Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-30
THE PEvITENTIARY CELLS.

THE PE\ITENIttRN CELLS.
We publish this morning a letter from
Senator Morris on the crowded condition
of the penitcntiary He declares that
humanity demands" an Increase in the
number of cells there but does not think
the finances Of the state will allow the
legislature to use the profits Of the In
sutution for this purpose. lie also ar
sues that the cells are not more crowded
now than they have been for some time
past nor as greatly as they were before
the farm was bought. This is true. There
are now about three hundred prisoners at
the farm, and to this extent the penten-
tiary s. relieved. but that the cells are
stnl overcrowded. he admits.
After an. that Is the main question.
The cell are. indeed, overcrowded-so
much so mat we doubt II there is an
Other prison en- any English-speaking
country whore prisoners are 80 LLjdled
together. And. but for the purchase 81 the
farm the condition Of the penitentiary
would he much worse; but, as it is, it is
a disgrace to Virginia.
1t is shocking to think Of mer eating
ana sleeping in those narrow. crowded.
il-yentilaicd cells. If the people of Viz
ginia could see how badly off these pris-
oners are. in what rocking atmosphere
they live from dusk to dawn they
would beseoch the Legislature to find
way to get the money to give the need
eli RELIEF.
IT is true. also. as Mr.. Morris says,
that the Board Of Directors and the
Superintendent. at the last session Of
the legislature, were not agreed as to
the best means OF anordins relief: but
It is also true that the Legislature did
not press the matter far enough to
learn II one Side or the other would not
Weld The simple question presented
was whether a new cell building should
he built or the present one added to.
Mr. Morris argues that the state can
not spare any considerable part Of the
net revenue which she is now receiving
from the penitentiary. and he contends
that the only hope of Increasing her
income is by searching out for taxa
ton more of the evidences Of debt held
I'm this Commonwealth. Doubtless. many
holders of this species Of personal pro
perty do evade the tax laws. Doubtless.
also. many other species Of personal pro-
perty escape or are undervalued.
At the last session of the Legislature
a hill was passed for the appointment of
examiners Of dduciary accounts, etc, and
in Richmond this officer has been dill
gently at work. We hear that he has
brought under taxation many notes,
bonds. etc, that had formerly escaped as
ses,ment All this goes TO swell the
amount of taxes that Richmond pays
an amount that is disproportioned to her
true share. because our real estate here
is assessed at IS per cent. of its true
value. while the average of other Virginia
cities is far less than this. However. We
shall find no fault with the Legislature,
no matter how diligently IL may seek ont
uniaxed personal property-proyided, only
that il will secure uniformity as far as
possible. and make all parts Of the State
bear their proper share Of the public
burden. Moreover. we recognize the
force Of Mr. Morris's statement as TO
the narrowness of the margin between
the states income and expenditures; but
VIC know also. that at every session Of
the Legislature the Legislature ircurs
new liabilities for the State. Yet il can
hardly have brought to its attention
more distressing state Of affairs than
exists in the mems cells at the peniten-
tiarv In short, it is our iuiy. ~ ccn-
passionate people. to do something to
relieve those cells. II new brick
building can't be put up, then run up
wooden shantes. II all tfat is needed
can't be done in one year, let the work
be extended over a period Of three or
five years. II will not 90 Cor Us o -ay that
nothing can be done. Something must
he done. The men who earn an this
money for the State have right to eX-
pect relief. So to speak, they ought to
have the first lien on this profit
As we have more than once said, not
many more prisoners can be sent TO the
STATE farm without reducing the number
in the peniientiary below the require
ments Of the contractors. So the duty
before US is one that we cannot escape,
and one which the good people of our
State would not have MS avoid If they
could see the men in their cells at
night.
Knowing Mr. Morris's interest in the
welfare Of the prisoners we hope that
he will soon see his way clear 10 advo-
eating yearly appropriation, to be usei
as fund for enlargins the number Of