The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-16
NO TRACE OF CRUELTY
Continued From First Page.


the convict whether he will receive good
treatment, or otherwise.
Everything the Best.
We were very careful in our exanina-
ton of the food that is provided for the
convicts and the manner of its prepara-
ton and service, and it is our opinion that,
except in two or three instances. that we
believe to have been accidental, it is both
wholesome, Clearly and abundant.
The clothing provided at the. prison is
of excellent character and comfortable to
the wearer; the distinction in the cloth
ing of the different grades being that the
material furnished the lowest grade is
coarser and composed of conspicuously
striped material which is naturally regard
ed by the convicts as a mark of degreda-
ton; and that supplied to the higher grade
is less conspicuous in its appearance and and
work which is carried on in the prison.
The labor eXacted OF the prisoners is not
excessive either in the hours they work,
or the nature of the employment.
The prison a whole including its Gull
nary department it's dining rooms, its
sleeping Accommodations. and lis workshops,
is in our opinion excellent in every par
ticular. There is ample provision through
a medical department, for the health of the
convicts, and they seem to be conscien-
tiously and carefully protected in that re-
spect.
There were no charges whatever against
the superior officer, the warden, OF the
prison. and the universal opinion of all the
witnesses in which we fully concur, is
that the warden is thoroughly conversant
with the difficult duties of his position,
and that his administration of the prison
Is in all aspects just, fair and honorable.
The business management Of the prison
is in the hands of a board Of managers, all
of whom in our judgment. are men of
business capacity and integrity, which opin-
ion is well supported by the financial condi-
ton of the prison, learn that it
has for the last year been self-supporting,
with the exception of about $1,000.
We wish further TO report that in this in
vestigation we have been impressed with
the fact that q large number of persons are
convicted and confined in our prison who
are more or less of unsound mind, and
that the great majority of infractions of
discipline which has called for seemingly
harsh treatment have had their origin in
the conduct of these persons before the
prison authorities have had sufficient time
to become acquainted with the real mental
condition of such eonvicts. And. further,
from the fact that even after the officers
have reason to suspect that such convict is
not fully responsible for his acts there is
no proper provision for the separation OF
such persons from the other inmates I'M
til such time as it can be definitely ascer-
tanned that such persons are fit subjects
for removal TO an insane asylum.
We therefore beg to suggest that there
should be some provision made fer the
proper care of these unfortunates until such
time as it becomes clear that they should
be removed tc an asylum.
Nothing Escaped Them.
We find, and so report, that meme of the
charges against any of the officers of the
prison of cruelty to convicts. or of any
other character, have been sustained and
we exonerate them all from any suspicion
of improper treatment of the convicts under
their charge; and we find and so report.
that the prison is in excellent condition,
inals, and as TO it's general conduct and
management, and so thoroughly were we
convinced on all these points that we con-
graduate the state upon its possessing such
an exceptional penal institution as the state
prison at Saltwater.
All of which is most respectfully submit
ted.
Charles E. Flandrau.
Chairman.
B. F. Farmer
Alex. NJ Harrison.