Evening journal., 1899-02-04
OPPOSES A WORKHOUSE
Pyle Thinks That Prisoners
Should Work in a Quarry
PURCHASED BY THE LEVY COURT


HOWARD ID. ROSS WRITES A LET
TER TO THE AssENlBIYNiEN
PLEADING FOR AN ELECTION
OF A SENATOR LEGISLATIVE
BUSINESS TRANSACTED YES
TERDAY.
Stan Correspondence Evening Journal
Dover, Feb. 4.--Friends OF prison re-
form in New Castle county are circu-
lating here the following interesting
statistics given by Chief Justice Lore
in his address in favor OF a state
workhOuse:
THE wasteful extravaganza Of our
jail system compared with the work.
house system OF our sister states is
simply appalling. Let us examine and
compare them. On Friday, the 23d
day Of last month, there were
confined in the jails OF the three coun-
ties Of this state 227 prisoners; cf this
number 1SSswere convic;e sentenced to
Imprisonment, for longer term or
shorter term. The average number Of
prisoners is about 2lV. 'rnese prison
ers do not contribute one cent to their
own support, but are an absolute
charge on the taxpayers OF the several
counties, living as they DO IN enforced
idleness.
In 1896 our prison system. by ac-
tual returns Of the several clerks OF
the peace, for an average Of 2lO pris-
lners. aggregated sSS.517S3: each prls-
ontr yearly cost siSs.e5; each prisoner
daily cost so $40 cents.
rs there any reason why the people
Of Delaware should be taxed to keep
n id.eness all our prisoners. at a daily
cost Of SO $40 cents each. when, by
putting them to work. as shown from
other states, he is kept for s% cents
daily in excess Of earnings: OF that we
should pay pearly In the aggregate
$3S.517SS to keep 21O idle convicts;
when the above named states show
that that number can be kept under
the workhouse system at a yearly ag-
gregate cost OF S5,654.45? Shall W,
then continue a system that absolutely
wastes the difference between the sun
VI S3S,517.S3 and s5e54.45. viz: $780,
s63.3S every year? II the latter sun
can be saved, It is the imperative dut!
Of the Legislature to do so. This sav
ing can be made.
Let us lcok at one Of the leaks IL
the present system. In 1896 New Castl,
county paid to the sheriff for food foi
the prisoners alone the sum Of s12
G51.2S. The actual cost to the sheriff
was $4,2l7O9. The county therefor
paid him sS.434.19 in excess Of cost
This single leak would pay the en-
tire 100000 cost OF workhouse IL
twenty years in a sinking fund sucf
leaks and waste are found along every
line Of the present penal system; it is
Simply reeking with old-time politica
favor and corruption.
"The secret Of the success Of the
workhouse system is that It is not q
lpoltical machine; but business en-
lterprise; conducted on strict business
principles; every prisoner IS made tC
work and earn his own food, clothing
and expenses. 1t is the difference be
tween 21O idle drones on the one hand
and 2lO working bread-winners on th'
other
Senator Pyle does not believe in thu
county workhouse scheme. He will in
troduce a bill compelling the Lew
Court Of New Castle county to pur
chase a quarry and work the prison
ers therein, the stone broken to b
used for road Improvement.
HOWARD d. ROSS APREAL.
Republican members OF the Genera
Assembly this morning received fror
Howard d. Ross, a young man Of WI
mington who aspres TO the mayora.u
and who is afraid that the Union Re
publicans will set up a separate mu
niclpal ticket, the following lette
which shows the axe he has 10 grind
/, Wilmington Del. Feb. 1, 1899.
My Deal Fellow Partisan: Why nS
T elect to the United States Senai
e some representative Republican an
}: citizen Of our state who would ser,
the highest and best interests Of II
/, state and country, thus serving u
+" best interests of the Republican part
; Of Delaware. The best man that ca
J. be elected is the best man to be vote
t. for; the Republican who Is the lea
m Objectionable 20 both factions Of OIL
!. beloved party. Delaware has plenty
good Republicans who would do hon
to their state and party at Washin
ton, and who would serve the best /
. terests Of all fellow partisans throug
,k cut our beloved state. Very Sincere
m and truly yours,
) HOWARD D. ROSS
- Dictated F.
'n PERSONAL
p. S.-Please do not construe this
H f.fT To-. tt.ora.ra In ohoro m