Evening journal., 1897-04-14

had an insane asylum in each OF
the several counties Of the state we
consolidated them as 1t is now proposed
to consolidate our jails; nevertheless
II costs us now about as much to send
young girl to Farnhurst year, as it
would cost us to send her year at
Vassar. The question Of course Is,
would the penitentiary be run cheaper
than the county jails are now run? | see
no reason to think so. / would consider
IL a very safe estimate with the busi-
ness methods usually prevailing in
those places, to offset the cost of raw
material used in the several depart
ments of their labor, including the ex-
pense of overseers and superintendents
and a hundred other extras, with the
value OF the manufactures, leaving the
cost of prison maintenance about the
same as at present, with the expecta-
tion, If experience has taught us any
thing, of expenses very much greater.
"Of course if our county jails were
destroyed by fire and we were Obliged
to go to building. it might do to build
one large house In those circum-
stances there would probably be little
objection. But in these dark days with
out a ray of visible light before us, II
seems to me singularly ill-advised to
erect large buildings with borrowed
money. where fair and ample buildings
already exist. Whatever the pay-as-
you-go idea is worth in private life. it
is still more valuable in public affairs,
and never quite so appropriate as at
this time. However we might have a
work-house if the investment would
pay 8 per centum interest annually, as
the chief justice figures it up. If gem
tlemen would illustrate their faith in
the matter by getting an act Of the AS
sembly (and ] think it would be grant
ed pleasantly, authorizing them to
erect such an institution and to receive,
under proper and healthful regulation,
all our cOnvicts at the present rate Of
county maintenance, etc, the thing
ought to go through / see no reason
why that kind OF penitentiary is not
as good as any other. And if persons
who pine away for a state work-h house
are not willing to risk a little of their
own money in it, it is doubtful If they
advise with fair grace the use of the peo-
Pies money. Well, vt shall be older
before the wOrk-house is in operation.
But meantime why not have that New
Castle quarry open and lodging-house
| erected as the law directs. Breaking
stone is an honorable manly exercise
and will do as much on a hot day Ia
make a man repent his situation and
resolve to change his life as anything
that know of at this moment Il may
be that / do not quite fall in with all
( the sentimentalism on the subject
have sometimes thought that the pur.
pose of shutting a man in Jail is tC
punish him; the more modern idea is
to reform him. Very good; If reforma.
tion follows punishment. Heaven pre-
serve us from the dreams and vagaries
CT those who have seen only the better
and SUMMER side Of life"
AFTER THE APPROPRIATION.
i Peter J. Ford was in town yesterda,
and had a conference with Senator
Pyle regarding the city loan bill, carry
ing with il the loan for the Silverbrool
sewer. He urged the senator to repor
the bill favorably, and must have go
some assurance Of favorable action, 70
he left town in a happy frame of mind
LAUREL'S WATER SUPPLY.
Chairman Pyle, of the Senate Com
[ mittee on Cities and Towns, made
: favorable report on the House bill au
: thorizing the commissioners of tn
r town Of Laurel to borrow $4,000 70
water-works. While it was being read
y Senator John NJ c. Moore walked owe