Evening journal., 1896-12-04
FoLLoW MS LEAD.

fight was on two years ago the men
who we're in the forefront of II on the
side Of the State Workhouse bill were
Chief Justice Lore, Chancellor Nichol-
son. at that time attorney-general;
Judge Wales, Of the United States
Court: United States District Attorney /
Lewis C. Vandegrift and Judge Ball, |
of the Municipal Court. They were
the leaders of the public-spirited men |
and women who were advocating more
humane and economical provisions for
the safe-koeping. support and redemp- |
tion of our criminal classes. In a /
speech made by Chief Justice Lore at
public hearing in the Hall of Repre-
sentatives. he showed that the prison
system and discipline of the state were
sadly defective and that remedy was
imperatively needed. At that time
there were in the three jails in the
state 21O prisoners of all ages, color
sex and grade. crowded In fifty cells
serving their sentences in idleness and
becoming more hardened all the time
by reason of their environments. He
demonstrated that of the forty-four
states of the Union, Delaware stood
practically alone in maintaining a
prison system that had its inception
centuries ago and had not changed for
over two centuries system de-
nounced by jail physicians and grand
juries, by the press and by the pulpit
and only tolerated by the people be-
cause of the temporary remedies which
had been suggested from time to time,
but which had been abortive because
the system in itself was radically
wrong and nothing but heroic treat
ment would bring about the desired
result. Passing from this general re-
view of the situation he took up the
state Workhouse bill and its provis-
ions and said
BY it two hundred thousand dollars
are to be borrowed on the state credit
The bill provides for the Board OF
Trustees of Delaware State Work
house. which board is to be composed
OF three members from each county;
who, without pay for services, are tc
expend the two hundred thousand pro-
vided by the bin, in erecting a state
workhouse on suitable site by them
to be selected In this house, when
completed, ali prisoners of this state
who have been or hereafter may be
sentenced to a term of Imprisonment
shall be put TO work under the contrO
and direction of the board; which shal
provide such simple tools and mex
pensiye machinery as viii meet th'
Varied capacities Of the prisoners.
The trustees must submit yearly re
ports of their doings to the governor
and are positively forbidden to hay'
any personal pecuniary interest In th'
work
BY It every prisoner, 81 able shall
work eight hours each day az SOM
suitable employment. For any over
work he shall receive pay, which ma.
be expended at his option for his lam
ily. may be used by him under prisoi
rules for his personal comfort or az
cumulate and be paid to him az th
time Of his discharge.
The prisoners are TO be classihe
and separated the men from th
women. and those of tender years an
new in crime from old and hardene
criminals.
Obedience 10 the rules and diligenc
IN work win enure TO the benefit {
the prisoner by shortening his tern
The abatement viii be Ave days
each month for the first year. seve
days in each month for the secon
year. nine days for each month In Oh
third year and alter the third year te
days Dob each month.
This is the Ohio system, approve
by the United States and is general
.II.HI IH. ..r u||UTHf.HIH
you win observe thar there are thr'
leading features in this bin.
Humane and decent claseincatiC
and separation OF the prisoners.
THAT every prisoner shall
taught to work and help support hin
SELF
That obedience 90 the rules an
diligence On work viii bo rewarded
shortening the time ol iuprisonmcn
Ihc prisoner VINO has learned
work and to obey the rules has ma'
good beginning in reform. ie h
learned fa reverse che llreui ol 3
watch quite uniformly bias na
ono rf cIfle-e and iaH esless Inl
tf elrouaer az the plan
forms habits O. Obedience and uaU
fr Tl rLn rarn rteurr
uoa'l 1889 Hnea released
forr lH u olHnl nr efc
fatlr h manhood and ug'
hm ~ efforts ~ sef-aeIp Bll c
fairiT recf nof enlarge upon g.
point III fnIr presence
This outlines the plan of tae biH
II 0Iacfica tie2 ~ has been cblcC
ffaf fhlf plan WiI burden tle a
wfIN taxation and feDt fnat lae e
roo snaN END fhe nlmDlr ~ D.
Cnen nof large enough to justify
I.ei rs sect
we have in NaW Caele county
ar average Of $50 Dr in k
county ~. RI Sussex tea wnfIrF
average total ~ zf0 We Uaf lQf !
visions clone fof each prisoner ir )
Castle county I'd ccufa faY ~
per ycar SD heaf county u dents
oaf and f9i15 Der year ana In 5
se, count Sd cents Do dat and sff'
r,er lfsr 81 fnaf for provisions al
NeH CasIa county Ioff rl y if
fIt D1N Kent county $1,000 w
county $500 total $4,000 inFe