The evening times., 1899-06-15
PORTO RICO'S JAHS
DEV0ID, OF GLOON
Interesting Report From the
Mayaguez District.
Cordial Relations Between Prison.
els and the Guard.
Change Largely Due to American In
fucnce-Everyday life I'm the
Penal Institutions.


received an official report upon the gen.
eral aspects Of the jail at Mayaguez. Portd
Rico. The report also contains some in
teresting comments upon the Spanish
penal system. In force in Porto Rico.
The report states that the Jail at May
aguez is at present one Of the cleanest.
healthiest and best Kept establishments
OF its kind in the West Indies. The cells
which serve as dormitories for the pris-
oners are Of scrupulous cleanliness. well
ventilated and with high ceilings and good
stone floors. They are for the most part
Of considerable, dimensions and could be
made to accommodate twice the number
Of prisoners now confined in them. The
official who makes the report says that he
found the walls all newly whitewashed
and that they were kept clean and free
from the writings OF pencils and chalk
marks that are SO common on the gener-
ality Of Jail cells and &aiis.
The prisoners quarters face on three
sides OF the spacious couftyards. Of which
there are several in the building and also
open into the courtyardsyiwhere they are
free to roam at will to oAnd from their
respective cells. There are very few
these are not frequently used. These cells
are also as clean and eo4Hfortable as the
others mentioned. 'S 10. n'-1
The report states that there is nothing
gloomy about the cells.rbut in each, with
a few exceptions. are camp cots. tastefu!ly
ornamented. and little shelves which put
one in mind of the room OF poor but
thrifty wOrkingman. The same features
OF comfort are also to be found-minus the
c1a ~ 4. Kali I-v,
where camp cots are fewer and which are
reserved for those who can pay for them.
These camp cots alternate with planks.
which the prisoner can use when he wants
to lie down. either in the day or at hight,
and thus avoid contact with the floor.
In another part of the building are the
kitchens, laundry, baths, outhouses and
also the quarters Of the privileged, or. in
other words, the paying. guests Of the es-
tablishment. who wish TO avoid contact
with the common herd and pay for that
accommodation. There is also Jail hos
pital. where those who are on the sick list
are placed on comfortable cots where Il ey
can at leisure recover from their Illness.
Thl> .eport further states that there is
nothir sioomy or Respondent in the faces
of tn -isoners 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 in
mates. who frolic. play, and jabber at
pleasure behind the bars that separate
them from the entrance hall. The babel of
voices and laughter is almost incessant ex-
cept when a foreigner is shown in. when,
with a great flourish of their sticks. the
corporals OF the guard make the prisoners
relapse into comparative quietness. In look
ing at them unseen one would take them
for schoolboys at play at recess time rather
than for people over whose head hangs the
sword Of the law. In the cells and yards
those who are not disposed TO promenade
the yard can be seen reclining upon their
cots. reading or sleeping or pacing the
floor.
The prisoners are kept in order In the
yards and halls by guards called ''corpor-
ais of the guard who wear red stripes on
their sleeves as an insignia OF their au-
thority. These guards are for the most
part, chosen from among the prisoners
either on account of excep-
tionally good conduct or for some other
reason. best known to the warden or Jail
authorities. Some OF these guards have
been arrested on suspicion and are await
ng trial. while others are men already
and serving their time.
AS far as can be ascertained no distinc- |
ion is made between the men already con-
iemned and those awaiting trial. They are |
LII mixed UP together during the day and |
II night are locked up separately. The |
Citations between jailers and jailed are Of |
cordial and friendly nature characteristic |
II the Spanish race. and those in prison |
the lowest classes-are as |
much senor'd and don'd by their keepers |
IS If they were free citizens in the streets. |
discipline is merely word, that, when |
leeded. Is used in the Jail vocabulary, but |
fhich seldom requires to be practically ap-
lied. SO perfect is the entente cordiale be-
ween the jailers and their prisoners.
Comfort from the outside is often fur
ished to the prisoners by visitors who
ONE to talk with their friends or rela-
ives through the grated doors and who re-
eve the monotony of their lives by gifts
{ fruits. cigars. cigarettes, and other
When the prisoners return
rom working in the streets they are placed
4 line in the entrance hall preceding the
ourtyard and each member Of the gang is
earched for concealed weapons and pieces
iron or steel which are forbidden to be
arried into the jail. During this process,
'hich takes very little time the prisoner
compelled to lift his handsson high, one
them holding his hat, while In the 9TH
are various articles Of luxury such as
errings. fruits. tobacco, cigars. or ciga-
sttes which they have purchased or had
iven to them outside. This operation Is
erformed at noon. breakfast time, and
gain at 4 or o'clock, which is the din
er time.
The prisoners are fed three times a day.
heir food being coffee in the morning,
'hich 10 their breakfast. Their dinner
onsists of a deep tin dish full of half
pup. half Draw. composed of rice. beans,
otatoes. and meat mixed together In ad-
ltion each prisoner is given q 4-cent loaf
fresh bread. the quantity being amply
ancient to satisfy an ordinary appetite.
he evening meal Is similar to the midday
zeal. but not quite 30 heavy.
As to the clothes, when the suit which
lie prisoner wore when arrested is worn
1T, he is furnished with Jail garb by
le municipality. Many Of the prisoners
re better housed, fed and clothed, and
stter treated. in the opinion of the on
al making the report, than many a Door.
living by honest work from early morn
g until late at night.
The report does not say that the Maya
nez Jail is true type Of the jails else {
here in the island. nor does it state that
Ie treatment OF the prisoners or the con-
tion of the building are in the same con-
tion as they were in the time Of Spanish
'cupatiop. On the other hand, the official I
els that the present condition of things {
the Jail is dUe to the civilizing and order
wing influence Of American rule. The re- ,
,rt further states that II so much material
,od has been accomplished and filth and
'pression have been wiped out in short
der. It must not be forgotten that excess
We kindness is often as baneful and dan.
.rous as excessive severity.
The report shows that the Jail at Maya
Iez Is badly congested and that in the
OF large number Of cases
was found that many Of them were based
ION ANONYMOUS complaints or upon some