The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-16

QerlVdIlOn OIL the prison revenues, MI.
Wolfer explained the state account and
contract systems, and the methods Of
supervision of the respective branches.
The binding twine plant involved and
output of about $220,000. The convicts
also made boots and shoes and some
physical apparatus for high schools.
us the prison self-sustaining
Last year the prison lacked only
about $4,000 of being self-sustaining.
The nearest 1t had come up to two
years ago, I think, was $60,000"
What do you feed them on?"
II require the steward to make up
a bill of fare for each week, chang
ing it somewhat as to seasons change,
consistent with economy. We use q
great deal Of vegetables, and in the
summer fruit. 1 would like to show
you the bills of fare. I have never
had a complaint as to the food being
bad or insufficient"
How many convicts are there here
now?"
'It changes from day to day About
500. There were this morning 493"
How are these divided as to the
sexes?"
There are always a few women here.
The most, think, we have had at any
one time since 1 came here was ten,
the least four
Replying to an inquiry, the warden
described the clothing in which the
convicts were garbed
What are the hours of labor and
rest?"
During eight weeks in summer they
work ten hours, at other times during
daylight. From Oct. 1 to May 81 we
have school every other evening"
The warden then described the cells,
and what the prison had there, includ-
ing the rules Of the prison, library
catalogues, Bible, and such books as
they might draw from the library, an
almanac.
What books are the men allowed? 2"
"They may draw two books a week
from the prison library, If desired, and
this is a privilege which is never
abridged in the case of any convict,
unless for the defacing Of the volumes.
The library includes between 1000 and
5000 volumes, from which the prison
er has the choice of selection, and we
keep record of the character Of his
reading, such as fiction, history, or
whatever it may be. The librarian de-
votes his entire time to supplying their
wants"
do the rules specify certain pun
ishments for certain offenses?"
mo, sir. 1t would be impossible to
make such rules, with any Justice"
'Then the infiiction of punishment
is discretionary with whom?"
Directly with the deputy warden,
who makes written report to me. If
it is an offense punished by the son-
tary, it is presented to me in the even
ing. The solitary keeper had the same
blank book as the shop guards, and.
even while in confinement there, the
convict also had the right to make
complaint to the warden"
Have you ever set aside any of the
punishments imposed by the deputy
Warden?"
"I have sometimes restored convicts
who had been degraded to their former
classes. but this is not really a revoca-
ton of a punishment Of the deputy
warden. The deputy warden makes
the demerits against the convicts, and
If convict gets three of these in any
one month, he is degraded. The or
ders degrading or advancing convicts
are made up in my office and are sent
to the deputy warden over my sigma
ture. The man is degraded or ad-
vanced by rigid system, not by the
deputy warden, really"
when you have received from your
deputy warden a report that a GER
tain punishment had been imposed,
have you ever overruled the order?"
mo, sir. In some cases have, one
or two, possibly, when prisoners were
confined in the solitary, gone to them
and talked with them, and, where they
appeared to have been there long
enough, I have directed that they be
released
Attorney Penny, stating that he had
been engaged by the Globe to be
present, and assist, If opportunity
might arise, in the inquiry, asked Mr.
Wolfer first concerning the facilities
of the convicts for getting letters to
the warden, If they had complaints
of brutality to make.
Have you any means of knowing
whether any letters have been sent
to you except such as you have re-
ceived?"
NO, sir, and yes. There have never
been any complaints of the miscar-
riage of letters, except once or twice,
and [ think in both these cases I found
that [ had received the letters. If a
convict should send in a complaint,
and it should not be delivered to me-
and I should hear of it, 1t would only
happen once with that guard or other
employe who was responsible. These
complaints are collected by the as
sistant deputy warden, and the rules
of the prison are very strict
are not to go to the office of the deputy
warden at all, or even to be seen by
him. If a convict has reason to think
that his complaint has not been de-
livered, he may on Sunday, write
letter to me under seal, which must
not be brokenn open or tampered with
IN any way by the employees. They
are expressly prohibited from violat-
ing any letter addressed to me, to a
member Of the board or the board it.
self; to the governor or to any other
state official. Still failing in securing
satisfaction, If such a case should
arise, while we do not encourage the
reporting Of troubles while at work, if
a convict desires to talk with me in
private he may signal me personally
in the shop. I also go through the cell
rooms occasionally while the men are
there. so that they have opportunities
then, If they desire them, to report di-
rectly to headquarters. I get some
times forty or fifty letters from the
men at one time. Monday morning.