The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-13
IHE ONLY Z. S. PESITESTIlRT.
and Is the Pioneer OF Other Government
Civil Prison. which VIII Grow Up All
Dive tho Country In Due Course OF Time
Romance and Final Reformation

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-How many people in
the Tn! ted States are aware that there Is
one United States pcnitentiary in all of the
ULi,ed states2 Probably not one out Of n
million OF the population except among those
whose business 1t is 10 know such things. In
every newspaper news Items appear almost
daily to the effect that Federal prisoners have
been taken to this or that State penitentiary,
but the taxpayer never stops 20 inquire by what
right the general Government sends its pris-
oners to State prisons. He never asks why 1t
does not confine its prisoners In Its own pris-
ons. II he wee curious enough to ask why,
he would have discovered that the Government
practically has no prisons Of its own except
military prisons, which are not ut the disposal
OF the civil authorities.
At Fort Leaven worth is tho only mr. ison
which is n United States penitentiarv, and 1t
Is a made-over affair from n military prison.
which was originally a lot OF quartermast sr's
warehouses. Nth a wall built around them.
They will accommodate about 5?5 prisoners.
and their capacity Is now at its limit. If not
beyond. and Warden J. w. French has been
In Washington recently IN consultation with
tho Attorncv-General concerning an appro-
~priation To be made for additional prison room.
On the 3oth OF June. 1898, the military pris-
on Mt Fort Leavenworth WAS abolished. and
the control of the property was transferred
from tho War Department To the Depart
ment Of Justice, and by the same act this first
United States penitentinrv came into exist
ence July /. 1905. BY the law the military
officers remained In charge nil the Attorney
General could appoint and CONN, lssinn civil
Sept. /. 1893, when J. w. French became the
first " ardcn of a uniteL. States penitentlary.
MHrdSp French had made hin rnGora as war,
Michigan City for Ave wears.
The prison force consists of the warden. as
guards. and is conducted, on strictly non
partisan basis, though Warden French is a
Democrat. He has found in years OF expert
encs that It isn't the best politician who knows
best how to handle the kind OF material which
n"pulates prisons. AZ least, after that ma
The territory tributary 10 This prison lies in
Kansas. Texas. Arkalsa;. and Indian Terri
from, the States. all kinds come from Indian
Territory. which Is under Federal, authority.
The number Of prisoners Ia s ,bs p Thinh at the ,
c~apacitY. Every Attorncy-General since 1872
has boon urging Congress to build Govern
gress a bill was Introduced to appropriate
100000 10 build a modern prison TO take tho
place nt this 9nr. wnivt %2n!d then be re-,
il might Tc remarked at this point that the
present prison consists of n number of quar-.
Iermasfer's warehouses;. seven stories hlLh.
and comparatively so easy To break out of thpt
Tor Ills guests they would all be over the hills
and lar away before thicty-six hours.
And, by the way, Warden French disci-
plines by kindness and frmness. Guards or
o~ficials are not permitted to strike a prisoner
neither are they permitted 10 use profaue
or abusive Language. Tho convicts are only
put In stripes as q punishment. the uniform
In the shane of restricting pri, iieges, shutting
or letter writing. cutting down the food and
extreme cnses c%i.ainlnE IN the door. There j.
no lock step marching. the prisoners going
through u kIrid OF military drill when falling
beie"ed TO pe a preventive Of discoutent. and
work Is given the prisoners to do, aud classes
IN manual training are established.
As an example OF the proficiency OF the men.
an elsven-room brick prison parsonage, with