The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-09
THE PROPOSED CIVIL PRISON

At LeavenwOrth-A Bill for Which Con-
grcssman Blue Has Ready.
From the State Journals Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-The bill which
| Congressman Blue will shortly introduce
for a new United States civil penitentiary
at Fort Leavenworth should not lead to
confusion as to the civil prison already
there.
Such penitentiary does already exist,
but it was changed to its present charac-
ter about a year ago from United States
military prison. Now the military au-
thorities want it changed back, and it is
| to comply with this request, and at the
same time provide for civil peuitentiary
for United States convicts that the bill is
to be drawn.
Action was taken in 1891 providing for
three United States civil prisons in the
United States, but so far nothing has
been done further than transferring the
old military prison at Fort Leaveuworth
into civil prison. There the movement
stopped.
Congressman Blue and Broderick and
Senator Baker had IA very long confer
ence with Attorney General Harmon in
regard to a civil penitentiary at Fort
Leavenworth, and the results was his
proposed bill. The attorney general ex-
pressed himself as being in hearty sym
patty with the plan for civil peniten-
tiaries and said he would give all the as
sistance he could in carrying it out.
J. w. French, who is in charge of the
present United States civil penitentiary
at Fort Leavenworth believes that with
the labor of the convicts now in that in
stitution and an appropriation of $685.
900 he can build a prison worth 100000.
The site of course will cost nothing as it
will be set aside from the lands already
belonging to the reservation. The idea
is to take 500 acres of land which is now
used for pasture and lies between Fort
Leavenworth and the town. This is con-
sidered the most desirabl location.
The full appropriation of $125. 1000,
which Mr.. French thinks would be sutfi-
cient for 100000 prison. will not be
asked for at the present on account of
the condition of the treasury. 1t is
thought that a small appropriation of
about $1,000, or perhaps not SO much
as that, will be plenty to begin work on
and make very respectful BILE advance.
Then when money is more plenty
in the treasury the remainder may be
asked for.
Congressman Blue will probably in
troduce the bill in the house first be-
cause ne is on the committee on appro-
priations TO which the bill will go and
will be able to give it his personal and
direct attention.
Attorney General Hnrmon, in discuss
ing the question OF civil penltentlarles
with the Kansas members, said he
thought the United States ought to pro-
vide for them soon. 1t WAS his idea that
there be four, one in the south, one on
the Pacific coast, one some place in the
east, and one in the central part OF the
country, as at Fit. Leavenworth
The reasons given for the United
States having its own prisons for civil
prisoners were many. At present the
government has to keep its prisoners in
state peuitentiaries. The cost of this is
very great and, besides, the management
of some state prisons, particularly in the
south, is such that the United States
can't afford to be party 10 it, In the
south. in many places where the convict
contract system prevails, the prisoners
are mistreated and abused.