The Red Cloud chief., 1896-10-09

T-~ OF time Is taken of
the sentence for
good behavior, but u new and interest
ing experiment is soon To be made NJ
the New York state reformatury AZ III
mira In the way Of reformation of Grim
inals. Students in the problem OF re-
forming the criminal classes and all
persons Interested in the general wei
fare Of the community will watch the
experiment at Elm.ra with more than
ordinary interest, for 1t is To be- an ap-
peal to the criminal on aa entirely
new plan. He has been appealed TO by
father, mother. brother, sister. and by
others who had his interests at heart.
His manhood, his future. and even the
promises Of quick release from coninc-
ment, his ambition, all have been ap-
,ealed to, and in many cases in vain.
Now 1t is to the mans stomach that the
appeal Is to be made.
TEL me what the man eats and | will
tell you the man." is a saying that has
found countless believers. and there
are those unklnd enough to say that
every man can be Influenced by his
stomach. After a good dinner is gen
orally considered the best time to seek
the person from whom a favor is de-
sired. II there is a spark of generosity
in he victims soul 1t will probably
come out after an enjoyable meal.
when, II n good digestion permits, the
owner OF the stomach |. at peace with
both his Maker and the whole world.
SO 1t is that the brainy men who study
ont how best to check the increase in
crime and reform those already in
crime have hit on the plan OF catering
TO the prisoners stomach.
once proved n success, l. is believed
by Its advocates that it will be intro
duced in every prison and reformatory
in the country. To try this food cyper-
iment quite an elaborate new plant is
required. IL will cost $4,000 and con
sist OF a new cool room and mess room.
This fireproof building will, when
erected, be large enough for the present
and prospective population of the re-
formatory-1,2 geo to 100 prisoners.
superintendent z. r. Brockway of
the reformatory said n day or two ago
In answer TO a query about the new
experiment: 81 regret that | am moi
able TO write out at present the full de-
tails of the scheme that Is l~ncubating
I'm our minds and gradually approach
ing naturalization in the planning and
construction of a kitchen and series of
dining roOms to afford facilities that
shall enable us to utilize with better
results than hitherto the chemical conf
binations and cumulative distribution
OF foods among the more defective of
the inmates OF the rcformatory. The
proposed experiment contemplates a
somewhat enlarged scale OF dietary
privilege. charging from grade to
grade. from lowest to highest. so that
within due and proper limits OF indul- |
gence OF the appetites by prisoners in
a prison reformatory for crime they can
out OF their W accumulations have
the privilege to select meal by meal,
rs they may please to do, provided al
ways that they keep their expenditures
within their means, and also within the
limits Of indulgence allowed by the
government OF the reformatory.
THE prisoners under the wage-carn-
ing system of the reformatory as 1t is
at present nus earn their living and
keep a credit balance to their account.
respectively, in order to progress to-
ward their release By parole. Their
account Is now debited With a charge
for board by the day or week, and
there Is already established some diff
ferences Of diet and of board rate. as
between the three grades, but the diff
ference Is insufficient; 1t is too indefnit
as to each inmate and Is not flexible
enough.
There is need of more opportunity
for their self-indulgence as to diet. in
diligence to be based On the amount OF
earnings and credit the prisoner main
tains for himself. The prisoner, to
conditions here, must needs restrain,
regulate and exert himself in a man
ner which accomplishes and shows his
improvement.
While the inducement OF approach
ing early release from imprisonment
as a reward for earning is sufficient for
the better class OF the inmates, there
are others who require more opportun-
ity to expend for their personal gratif-
In order to supply them a sufi-
cient inducement to earn. Then, again,
the expenditure OF their earnings
wisely and we'll, as the expenditure
must be made when under proper rcgu-
lations and supervision, is as valuable
a training for them and as sure a test
of their fitness for free life as Is their
disposition and ability to earn; this
because the rate of expenditure deter
mines the amount Of savings. To save
when there Is opportunity to spend re-
quires self-denial: the involuntary
foregoing of a present possible indulg-
euCe for a remote benefit, which is an
cs,eDt'2l Of correct living. The rris-
ona whose earnings are legitimate and
N