The Red Cloud chief., 1897-01-22
SECTION THREE.
Penftentfnry.

he population has increased to l,250, 900.
BY an examination of the report for the
biennial period ending November 80, 1891,
u VIII be found that the average number
per year sentenced 20 the penltcntiary
was 175fs. and the average number per
year for the biennial period Just closed
As shown by the report Of the present
warden. Is 176h. The number Of prisoners
confined In the penitentiary November 30,
lSS$. was 3Jl; while the number imprisoned
November 30. last, or at the end of the
biennial period, was 215, thus showing a
considerable decrease. 1t will also be OH
served. by the report OF the pardons and
communications submitted herewith, that
executive clemency has been exercised
with less frequency than during the years
previous, and the number paroled only
q little In excess thereof. These statistics
disclose Nebraska standing In a very en-
vlabie position respecting the low per-
centage OF criminality. as well as that OF
inlteracy. thus confirming the axiom that
Ignorance and vice go hand in hand.
The condition Of the penitentiary upon
the whole ID very good. The present man
asement has taken advantage OF the OPP
portunlties which have been offered for
improvement. A careful study of the his
tory OF the penitentlary since Its organiga-
tion will not disclose any two years OF It's
existence during which greater progress
was made than during the biennial period
tAbb SItull lOI lulS COIulllOIt -
due to the efficiency Of the management
Of the present warden, who by a wise and
5udlclous policy has improved the standard
Of morals In the penitentiary, as well as
made large reductions In the expenditures.
This good record has been made by the
warden. despite the fact that he has
failed to receive the cooperation of most
Of those with whom he has had official re-
latlons In Its management.
MANAGEMENT.
The question of the management OF
penal institutions. Is Of course, dificult I'M
DER most favorable circumstances There
are various methods of management, each
having warm advocates. While the en-
enlargement Of any method Of manage
ment that will develop the reformatory
features Of prison life appeals strongly to
tho sympathetic and humans sentiments
Of mankind. yet 1t Is to be borne In mind
that the place should not be made so In
wiling that the careless and wickedly dis
posed will commit deeds of lawlessness
without fearing thu punishment to follow.
Tn humanity OF the present age demands
chat punishment for Violation OF law by
imprisonment or otherwise shall not be
inflicted harbarously. inhumanly, or In any
manner that would tend to stife the better
sentiments OF a man, even though a vio-
lator Of the law; but rather that the pun
tshment shall be humane, yet reasonable.
fxed, certain and determined In Its char
acter. This may be brought about by con-
hnement In the penitentiary In solitary
cells. In restraint OF liberty. in strict aud
rigid discipline. In plain, simple fare. yet
plenty and wholesome, clothing OF the
most common quality and some particular
uniform color and hard, steady and con-
tinuous labor during the period OF confine-
ment. ! dc not believe in a sentimentallty
that would supply to the prisoner, con-
victed frequently OF the most henious
crimes known to mankind, with every
luxury. form Of amusement or intellectual
recreation that would be regarded as spe-
cial privileges by many who lead a hum
BILE, yet honest and upright life. l believe
In classification of the prisoners. so far as
II can be done. with the view OF separating
che older and more hardened criminals
from those who have committed, perhaps
under mitigating circumstances. their first
~offsnse. and who sincerely repent. desiring
to pay the penalty for the broken law,
retrieve the mistakes Of the past. and lead
an honest and upright life. Such prison.
ers should receive all reasonable encour-
aSement. This. It seems to me. might
properly 10 done by constructing new
cells In the new cell house In the east wing
Of the penltentiary. which Is now used
a. q chapel. This would rende 1t less
dificult to maintain this class OF prison.
ers without coming so much In contact
with the more hardened class.
While some advocate changing the
striped clothing customary to be used In
prisons all over the country. / doubt the
proprlety Of It. I understand It has been
tried only In very few prisons and there
found to work not very satisfactorily. Its
advocates say It Is degrading and humili-
ating for the offender to be required to
wear this badge Of a broken law. II can
be said with equal proprlety that It Is
humlllating to be put In prison and re-
strained OF ones liberty. The logical Sc
quence of such reasoning would be to dis
charge all the prisoners and tell them to
70 their way and sin no more. We must
come face to face with the practical side
of depraved humanity and prison manage
ment Of such. as we'll as to have the
theoretical.
We have had In this state almost ever
since Its organization a form OF bNson
management that has been debasing and
degrading. a system Of leasing the peni-
&entiary and the convicts therein to selfish
individuals for the purpose Of private gain.
We have at least rid ourselves OF this one
Objectionable feature OF prison manage
ment. The last session of the legislature
passed an act providing for the annulment
of the lease OF the prison and prisoners
and also providing an appropriation for
the payment OF what should be found 10
Be due the lessee by the cancellation OF the
lease. Under the provisions OF the act the
lease was cancelled. the appropriation be-
ing made 10y the legislature for that pur-
pOso being exhausted IN the payment. InlS
report is on file In the office Of the land
commissioners. The state Is TO be con-
graduated upon the contamination of such
Z laudable object as that OF cancelling this
lease. even at the expense II Incurred.
CONVICT LABOR.
After the state had taken full control
ana possession OF the penstentiary and the
labor of the convlcts, an effort was made
by the board OF public lands and buildings
20 again lease the penitentiary grounds.
machinery and labor, thus returned to
the Objectionable system from which we
had just freed ourselves. As soon as the
Intention OF the board came to my notice,
took occasion to communicate 10 them
my Views In regard to the matter. IN the
nature OF a protest. asking that the state
should assume control OF the penltentary
and OF the labor OF Its convicts, except
a. the same had been contracted out under
tho old lease. and which by the terms or
the act for It's cancellation. were 10 DC
continued In force during the period FOR
which they were made. The board, how
ever, proceeded to again lease the peniten-
tiary grounds and property, as well as the
labor of It's convicts. subject to the sub
contract mentioned. 1t occurred to me
that this contract did nor properly protect