Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-03

work. such as would be of benefit TO the
community. but have always met with the
strong opposition that is found in our city
against the EMPLOYMENT of prison labor in
competition with free labor. The plan OF
sending city prisoners to the jail would De
NEST successful in saving money to the
taxpayers. when the number of prisoners
are the smallest and the term of imprson-
ment the shortest. You will all recall the
manner of dealing with certain Offenders
adouted by one of our former Mayors OF
giving them a short time in which 10
leave our city. how we'll it worked ana
how generally that course was approved
Of bv the citizens. The continuance OF
that method of dealing with Offenders
with the additional one of giving short sen
fences for trivial offences would reduce
the cost Of taking care OF city prisoners
i'm NV Judgment to one-half the amount
expended last year. OF course the success
Of that system would largely depend upon
the views entertained and the practice or
the Judge who would try offenders against
the CITY ordinances l have written at this
length for the reasons that I believe that
vour Committee wants information at this
time on the subject, and having had some
expcrience I'm those matters. and also haN-
ing read considerable of late on the sub
isct. that does not agree with either my
observation or experience. I believed refer
erce TO them might assist YOU TO con-
clusion satisfactory 10 yourselves and the
taxpayers that YOU represent
AS the proposed Work House scheme
IS intended to provide for the care of fe-
male prisoners and the necessary expense
of providing separate apartment and
matron. l desire 10 inform the committee
that the city will be called upon to pay
but about twenty-five dollars for the care
of female prisoners sentenced from the
Police Court for the months of January,
February and March. or the quarter end
ing April I. 1897. an average Of about S.33
1-2 per month. a sum much less. I think,
than You could secure the services Of Il
matron for unless YOU are enabled under
the new order of things to employ labor
as cheap as ii is proposed to cost TO tee4
the unfTrtunatos who are expected TO he
sentenced TO long terms Of imprisonment
al hard labor for the fracture of certain
CITY ordinances-namely. being without
emnlovment. an offense that great many
good people have been guilty Of in the
last few years.
It propose 10 receive all male prisoners
sentenced to jail imprisonment from your
Police Court. and feed them during the
term for which they may be sent. for the
sum of fifty cents per day for each pris-
oner for every day that he may be con-
fined in the Jail According 10 the average
number of prisoners said to be confined
in YOUR work house last year-fifteen per
dav that rate would entail cost 70 the
city Of $50 per day. or $2,7i2.5o per year;
while. according to the report Of the City
Clerk for the last year. you paid out on
account Of the city Work House A.2966S
q difference Of 81 5541S between the cost
of operatinc the Work House for the last
wear and the cost Of keeping the aver
age number Of prisoners At the proposed
rate per day in Jail for one year To con-
vince vour Committee Of the faith that I
have in the adoption Of the plan of sending
prisoners to iau 70 save money annually
10 The cftv Of Wheeling. ! will further
agree. that # the city Of Wheeling will
send all Of the prisoners convicted and
sentenced from its Police Court 10 the JAIL
that will guarantee TO the city an an
nual saving Of five hundred $500 dollars
Der wear by contracting not to charge the
CITY I'm any one year for the term that I
may contract for. sum not more than
50 796. sS for all male prisoners that may be
sent to Jail from Police court during any
one year. My opinion that the city can
and will save very much larger sum by
the adoption Of the plan OF sending the
male prisoners to jail instead Of establish
ing work house is justified by the facts
set forth and the city's experience with
the old work house
Respectfully submitted.
II. c. RICHARDS