Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-27

inmates ts n very serious obstacle to one
OF the principal aims or the ipsutuuon-
that Of reform. IL Is with pleasure thdt
/ can refer TO the excellent addiuoI ~
the hospital department which you in your
wisdom deemed proper 10 build. IN my
Judgment, I'm no other way could sucn d
limited expenditure have been 50 proii.-
ably made. other improvements. sucI as
the stable. the removal OF the OLD guaru-
house, the enclosure of the properly IN
front of the building, the laying OF 90
square yards of granolithic pavement, tne
change in the cooking department., anu
other smaller improvements ada muoh
to the convenience, healtng anu dpPS"i
ance of the buildings.
The increased cost Of feeding, clothing
guarding, &c. as shown IN statement NJ
/, is due mainly to the rise In provisions.
II has been my endeaVor 10 sec .nas g
sufficient quantity OF proper quahty oI
food be always provided, and that tne
clothing be suitable to meet the DEMANDS
Of the seasons. The general appearaiiSe
of the convicts speaks for the manner III
which this has been done.
In a firm but kind manner the 1lsclpllne
of the institution has been maintained.
Such minor violations as have from une
20 time occurred have been largty uue "
the crowded condition of the cells
The tasks of those employed on the
contract are not excessive which is evil
denced by the fact that S2O,Zl.S6 has been
earned by the prisoners during the year
by over-work.
THE STATE FARM.
The State Farm continues TO serve the
good purpose for which the Legislature
Intended il. IL has been OF great aid 10
the pententiary the past year III feCelIIne
and caring for many OF those broken
down from confinement ana from tle
ravages of an epidemic oil measles Ia, lHsi
spring. Here, where they were enaplea
To- obtain purer air, more sunshine anu
more exercise. their improvement. IN most
instances, has been marked. inIUusn tle
efficient management of Mr.. "A. w. tlncn
IL has not only supported an average Oh
324 men. but shows net gain TO the state
of S2.O57.27. Statement No. itemizes the
permanent improvements that have been
made there. 49,,
Not "A single escape has occurred from
the prison proper. From the SEVERN
places where the convicts are distributes
the total number OF escapes has peeh To-
OF these have been reeaptured,
UNEMPLOYED PRISONERS.
At this time there are l'2Io PRISONERS
within the walls of the prison. OF these
l.0ll men and siXty-five women are en- en-
ployed by the shoe company. one nun
bred and seVenty-fye are necessary ~.
prison detail, making total OF l,2JV az
work and balance OF only y uhaccJe'i ha :,
for. OF these. or 10 are sent each Gay
TO the Capitol Square, while seYeral Oh tne
others are physically incapacitated Tor
work of any kind. The number OF abie-
bodied men, therefore, unemployed III
the prison numbers less than dozen.
reference 10 the surgeons reports
shows the health of the prisoners 10 nav
been excellent. We were unfortunate laSt
spring I'm having the prison infected win
measles by two new conVlcis, 81 Ti NJ
! unfortunately. we were not warned: Ihe
large excused list during the spring Is lhe
result of such Infection .,...,
Five hundred and fifty-two prisoners
were brought TO the building ana 9iV VIZ T,I
discharged during the hscal year Inc
total number. f22-were transported at a
| cost Of a. S3S5l Last year the total num-
ber TRANSPORTED was about l,Oll, at a cost
| OF $3.50.
CONDITIONAL PARDONS.
In the foregoing statement as TO trans
portation it may be noted that the ilui .ni
DISCHARGED exceeds the number rccelNeu'
| TLis is partially accounted for by the
/ conditional pardon law passed at the ids.
| session Of the Legislature AS some Ilii ~
| elapsed before this law could De Put Az
| operation the number discharged ulluer At
| this year is nothing like go great as llkely
| TO be i'm the future. The law, In my Juus-
ment. can be amended with advantage III
/ two particulars. - 80.
/ vict. after serving half his term, and Kept
| the prison rules in every respect, may ap-
! ply for this conditional pardon. Inc hlSi
| Amendment that / would suggest Woulu
| be for the relief Of long-term prisoners;
AS the law is, all prisoners are pared
| from any relief by this conditional par
! don. provided they have violated the
| prison rules in any respect.
| While in general, | think TINS an emf
ncntly proper provision IN soile III.
| stances It works hardships. There are az
| present convicts who have been WITH
| In the prison walls ten and more years
/ on n sentence for eighteen years. III
the early part of their sentence they VIC
lated some prison rule, and altnougn
they now have been exemplary prisoners
/ for five or more years, they are deprived
| of relief by conditional pardon. Inc
| Amendment that / would advocate would
| be that any prisoner who has served hal
| his term and kept the prison rules II
| every respect for five years cOnsecuuVely
! prior TO the tir Of application should
be granted the privileges OF the law.
| The second amendment that L WOulC
suggest would be that the law shOulc
| not apply to prisoners with q sentence
under two years. As il is, a prisoner WITT
! a sentence of one years with his time al
! lowed for good behavior, can apply f0l
| this pardon after being In the prison only
! fiS. months and six days. Certainly. bu
! little reform can be accomplished In tins
! period.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
Religious exercises have been faithfully
| conducted by representatives OF the va
| rious denominations, and great credlt
due them for their Jealous enorts ia De
! half Of the unfortunate inmates.
| / cannot close my report without extend
ing 10 every officer and guard my gratetu
| APPRECIATION of the faithfulness WIZ
| which they have performed any dutN
| imposed upon them. Ever watch
ful over their work. and ever having II
view of the best interests OF the lnstltu
! ton thew have worked with me In com
mon cause to advance the interests OF IN,
| state. To you. gentlemen OF the board
| who have ever been courteous ana TOT
| bearing in whatever SHORTCOMINGS MAJ
| nave had. | return my heartfelt thanks
RECEIPTS AND EXPENSES.
The following statement shows the prom
and loss account OF the penitentiary:
CREDITS.
i;soOr ......... 26O o
| Garden ...... ........s ssssssssss.''.'
IT.. CapffOI SQuaTe 0nClud-