Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-21


At the meeting of the Police Com
mittee of the City Council, held last
week, committee consisting of
Messrs. Horkheimer and Chew, was ap-
the purpose of ascertaining what ar
rangement that official would make
for keeping the city prisoners.
This action reopens an old question
and is certain to provoke considerable
discussion. Mayor j. r. Butts is one
who is outspoken in his opposition to
the proposed change, and who will do
all in his power to defeat it. The
matter was first agitated some years
ago, when Capt. Bennett was serving
his first term as Chief of Police, and
the committee who investigated the
conduct of the workhouse. estimated
that it cost s1.50 per day to keep each
prisoner in that institution. c.. P.
Brown, who was then Sheriff, offered
to care for the prisoners in the county
Jail, for forty cents day for each.
Mayor Butts suggests as much
better solution for the question of dis
posing of the city prisoners, the build
ing of a new workhouse The Mayor
last year visited a number of cities
and inspected the warehouses. The
result of his visits was a firm convic-
ton that similar institution may be
conducted in this city without one
cent of expense to the taxpayers. At
GAINESVILLE he found a workhouse
which was not only self-sustaining,
but an actual source of revenue to the
city.
Mayor Butts advocates the allot-
ment of certain daily task to each
prisoner making his food dependent
upon the performance of the task Civ
en- him. He would, for example. make
each prisoner break a certain amount
of stone each day. If he failed to do
so, he would be given a diet of bread
and water If obstinate, he would be
placed in dungeon. Other work
could be done by the prisoners, such as
the manufacture Of articles for use in
the different municipal departments.
Mayor Butts believes that his scheme
would have the additional merit of
keeping an Objectionable class of Wis
itors from the city. The American
tramp is constitutionally opposed to
work and if the news was circulated
about the country that visit to
Wheeling meant thirty days of hard
labor, the Coxeyites would give this
city wide berth.
There is peculiar fact in connec
ton with the conduct of the work
house at present. The labor which
the prisoners perform, is confined TO
the quarrying and breaking of stone.
This stone is loaded on carts for the
Beard of Public Works, and placed on
streets and alleys, but no record is
kept of the amount used, nor is any
credit given to the workhouse. The
police department is credited for the
revenue it contributes to the B. P. W.,
and the city prison should be given
credit at market prices for the amount
Of stone which it furnishes.
The only way in which l would
consent to the consideration of a prop
osition for caring for the city prison
ers by the county authorities" said
prominent Councilman to a reporter,
would be if the offer We're made for a
certain amount per annum, without
regard to the number of prisoners.
would hardly approve Of the plan, even
would welcome a sentence to the
county Jail when the roads are frozen,
with prospect of substantial food,
congenial companionship, and moth
ing to do but play cards in the corri
doris or plan burglarieS with his new
acuuaintanceS.'