Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-15
m. rrea,ment of Convicts.

M. III. ~ Georgia are much shocked
-, revelations Just made concerning the
treatment of convicts by contractors VINO
ere allowed to work gangs OF PRISONERS
a. various camps in that State. IL Is
alleged that the men have been over
,.orkad under-fed. scantily clothed, and
,nd,,lv exposed to weather and inhuniah-
Nv nunished for violations Of the rules Oh
Discipline.
w. have never had any such scandal
in Virginia, and We hope we never may
II is an unquesuonable fact however
that our convicts who are confined WIN
an the walls of the penitentiary' or are
held in the barracks at the State iarnl'
have better health and are more nearly
content than those hired on public WORKS.
And this. too, Notwithstanding the fact
,ha, the cells Of the penitentiary are
shockingly crowded.
Indeed. but for the forethought or Su-
perintendent Lynn and President Glas-
COW. of the Board of Directors, TWO years
ago. i'm pressing upon the attention Oh inc
Legislature the necessity OF buying
convict farm resulting in the purchase
of I 600 acres of James-Tyer lanD the
penitentiary would be much worse crowd
ed than il now is.
The penitentiary IL now more than SELF
sustaining, and the Legislature ought not
20 hesitate to authorize the expenditure
Of some of the earnings of the institution
10 put I'D new buildings. Unless our laws
are so modified as to provide for the re-
tention In the county or city jails OF
many OF the convicts now sent to the
penitentiary, ii will only be question
of a few years when Virginia Will nave 10
establish another penitentiary. the new
penitentiary should be located near
I.ynchburg or Roanoke, so that the state
might save something in the cost OF
TRANSFORMATION Of prisoners coming from
that section OF the State; but such
prison would cost at least two or three
hundred thousand dollars, and the conol-
ton of our Treasury will not now permit
the expenditure of any such sum- IL WILL
however, be one OF the necessities OF the
f,,ture-unless our criminal laws are pet
tered so as to reduce the number of per-
For the present we cannot build a Sc
cond penitentiary, nor can we take such
risks as have brought reproach upon the
name of Georgia. nor can we SEND many
more convicts to the State farm-hey
must be kept here where they can De
well employed. There are already more
convjcts at the farm than can be well
employed there. The only practical thing
IN do TO meet the present emergency ano
TO relieve the disgracefully crowded con
dition of the cells is 10 extend the south
wall of the prison nearly to the line oi
spring street, and thus make room within
the enclosure for more cells; also. FOR
new hospital, laundry, and Kitchen al
OF which the Institution is in distressing
need Of.
We are glad TO see that the legislative
committees propose TO give this subJec
early attention We wish. indeed, tha
each member of the Legislature wouie
make It his particular business 10 vsi
thu neuitentiary and see what Is the con
dition of the cells, laundry. &C. and In
form himself with respect 10 the rules II
force for maintaining discipline. &C.. &c
IL the legislators can suggest any bette
method of Furnishing refractory prisoner
than that now employed (and which ha
been employed for nearly century,
we feel sure that the management would
be much obliged.
There are now more than 1900 prisoner
within the penitentiary walls, and l2o
men are occupying cells that canno
properly accommodate more than 600 o
200. In short the increase in the numbe
OF convicts has far outgrown the capaeit,
OF the cell-buildlng. and humanity. decen
cy. and business sense cokbine TO de
mand more room for the men. As 70
the women, their quarters are sufficien
in all respects.
The duty OF the Legislature is plain an
pressing. All OF the information that the,
need to justify them in taking immediat
action will be found in the message o
the Governor. and the two last annua
reports Of Superintendent Lynn. 1t is in
conceivable how the Legislature can neg
lect or refuse TO take action on this sub
3ect. II Is not necessary that any draf
should be made upon the public Treasury
The penitentlary could and should b
made TO enlarge the walls and building
out OF Its own earnings.