The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-28

ment of existing conditions there are two
questions to BIZ met: Is ~ practicable?
Will it pay?
Originally, criminals were punished to
make them suffer for their wrong-doinR.
A better thought has entered us, which
Is that punishment will prevent each
particular la w. breaker from repeating the
offenss, and next, will deter others from
cum hitting like crimes through fear of
like punishment. No. out still better
aspect Is that which will put check up
society as well. Society should be better
ed by the withdrawal OF criminals, and
whom they return society should be ben
Gifted. There should be system in
vogue to convert that which is dangerous
TO the state into benefit. his means for
our state. prison reform; not to be enter
ed upon lightly, not in q manner TO prove
its praoticability and that it will pay.
A glance at our two prisons shows 1900
prisoners confined in itlsness. There are
puild ines-workshops-at San Quentin
that cost the taxpayers over 500, 00U, GO
Ing to ruin for want of uss. An offer
was made to put iaodel ship in the
court yard so that the prisoners could
''learn the ropes" and become s.iIors,
and thereby, perhaps, seek occupation OH
the high seas; or, crossing them, have
opportunity TO begin lie anew In for
managers can give them nothing 80 do,
though they Deg and supplicate, weep
ing. Founding stone and iuto work only
are permitted. Who 10 this that controls
this great volume of human strength OF
mind and muscle? Vino lays this burden
of taxation on the people, to support this
small army In idlsness? We are toll the
politicians under control of the labor
unions made up largely of foreigners.
There are many prisoners who earned
sufficient to maintain them selvcs and
families handsomely. Those cease to be
RANKS to be supported at public cost, and
their families likewise. These facts cause
disturbance in all economic circles. Bur-
dens are placed upon all people of prop
erty to some degree upon the working
man who owns a little homo chiefly.
the prisons, at the average wages OF farm
hands. $45 per month. is equal 10 $40, 900,
ana per year ST., 1884, This is wasted,
and more than wasted, for the waste pro-
cess costs the taxpayers large sum OF
money yearly.
men to whom no punishment can be add
ed after they have entered the prison
walls. These men being part and parcel
OF the producing classes, earning money
and discussing it to toe benefit of var
ious Industries, to transfer them from
OutSlu0 W tud lU5luc Vi u VTlSOu uOeS uOt
create or increase a labor faction or force
coming in competition with anyone.
True criminal is born, but man 10 lot
born. The true condition at present is
this: Labor and wealth producers are
withdrawn from the ranks and placed in
idleness; general industries are hnrt in
one direction, but there ~ more money
to be distributed among a certain class
labor pIoducers-there being in this class
then fewer workers o compete for il.
Hence, it is a positive benefit to few
every time man goes II prison. Who
are positively damaged? Every taxpayer
in the state! Again, the families of these
prisoners have TO be supported in benevo-
lent a"d stale institutions.
Take an extreme Casa murderer.
First, society was deprived of a wealth.
producing factor; second, the murderer is
imprisoned for life; thus two producers
are lost; thus two families become de-
pendent upon society for subsistence.
Two men in the ordinary walks OF life
supported themselves and a number of
others. One is killed snd all the balance
become a burden on taxpayers either d.
rectly or indirectly. The one man who
work and support himself and his own
family, or, having none, the family OF the
murdered man. The fallacy of the pres
emit system, dictated by labor unions to
politicians, is this: That honest"
labor has 10 com pete viii, convict"
'honsst;' second, the product OF labor
in the worlds market is of value accord
ing to its actual worth. If n Leonardo
de Vinci paintec a picture in prison
where he we're confined, that work of art
would be as beautiful and meritorious as
II painted in palace.
In the same line. in places where the
black race are held in contempt, chair
made by black man would be not SO
good" as a chair made by white man,
as il there were some ethical relation be-
tween the moral and physical Gonaition
of the chair-maker transformed in the
making to the cnair. Every state PRISON.
err should pe sentenced to labor, and that
which he produces should be part OF in
dustres and DE bought and sold undar
the same trade conditions as though he
were outside of prison.
CONVICT LABOR NOT TO BE RECK-
-ONED CHEAP.
Will it pay? The minimum worth be-
ing 81, 1Ss,00O per year for the 2200 prison.
ers, how can this be saved to the tax
payers? Let every prisoner be sentenced
to labor. Count his labor at SIS per
month, at least. Chargeaup against MIN
$25 per north for his keep, and a saving
of $40 for his family. If the cost of main.
tanning the prisoners exceeds SIS per
month, then call upon the taxpayer to
meet the deficiency. Would not this
pay?
What can be said Of the prisoners them
selves? Now, there is not one mitigating
circumstance in their condition; they are
not encouraged to repent; smarting un-
der the lash of Justice, condemned to
the life of q criminal, wearing the STAN
forever, they are cagad, chained, as it
WERE to utter condemnation, robbed of
hope, prevented from helping thsir des-
tltute fam lilies. They enter human be.
ings; They leave mbitteref, enraged
animals, many of them to enter upon a
life of deeper crime. A suit of clothes
and SIS in money, no one to extend a
helping hand or poins way to upright
ness, they turn to the studied and we'll
learned Lessons taught by old professional.
law breakers, and sn end misera bic, and
to the state, expensive existence.
Has society been benefited by i'm prison.
ing criminals in idleness? 1t were better
for society, for justice, to impose life
sentences. This imprisoning without
work or occupation is as deprived of
sense as imprisoning for debt in :he past,
for unemployed power always works de.
struotion. Let honest people teach poll
ticians 1--WE are always pleased when we
car rlaoe the burden of blame somewhere)
that this prison question has more than
one side.
We will now turn to almost as diff cult
problem, the industri i aspect of
TRAMPS.
There are millions of them in the
United States. California has her share,