Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-11-21


Public Good at the New-century club
Tuesday Bvening-viEorous Efforts of the
Members. ~
The annual meeting of the Delaware
Union for Public Good was held at the
New Century Club on Tuesday. There
was good attendance and Chief
Justice Lore, the President OF the
Union, was in the chair. The princi-
pal object of the society is the better
ment of the condition of the prison
system of the State.
The following officers were elected
for the ensuing year: President, Chief
Justice Charles b. Lore; First Vice.
President. John G. Higgins; Second
Vice President, Hon. John II. Nichol-
son; Third Vice President, Ebe Tun-
nell; Recording Secretary, Miss Emily
Bissell; Corresponding Secretary. Mrs.
n A. ID. Warner; Treasurer, the Rev. P. B.
u Cabell; Executive Committee, Miss M.
d S. Hilles, Miss H. S. Garrett, Mrs. N.
y u. Smithers, Judge j. Frank Ball,
Street and Sewer Director William
Simmons, Mrs. Lafayette Marks,
United States District Attorney l.. q.
Vandegrift. The officers are also mem
bers of the executive committee.
The members present spoke enthu-
siastically of the work which has been
done by the union and contended for
the continuance Of the work which has
been taken up.
Judge Ball gave a history of the
workhouse bill, which was defeated by
a close vote at the late session OF the
General Assembly. He stated that it
passed the House of Representatives
ns.z fs.l1 100 Id -. A 1.
Senate by tie vote. He asserted that
the opposition to the measure appeared
to be in the lower part of the State,
and he was of the opinion that if the
I'm easing efforts of the union were
directed in that part OF the State the
object would be accomplished at the
next session of the Legislature. He
also spoke of the bad condition of 1.-THE
Jail in this county, and said that there
should be some immediate remedy.
There is one cell in the Jail, he stated,
where the short term prisoners are
kept, that is disgrace to civilization.
The men confined there work eight
hours day on the stone pile, and at
night they are sometimes piled in
like sardines, as many as 60 being
there at one time, with nothing better
than tho hard floor on which to lie
down. He stated that for small ex-
penditure the trouble might be
remedied, and he thought that action
in the matter should be taken at once.
Francis M. Walker, who was a mem
Der of the last Legislature, also made
few remarks. He commended the
union for the manner in which it had
worked to have the bill passed and he
thought that il their efforts were con-
tinued similar bill could be gotten
through at the next session of the
General Assembly. He advocated
continuance Of the work.
Chief Justice Lore said our State
stands alone among the States of the
Union in the matter of prison systems.
Our iails are object lessons. New
Castle Jail is congested, Sussex Jail is
as bad, and during the summer time
the condition of things at the Kent
county prison is not much better. He
said that he had found very few people
in the State who did not think work
house was a necessity.
Mrs. A. ID. Warner advocated con-
tinuing the work on the lines which
had been followed by the union, but
she said the members would be very
glad to hear of any new ideas.
Rev. DIR. Bowser suggested holding
public meetings and distributing
literature, az means of convincing
the public Of the necessity for having
workhouse.
The Rev. II. Ashton Henry thought
it would be capital idea to have pub
lie meetings and suggested that Judge
Ashton of Philadelphia be asked to
come here and speak. He also sug-
gested that the matter be presented to
the grand juries in the several coun-
ties and that they be asked to make
recommendations. In reply to this
Chief Justice Lore stated that the
grand jury in this county had made
recommendations.
Police Commissioner Pyle, who was
present, was asked to say few words
about the condition of the police sta
tion in this city, and also the benefit
derived from having matrons to look
after female prisoners. Mr.. Pyle re-
counted the valuable services of rhe
matrons and said he did not see how
the Police Department could get along
without them. He thought there should
be more room for prisoners at the sta
tiun house, particularly for women. At
present there is only one cell for women,
and all female prisoners must be con-
fined there. Young girls in that way
are brought in contact with depraved
women. The influence is bad and there
should be provision for separating
them. The men, too, he stated, are
cramped for quarters. 1t is necessary
many times TO place boys in cell with
hardened criminals, simply because
there is no other place for them. He
thought there should be several more
cells and said that an expenditure Of