY to make provision for DISCHARGED
conVicts. In some states this Is provided
for by a commissioner, whose dutg 10 is TO
provide an opening Ia which work can be
had by a prisoner ana a SUPP ort assured inn
me iiatsly upon his discharge from the
y ison. Now a man unon his discharge ia
simply Deposited outside the prison wall.
with s Atuity of bot 50 and ooarse
hut decent suit of clothing; II he buys .
rail DAD ticket for but few miles his
money Is exhausted. and he linda himself
without cent, without home without
friend, and no prospect of obtaining work
whereby he may earn an honeat living.
Now, At that moment he needs helping
hand more than az any other period in his
life. Tue state oan do a double duty here.
not only in aiding the man. but in prevent
ing inc. Our statistics show that
number Of our prisoners are serving a sec
ond term. and this number will probably
incrsuse or double unless somsthinR 10 done
TO keep the discharged prison Is.
"Of course 10 will moi follow that every
man 40 assisted TO find honest EN- ploymtnt
will Immediately reform and lead better
life but large per cent OF them will I'M
doubtedly strive 20 work up by means of
abe opening 30 furnished them, aud IL will
surely DO found TO be cheaper 10 the end 20
expend \ reasonable amount of money In
this direction than 90 convict these men re-
psateJly aud have them n charge upon the
state for = term Of years. A very large pro-
portion OF the men might be 90 saved
could they al the time OF their discharge
fnd some way open 20 them some work 81
which they could start. IL ths state cannot
undertake this work cannot some society
be formed for this purpose, as is done in so
many statssf
There wsre 32l oonyicta In the peniten-
tiary a. the date OF the report Dee l. last.
OF the classss of crime involving violence,
tWenty one were confined for murder ia the
Il ~ degree. eighteen for murder IN the sec
ond deg ee fifteen for manslEu Rhtsr
eleven for assault VIII intent 10 kill and
nineteen for other classes Of assault. OF
those crimes involving the unlawful taking
Of other peoples roperty OF money ninety
sew we're in 10 burglary, sixty-ntns for
q and larceny, twenty for forgery and
fifteen for robbery A shoWIng the al
most universal bent OF the Judicial mind
the report shows That hfty-siH OF the con
victa are IN for one year. foTty-one Tor Eve
years, and tusnty-aeven for tn years.
Eighteen are In 70. life. The heaviest sen
tence under that of life is fortF years. A
theme for sermon might be furnished by
the table OF ages Of tie prisone .. Ihera
are thirtg-tWo Of them between 10 ana 20
yeara OF ace; saventY-nine between ~ and
- Years; seVenty-fonr between ~ and 30