Evening journal., 1895-03-28

II
| TO work for their support, the net daily
cost for each prisoner, for provisions,
clothing. fire. light, water, shoes. medi-
clnes, incidsntals. wages, house and cell
| furniture and tobacco, is only s 10
cents per day, &S029 per year. This
would make the sost for 2l0 prisoners
| for one year sc, $50 90, or about one
third Of the amount which we pay for
| provisions alone. viz: SIS 500 By
this rule we are paying yearly $12, 189 10
| over the cost Of keeping prisoners.
"ln West Chester ALL with only forty
| prisoners, the net cost for like articles
is cents per day, $25, So per year. which
would be for 2l0 prisoners for one year,
| So. 365 90. less than one third Of what the
| provisions alone cost u.s. viz: SIS, 500.
/ BY this measure we are paying
/ $i3, 134 so more than the actual cost OF
keeping them.
''rhe discrepancy would.be much more
marked IL we take the total cost OF
maintaining the prisoners under our
present system. Such aggregate cost
being in excess OF $3s 600 yearly.
"These are startling facts and figures.
We are paying more than three times as
much for provisions alone, as our slater
stats under the workhouse system pays
for the entire support OF each prisoner.
Examination OF the results In other
states In the Union shows that these
figures are about an average 1t would
be an Insult to assume that in the lines
OF economy Delaware cannot do what
other states are doing daily.
Let us apply these results to our
workhouse plan. We propose that the
state shall borrow 5000, 600 to build and
equip her workhouse, on bonds running
thirty years, redeemable at ten at the
option Of the state This sum can readily
be borrowed at per cent. interest a
yearly interest OF IS 600.
provisions alone for our 2l0 prisoners
are costing us yearly SIS. 500 Take
from this the actual cost at very
liberal estim ate, SO 500. and also the
s. 600 interest above named, and you
will have every year an excess Of
81 600, which turned over to sinking
fund, even at the rate OF four per cent
interest. would in thirty yesrJ, amount
to $3.50 756 Enough to pay the
entire cost Of your building and plant,
and leave q surplus of about $36 766
Surely b. fore this cold array Of facts the
argument OF q burden to the state either
OF debt or taxation diasolves in thin air.
1 Va hhc INV pthlp VI hnu
cents, 1t would be msnifestly wise
economy to adopt this system promptly.
No argument or objection can be pre-.
sented against the economic feature OF
this measure that cannot be promptly
and satisfactorily met
But there are broader and nobler
reasons for the passage Of this bill and
the inception Of this reform.
AT present, young and old, men and
women, practically form one company
Confined together, they associate in
ldleness and all naturally tend In mora
tone, to the level Of the most hardened
and degraded OF their number, who
naturally become their hero and exemp
lar. Such are the obvious and ascer
tained results Of promiscuous crimina
association both In and outside of prison
walls The devil uses the idle brain
and the criminRlly cunning hand as his
most choice instruments Of evil
1.-THE now enforced idleness aud con-
hn0ment within prison walls, enfeebles
the body, Sturns the mind In upon
Itself to brood over it's own weakness,
perhaps TO gloat over the past and plan
for future depredRtions on society, with
the aid Of all such confederates as prison
association may bring to his aid. Turned
loose at the end of the term Of imprlson
ment, enervsted in body and mind, unfit
fol work, grsvitatlon back to prison
life again is natural TO the released
convict Every association aud every
habit acquired in your jalls to-day unftl
for usefulness hereafter A felon once,
your system tends to make and keer
him felon always
How different on the other hand is
the outcome OF the workhouse system
Wise classification removes the depr0ved
from those who wish to reform Daily
labor occupies the mino, strenthens th.
body. The hope Of speedy release from
confinement and toll begets obedience L
the rules and regulations The accumu
lation from overwork induces economy
and adds to the comfort Of the prisonei
or those dependent on him Every asao
citation and habit of his prison life. tend
to the DEVELOPMENT of manhood and self
, reliance and gives promise Of future
usefulness. This system would help llf
prisoner mp to plane OF higher life
Its ten iency would be to eliminate crime
while our present plan breeds criminal
and perpetrs.es and intensifes crime
Every consideration of economy
! humanity-may fall so low as to say
state pridef demands that we shall plRc
, ourselves abreast of our sister states Il
prison reform Let the rotten system 0
the past 60. Stop the extrsvRgant an
, cOrrupting waste OF money which no.
prevails and let our penal metbods ten
to prevent crime and help the offender +
bstter life, and not curse him wit
habits and surroundings that must bran,
him and ever drag and keep him down
1t has been suggested that our presen
jails could be used for warehouses g
, little expense. Such were my own con
I victions at first This, however, woul
leave the present extravagsnt and cor
rupt methods untouched and only adj
: expense This experiment was one
! tried in the Jail at New Castle and sig
nRlly failed. We are satisfied frou
! careful reflection and examination thR
the defeat is in the system, aud tina
every dollar you may expend in th at dl
l rection upon the three jsils will be none
wasted, and result in absolute failure
!, Success demands that you shall ersc
! adequate buildings; devise a wei
! ! digested and harmonious plan and abov
: all, that the institution in every line 0
its work shall be lifted absolutely ont o
the pool OF politics, aud be admlnistere