New-York tribune., 1899-06-16
A COMIC OPERA JAIL.
PLEASURES AND COMFORTS OF THE N
sTITUTION AT MAYAGUEZ

LIFE WITHIN 1T FAR MORE ENJOYABLE THAs
OUTSIDE CLEAN AND SPACIOUS QUAR-
TIERS. GOOD pooD AND rDLENEss.
Washington. June 10 (speciaD D-There Is likely t
be "A premium on prison life among the lowe,
classes in Porto Rico II the penal system continues
TO be attractive az the Americans have made II
The War Department has just received from
General Davis n report Of an official inspection
OF the jail at Mayaguez y. r., which II rather
interesting. According 10 the report this jail 10
at the presen, moment Of the oeanest. healthi.
est and be.i kept establishments Of its kind In
the Wes; Indies. The cells. which serve as dorni.
tories for the prisoners. are scrupulously clean.
well ventilated, and have high ceilings and good
stone floors. The official who makes the repori
SAYS that he found the walls all newly white
washed. and that they were kept clean and free
from the writings OF pencils and chsikmarks that
are 20 common on the generality Of Jail cells and
walls.
The prisoners quarters face on three sides OF
the spacious courtyards. Of which there are sew
e-al in the building. and their quarters open into
the courtyarda. where they are free 10 roam a.
will TO and from their respective cells There
are few cells reserved for the purpose OF solitary
confinement. but these are not frequently used.
These cells are also az clean and comfortable
the others mentioned
There IL nothing gloomy about the cells. but
in each-with a few exceptions-are camp cots
put one IN mind OF the room or a poor but
thrifty workingrnan. The same features OF comfort
are also 10 be found-minus the shelves-in the big
halls or dormtory where camp cots are fewer.
which are reserved for those who can pay FOR
them.
These camp cots alternate with planks, which the
prisoner can place on the floor. when he wants TO
lie down either in the day or at night, and thus
avoid contact with the floor.
In another part of the building the kitchens.
laundry baths outhouses and also the quarters Of
the privileged, or. in other words. the paying
guests OF the establishment, who wish to avoid con-
tact with the common herd and pay for that accom-
modation There IL also Jail hospital, where those
who are on the sicklist are placed on comfortable
cots where they can at leisure recover from their
Illness.
There is nothing gloomy or despondent In the
faces OF the prisoners confined In the jail After
the street-cleaning gangs have departed for their
various stations In town. the jail yards are
thronged with the remaining inmates. who frollc.
play and jabber at pleasure behind the bars that
separate them from the entrance hall The babel
OF voices and laughter is almost incessant except
when foreigner is shown In. when with great
flourish Of their sticks, the corporals Of The guard
make the prisoners relapse into comparative quiet
ness In looking at them unseen one would take
them for schoolboys at play at recess time, rather
than for people whose head hangs the sword
OF the law. In the cells and yards those who are
not disposed promenade the yard can be seen re-
clining upon their cots reading or sleeping or
pacing the floor.
The prisoners are kept in order I'm the yards and
halls by guards called "corporals Of the guard
who red stripes their sleeves as insignia OF
their authority These guards are for the most
part chosen from among the prisoners themselves.
either on account Of exceptionally good conduct or
for some other best known TO the warden or
Jail authorities. Some OF these guards nave been
arrested on suspicion and are awaiting trial while
, oth hers m already convicted
As far as can be asccrtained no distinction is
made between the men already condemned and
those awaiting trial. They are all mixed up 10
spa,ey ssafa he feons s"5 er and JAILED
are of that cordial and friendly feeling that char
garb on-exceptng those OF the lowest casses-are
as as much "seford' and @dond' by their keepers
pline is merely a word that, when needed. Is used
in the jail vocabulary. but which seldom REQUIRES 20
cordale between The jaers and their Prisoners
Comfort from the outside Is otteh Nth ,hetr
friends or relatives through the grated doors ana
who relieve the monotony OF the prisoners HNes ~
modities. no&i les ''''''' ''e'''' -.
streets they placed in line In the entrance nan
preceding the courtyard. and each member, OF the
which for6iddeb to o.s be eaTrge ,
time the prisoner is compelled to lift his hands on
high one Of them holding his hat, while IN me other
ar. .opaocn ciears or ciearettes which they
| have purchased or which had been given to them
outside. This operation Is periorned d. HJoh; q
breakfast time and again at or O'CLOCK wnlch Is
! the dinner time. -x
| The prisoners are fed three times a day; Coffee
I'm the morning is their breakfast Their dinner Is
composed OF a dishful OF half soup half stew, com
posed OF rice, beans. potatoes and meat mlxe1 tO-
eether In addition each prisoner is given four
cent loaf of fresh bread, the quantity being amply
sufficient to satisfy ordinary appetite Inc even
! ing meal is similar to the midday meal but not quite
so heavy. As to clothes, when the suit wnlGn me the
prisoner wore when arrested is worn out jail SUIT
! Is furnished by the municipality .,
| MANY OF the prisoners are better housed. FED ana
clothed and better treated. In the opinion or the
official making the report. than many poor nohes.
wretch who is hghting outside pI I3r Are si"5 s 55s
! The inspector does not say that me MayagneI
jail is a true type OF the jails elsewhere IN the
/ prisoners and the state of the building are IN me
same condition they were in me time oi .a
/ occupation. On the other hand the ofhclaI leets -
that the present condition OF things In the jan -
due to the civlizing and order-giyins influence VI
| American rule. 1900, 49,. ho0,
! accomplished. and filth and oppression nave s oeen
eradicated in short order, It must not be t9rgot@sa @
danaerons as excessive severity. The report shows
that the jail at Mayaguez is badly congested ana
that In the investigation OF large number OF cases
il was found that many OF them were based upon
anonymous complaints. or upon some nlihss IaDi
which is likely 10 fall TO pieces IN the ignt OF ''
There is a chronic dllatoriness on the part OF me
civil judiciary under which the simplest cases re- r.
main as a rule without serious inxesugatloh, ,gN
alone trial. for months at time. The many priyl,
leRes and comforts which accrue TO accused persons
by being arrested and lncarcera@tsd yea Ser II ~ per-
sons arrested-some OF whom feel II no disgrace 70
be Imprisoned while others look upon jan as sOi
Of resort be reached where all ther nerus T., az as
wants will be catered 10 with idleness thrown ~ "a, az
Gin instead OF being compelled to live In dllapi,,
dated shacks In the fields and TO work carry anu
late TO earn scant living
.~--