Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-12
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 10, 1898.
PENITENTIARY ENLARGEMENT.


In the Senate yesterday. on motion OF
Mr.. Morris. the patron Of the measure,
the vote by which the penitentiary en-
largement bill was ordered to its en-
grossment was reconsidered. The object
of this was to afford opportunity for fur
Their perfecting the bill, If necessary, by
amendment Had this action not been
taken yesterday, the limit Of time in
which reconsideration was competent
would have been passed.
AS the public are aware. before the en-
grossment of the bill, the appropriation
therein of $4,000 for additional cell-room
at the penitentiary was cut down to $780,
900. 1t is now said that movement may
be made to reduce the appropriation fur
Their. However, that with all the facts
before IT, the Legislature will pursue that
policy is to our mind almost inconceiva-
bic. These facts show condition of af-
fairs at the penitentiary that is an out
rage upon humanity and decency, and
that cannot be materially remeded by
the expenditure of less than 100000, at
the lowest.
In some of the cells at the prison from
twenty-eight to thirty men are crowded.
Here they have to eat and sleep, and per-
form the other functions of life and are
packed together almost like sardines in
box. In the summer these cells are
little Less than chambers Of horror and
OF torture. The board and officers Of the
Institution have appealed TO Legislature
after Legislature to remedy the evil, for
which they are in no wise responsible,
and which. but for good management.
might have made the prison vast pes
thence incubator. The building Of new
quarters for women convicts some years
ago, and the establishment of a State
convict farm relieved the congested con-
dition of the prison somewhat, but prac-
ticalIy only temporarily. Every days de-
lay in making adequate provision for
both the present and future demands for
room accentuates these demands. The
directory, in asking that the General AS
sembly appropriate out of the future
earnings of the penitentiary a sum suff-
cient TO meet necessities for cell-room
now existing and certain to arise in the
near future, are inspired by no weak sc.-
timentalism regarding convicts. They eTa
influenced by the dictates of common 3iG-
manity, a conscientious regard for what
the law contemplates in cOnsigning crimi-
nails to penal institutions, and a firm con-
viction as to what would be TO the best
interests OF the Commonwealth Their
efforts TO have the penitentary enlarged
have been strongly endorsed by indi-
vlduais. who have given careful study to
criminology and prison reform. and by
prominent gatherings of ministers Of the
Gospel representing various denOmina-
lions. Moreover, they have the hearty
approval of many of the leading papers
OF the State and of the people of. the
Commonwealth at large.
SO, we repeat that we cannot well grasp |
the idea that the Legislature. with all the |
facts before it, will appropriate less than |
10000 10 the necessary work. We hope /
II will appropriate more. The appropria-
ton of smaller amount than 100000
would not only fall short of the require
ments of the situation, but would be
''penny wise pound foolish" policy. 1t
would not only fail TO answer for any
length OF time the plea of humanity, but
would, we believe, fan to satisfy public
sentiment i'm the State. The people of
Virginia are for retrenchment and re-
form and economy, but. none the less,
they have no sympathy with legislation
OF lack Of legislation, that would serve to
perpetuate the reproach that the condi-
ton OF the penitentiary puts upon the
Commonwealth.