The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-10-23
LOOKING INTO PRISONS
FRED j. LOWREY VISITED BIG IN
STITUTIONS IN COLORADO.
On the Invitation of the Governor
Gathering Practical Ideas on Prison
Reform-To Return in December.

Word was received via the MaTlpOSa
yesterday that Mr.. Fred j. Lowrey of
the firm of LEVERS q Cooke, accom-
panied by Mrs. Lowrey, would return
to Honolulu from their extended tour
of Western America ABOUT the middle
of December. They expect to sail on
the Australia which leaves San Fran
cisco on December 5.
Besides taking in all the points 2f
interest throughout the Western
states, Mr.. Lowrey is making a close
inspection of the various prisons. Be
ing a government prison inspector he
intends that Hawaii shall p)1ft by
any improvements that he may OBJ
serve.
While in Denver, Colo, little over
two weeks ago, Mr.. Lowrey met Gov.
Mclntire and the two had a lengthy
chat over the prison reforms, at pres
ent being introduced IN that state.
At Gov. McIntire's invitation Mr.
Lowrey visited the Colorado state pen
itentiary at Canon City and also the
Arapahoe county Jail in Denver. Both
are large institutions and are man
aged under an excellent code of rules
and regulations.
In the state penitentiary the. con-
victs are made to Iabor on outside jobs
contracted for by the state warden.
The moneys arising from this labor
are paid into the state revenues and
go toward defraying the expenses of
the institution. Considerable objec-
tion has been made against this con-
Wet labor by the various labor unions
in the state, which set up the claim
that the working men are deprived of
the work contracted for by the warden
in behalf of the state.
Gov. McIntire has recognized the
| justice of these complaints and when
ever convict labor is asked for the
states executive and members of the
Pardons board hold an examination
to learn if outside labor would be in
| jured in any way. If so, the states
charges are never placed in competi-
ton with free labor.
Mr.. Lowrey expressed himself as
| highly pleased with the management
of both the state and Arapahoe coun-
! ty prisons. The latter has very
strict set of rules in vogue which are
lived up to by the prisoners. They
are not permitted to talk loud, whis-
tie, sing or make any unnecessary
noise. Yet their treatment is of the
kindest. Discipline, as strict as mil
itary discipline in the time of war, is
enforced by Warden Harry Conley, a
survivor of the Civil War. Tuesdays,
Fridays and Sundays are the regular
visiting days. Friends of the inmates
always have access to the corridors of
the Jail during the day time when on
business errands or matters of inn
portance. The prisoners are fed twice
a day on good substantial food con-
sisting chiefly of bread, coffee, meat
and potatoes. This diet is furnished
by the sheriff of Arapahoe county on
a contract of 20 cents per day for
each prisoner. They are permitted to
receive food from the outside.
The Hawaiian government prison in
spector was particularly struck with
the sanitary, condition of this prison,
which is regulated almost exclusively
by the prisoners themselves. They
have what is known as a kangaroo
court, of which horsethief doing "a
ten-year term is judge; a murderer is
sheriff and a man convicted of grand
larceny is prosecuting attorney. Pris-
cells, inside corridors and take regIl-
lar baths. Any violation of these re-
quirements are brought to the atten-
tion of the proper officers of the kan
garoo court and the violatOr is sum
marily tried and, if found guilty, a
punishment is imposed. These pun
ishments are not severe. A violator
) generally getting off by taking his
bath, serving time in the dark dun
geon, receiving cold water ducking
or dieting upon bread and water for
brief period. Seyerer punishments
than these are invariably unheld by
the warden, who puts them into effect
in case of the inability of the officials
of the kangaroo court to do so.
The bulk of the inmates in the Arap-
ahoe county Jail are vagrants, What
is to be done with this class of Grim
inals is matter of great Importance
to the commissioners of that county
Men are at present confined within
the prison walls who were there two
three, four and five years ago and yet
their only crime has been that they
are out of work and without funds
The city detectives are blamed foi