The herald., 1895-06-21
The Way in Which the City
Prisoners Are Fed
ECONOMY OF AUTHORITIES
As Displayed During the Month of
May
Substantial Showing Of the Method Pur-
sued for the Past Thirty Days-What
1ayor RAIDER Has to Say

The system now in force for supplying
the city prisoners with food Is one well
worthy of careful consideration.
! The Investigation made by The Herald
some days ago clearly demonstrated the
fact that the meals are both insufficient
and OF poor quality. Whether an i'm
provement along these lines is contem-
plated by Chief Glass remains to be
proven, but at all events one is badly
needed in just this department. During
the past week a number of com munica-
tons have been received at this office
from various citizens stating their emit re
sym patty with a movement for reform
in this direction and anxiety lest the
matter be unnoticed by the city author
tiles.
Yesterday reporter visited Mayor
RAIDER, who is ex-o.iicio q member OF the
police comm ssion and secured his views
on the subject. Said he: The prisoners
certainly have the right to expect fair
treatment at the hands of those who have
them in custody. Up to the time of The
Herald's expose OF the matter | had not
heard complaints of any kind concern
ing the prison meals. | have always
thought them good and have not yet seen
anything that was not hight with my own
eyes.
I'm company with several other gentle
men | visited the jail few days ago
just after the inspection OF the force.
We found the cooks preparing to send
dinner to those at work in the cut. There
were beans, baked potatoes, boiled meat,
bread. vegetables and coffee All of it
looked clean and seemed entirely whole
some. | do not believe that our visit was
anticipated by the jail oficials.'
All this may be true. and doubtedly
the mayor made close inspection, but
then either one OF two things is equally
Ieliable either the wool is being pulled
over the eyes of our good chief executive
or else the recent crusade has induced
wonderful change in prison cuisine. I'm
looked-for inspection is the only true test
of excellence, and the result of such
visit reveals the weak places in the ad-
ministratlve armor. Such an inspection
is seldom given to the Los Angeles city
to have a corner in Chief Glass private
office. Mayor RAIDER says, however, that
the future holos in store a nun Der of ex-
tempore visits to this department of the
municipality, and they will no doubt nave
a very salutary effect with regard to these
minor abuses.
The cold facts bearing upon the matter
OF meals furni shed were CLEANED FROM the
books of the city clerk. All of the raw
materials are purchased under contract
and prepared by the prison cook. The
total cost for supplies furnished on
requisition for May is $202.7S. contract
made with the Meek Baking company
July 16. 1894, stipulates that all the bread
used at the Jail shall be supplied by them
| for tho sun of 2% cents pound. The
meat is furnished by Ryan for 2s4 cents a
pound, also under a contract for one
year. Both of these ale required to
comply with the orders of the chief of po-
lice both in regard to the quantity and
| quality OF their wares. No limit is set
/ upon the authority of this official other
than that set by his ambition to rose as
an economist OF the first water.
His bills for the past month were as
follows: Anderson & Chanslor groceries,
/ $s25S; Meek Baking company. bread,
$50.77; Ryan, meat, $64. 80; and Wo Sang,
vegetables. S5.65.
The police secretary stated that 476S
meals were furnished to prisoners during
the past month. short computation re-
veals the fact that each meal costs 1-5
i cents Whether this is received in food
by each prisoner is left to the conjecture
of the inquirer. AS a sample, take the
breakfast received by each man:
One half loaf of bread. 119c; cup of
coffee, &c: Hash. &c, making a total of
almost cents worth of food for which
the city pays cents. The true economy
of this is decidedly apparent, and when
the public gets to understand the chiefs
figures his efforts IN this line will un-
doubtdly meet with hearty appreciation.