Daily camera., 1897-02-09
PRISONERS PRIVILEGES.
It Pays to Have a Good Name in
the Connecticut Penitentiary.
An Important Step in the Reforma'
ton of Criminals - Efficacy of
Humane Methods Demon
strated.

When the convicts at the state prison
left the workshops the other day nearly
all of them wore the Old familiar uni
forms of gray and they marched with
the lock-step to their cells. But there
were a few at the rear of each gang
who marched, with their arms folded,
to a room in the Cd west end. They
wore suits of cadet ulue that fitted their
figures nicely and their trousers were
creased. Their caps were of the same
material as the suit, wit Iatent leather
bands. The coat and yes, buttons were
of polished steel. These men were
prisoners of the frst-class, and there
were 10 of them out of a total of 3S9.
This was one feature of the most
important step ever taken to reform
prisoners.
The prisoners begin in the middle of
the second-class. Then, according to
their conduct, they remain there, are
promoted to the first-class or are de-
graded to the third-class. The second
class prisoners will be treated as they
always have been. The third-class men
will wear red suits. The prisoners will
be subjected to light punishment and
will be deprived of light, books and the
1uNuTies of the rations. In this depart
ment the B"~t..lon system Of measure
ment is established. The solitary cells
underneath the department for grade
three are arranged with every consider
alton of humanity. The cells are clean.
They f1rniShnl wit a f,lnr,Iy lal
on which the occuDantmust Sleep with-
out pillow. Thirty days is the limit
Of confinement in a solitary cell. The
cell is not absolutely dark
The interior of the new department
for first-class prisoners is clean and
looks well. The finish of the walls
produces a brick and brown stone eff
feet. The SO. cells are made of burglar
proof steel. fTbey are five by seven feet
I and eight feet in height. The beds
hang by Chains and are folded to the
walls when not in use. There is q sink
to each cell and faucet for running
water. The floor is c8rpeted. The sani-
tary arrangements are excellent.
There is a small cabinet to hold the
dishes when the men eat. In each cell
are molasses cup, a vinegar Jug.
plates, brush, knife fork and spoon and
salt and pepper cruets. A chair, mir
ror, lamp AMI rack and shelf complete
the furnishings of the cell Each cell
is furnished with a radiator that en-
ables the occupant to regulate the heat
The corridors are well lighted. The
tiers are divided into two sections and
between them there is a passage wide
enough for one person to pass. In this
passa~eway is placed the anparatus for
ventilating and heating the depart
ment. By the operation of this ap-
paratus a constant and plentiful supply
of pure air is secured. There are glass
spyholes in the walls of the cells IN this
passage, and through these spyholes
Officers can see the prisoners without
having to look through the door. As
each prisoner shuts his door an indi-
Gator at the end of the prison shows
that he is locked in.
There is separate kitchen connected
with this department. The rations
are boiled rice, bread, butter, coffee
and n Iasses fer r-aakfast; corIed
bee, c"bha~a. potatoes. tU:-rins. car
rots, "orn bread. hutter and cotToe for
dinner, and bread, butter, ginr" Bread
and cocoa for surDer. \ mo....lr ra-
ton server is wheeIed UP 10 each cell
''How do you like it," asked the warden
Of one prisoner, every much" Think
you will stay there?" 81 will try to-"
The men there get butter three times
a day. while the second-cIass rceu have
this luxury only three times a week
The thi~' class men will forget the
taste OF butter
Once in two weeks the men in this de-
pertinent are allowed TO meet for lit
erary and other intellectual exercises
They will be allowed to debate On
given subject. In the interim between
the meetings. the warden viii furnish
the men with books on the subject
which is to be discussed. The men
will be furnished with. a better grade
of tobacco and hey will be allowed
the use of light in their cells until s: As
in the evening. They may write once
a week to their friends. The prisoners
to be eligible for this department must
be generally cheerful and obedient to
the rules. They must be of sound mind
and in their cases there must be an
absence of punishment for the six