Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-07
A cnY FOR NOME ann.

| time the members OF the General AS
! sembly OF Virginia will meet In Rich
mond TO consider numerous important
| subjects. An unusual number of puz-
| cling problems Of finance confront them.
we. however know of none that should
| have precedence over that of providing
more cell-room in our penitentiary. Nor
| do we know of any day more suitable
| than this, when the church bells are ring
ing, when people are assembling for pub
| lie worship, to urge them to do their
duty In this regard.
Yes: let our people in their prayers to-
| day remember all who are in prison.
and especially those who are not only
subjected to the ordinary rigors of
prison life, but who are herded together
in small and ill-ventilated cells like cattle
locked in box-cars.
II the voices of the men who are thus
crowded in the dollhouse Of the Vir-
GINA penitentiary could be heard in pro-
test against the unusual hardships to
which they are thus subjected, there
would be such a chorus of woe as would
cause popular response, demanding
either that suitable provision for the
convicts' needs be made or that the num-
bers in excess of accommodations be re-
duced by opening the gates Of liberty to
them.
Our penitentiary is of ancient date,
and has become far too small for the
number Of men kept there; for the num-
Der that must be kept there to supply
the wants of the shoe contractors, whose
payments to the State yield large net
revenue for us every year.
1t will not do to say that Virginia is
too poor TO erect the additional build
ings needed A right view OF the case
would give the convicts priority to their
earnings, in so far as the same may be
necessary to provide them with the
necessities OF prison life. There exists
no purpose to pet" the prisoners. All
that is demanded for them is plenty of
breathing room. But not only are these
men deprived OF their rightful dues OF
fresh air. but that in which they live
at night is polluted by the exigencies
of prison life which requires that when
they are once locked into their cells there
they must remain until the next
morning; remain. remember, in poorly
ventilated cells having no sewer connec-
lions!
In some of the cell-rooms there are as
many as thirty men lodged; the average
is six to q CELL Let il be noted, too,
that for lack of a dining-room the men
have to eat in their cells. Again, the
crowded condition of the building gives
but little hospital room. Necessarily,
the convalescents and the dying are
thrown together in a way that is very
shocking.
We would much rather not refer to
these unpleasant things; but to secure
a change It is indispensable that the
truth should be widely known.
The penitentiary authorities are not to
blame. They have resorted to all the
makeshifts possible to secure more
room, and largely through their efforts
the State farm was purchased and has
become the useful thing that 1t is. But
a prisoner cannot be lodged upon the
farm and worked in the shop here Ad-
ditional cells are needed in the peniten-
tary for men. who, under no circum-
stances likely to arise for many years
to come, can be sent out of the city.
Here twelve or thirteen hundred men
must stay.
There is absolutely no division Of opin-
ion as to the necessity for more cell
room for the men. The women's ward
is sufficient for its purposes. Whoever
sees the men in their cells at night
whoever breathes that fetid air Tor
moment-is instantaneously convinced OF
the injustice and cruelty we are now i'm
posing upon those convicts. And yet
men are expected TO reform" under
such circumstances!
But it may be asked where can Vir-
ginia get the money to do this work?
We do not believe that the considerable
sum needed can be spared from our
Treasury during the next five years. 1t
is as much as our State can do now to
make buckle and tongue meet" But
we should think it would be feasible
for the Legislature to adopt in this case
plan analogous to that which 1t adopted
to enable the University of Virginia to
rebuild its burned buildings
The penitentiary annually pays into
the public Treasury a large net profit,
and surely it would not be too much to
ask that a portion Of 1t be set aside to
pay interest upon a capital sum to be
borrowed for this purpose.
We beg the people TO talk this matter
over with members of the I,egislature
We appeal to members to investigate
the matter for themselves; investigate 1t
especially by visiting the mems cells in
the evening after the prisoners have
been locked in. for it is then only that
the real condition of the prison can be
ascertained.
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THE SCHOOU TERM