Evening journal., 1898-10-29


.ment Of woIk-house. or some insutu-
ton where these people could he cared
for properly.
This has been cur theme with regis
llatures for years. and nothing thus far
has come cut Of our efforts but the
stone pile. and that was never con-
ducted in such manner as to secure |
good results. Then came the stone
quarry scheme, but it amounted TO
nothing. Afterwards came the propo-
lsition to establish a work-house, nut
it fell upon duh ears. But for ali this
the offenders OF the law still wallow in
ldlencss in the three county jails, ootn
in disgrace. and in expense upon the
people. If other states can employ
their criminals so as to make them
salf-supporting, and even bring a reve-
nue. TO the state, surely such a system
as theirs would not be a burden upon
us. An we ask the General Assembly
to DO is to eliminate the vicious sys-
tenn that makes bad men worse, ana
institute q system that makes them
better BY so doing the amount OF
crime is constantly being reduced, and
a great saving to the state thereby pro-
duced. j never know what to say 10 a.
discharged prisoner-the whole world
seems to be against him. He goes out
worse than when he went in. He|
seems to say, IL want no word OF adj
vice now. The people have revenged
themselves on me-now comes my
turn" This need not be SO. These
persons are not dead to good impress
aons; they are not devoid Of feeling.
have seen them reading tho Bible IN
Jail. have seen them attentive to re-
ligious services in Jail. Yet you say
they are not worthy of our pity Oh,
sc Of little charity, listen. II We have
not charity ye are as sounding brass
and a tinkling cymbal. Certain It is
lhat our charity is almost nothing to-
ward these unfortunates. What Is
needed Is a clear comprehension Of the
iacts, on the part OF the people.
. with such fun comprehension, a
sense OF conviction will steal in upon
their sleeping consciences, and they
win listen to the voice Of reason. Now
IN conclusion. desire to read to you
/. as 1 have already done on another
occasion OF this kind, some extracts
from an address Of Chief Justice Lore.
Chief Justice Lore is an ardent advo-
cate OF the adoption Of a state work
house system in the place OF three
county jails now used for the restraint
a Of prisoners sentenced TO imprison-
ment for violation Of state laws. In a
recent address before the members OF
the General Assembly, the chief jus
= tice said:
!. 'eThe wasteful extravaganza OF on
Jail system compared with the work
house system Of our sister states il
eimply appalling. let Us examine ant
compare them. On Friday the 23d ual
Iof the present month, there were con
:, fined in the jails Of the three counties
OF this state POI prisoners; Of thil
number 1S8 were convicts sentenced u
!, Imprisonment for a longer or shorter
term The average number Of prison
crs is about 30. These prisoners d'
,lnot contribute one cent to their owl
support. but are an absolute charge oil
the taxpayers Of the several counties
living ais they do in enforced idleness
'In 1896 our prison system by ac
Is ual returns Of the several clerks o
8 the peace. for an average Of 210 pris
y oners, aggregated SSs,517.ss; each pris
1t oner yearly cost s1S5.65; each prisone
= daily cost SO $40 cents.
~ as there any reason why the peopl
Is Of Delaware should be taxed to keei
y in Idleness all our prisoners, at a dail'
10 cost Of so $40 cents each, when by put
re ting them to work, as shown from
'e other states. he IS kept for SA cent
VI daily in excess Of earnings; or that W
should pay yearly in the aggregat
le 1913, ,5d7.S2 to keep 21O idle convlcts
| when the above named states SNOW
z that that number can be kept unde
ID me work house system at yearly as
re gregate cost OF s5,G5445? Shall w
o. hen continue a system That absolutel
II wastes the difference between the sun
'r sf sss.5i7s8 and s5.65445, viz: sS2,
'i 63.3s every year? II the latter sun
e' can be saved. 1t is the imperativ
ie duty Of the Legislature to do so. Thi
y saving can be made.
"a LET us look at one Of the leaks
re the present system. IN 1896 New Castl
"a county paid to the sheriff for food TO
& the prisoners alone the sum Of Sl2i
o. 651.2s. Now listen; the actual cost t
b. the sheriff was s4.217o9. The count
As therefore paid him s8,434.19 in exces
&c VI cost. This single leak will pay tn
81 entire 100000 cost of work-house Il
o. twenty years in a sinking fund. Sue
ID leaks and waste are found along ever
it .i,o 90 +ha r,resant nenal system; it ]