Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-02-02
PRISON REFORM CONSIDERED
Another Talk by Thomas Mer-
Ger of Chester County, Pa.
THE COST OF FEEDING PRISONERS
Comparisons Made With the
Jail at West Chester.
How the Cost OF snbsi-repce There Was
Gradually Reauced from az Dents to AZ
Gents per Day per Prisoner--Results of
Providips Employinent for jain Inmates
-Other Interesting Matters. ,ssa


The subject of "Prisen Reform" was
discussed. at public meeting under
the auspices Of the New Century Club
in the drawing room of the club on
Thursday and the proposed bill for d
workheuse for New Castle county was
unanimously endorsed. The principal
address Of the evening was made by
Thomas Mercer, a prison inspector Of
Chester county, who explained the1
management OF that institution and
noted the excellent results achieved.
There is a wide difference between
that Jail and tho one at New Castle.
One Of the most important differences
Is in the matter Of subsistence. 1t cost
the West Chester Jail seven and o half
cents day per prisoner for Subsistence,
whereas New Castle county pays 20
cents. The speaker displayed quaint
hurnor which the audience enjoyed,
apart from the interesting nature Of
his remarks. Other Speakers included
Chief Justice Charles b. Lore, Bishop
Coleman and 'Geprge,W, Bush. :
Tho meeting was opened by Mrs.
Laura W. Webb, with whom there were
ON the stage Miss Mary A. Mather,
president of the New Century Club,
Mrs. Horace Belts, Chief Justice Lore
and Mr.. Mercer. Among the audience
of about 100 persons 'were Judge j.
Frank Ball, United States Marshal J John
Cannon Short, William 8. Prickstt,, i.
W. Brosius. Enos T.. Doane, Bishop
Berlin, David J. Reinhardt Thomas
a III. Steward w. A. Pratt, aArchdeacon
Hall, the Rev, w. f. Lewis, Wilmer
Palmer, Alfred Gawthrop. %SsT'
Mrs Webb announced that Mrs. Will
Hanson Of New Jersey, who had been
expected to speak, could not be present
on account of illneSs. She introduced
Mr.. Mercer of West Chester, who at
once began an exposition of how the
jail is operated.
Fhe Jail is governed by five prison
inspectors, three Of whom are APP
pointed by the judges Of the court and
two by the county commissioners, a
body similar TO our Levy Court They
their seats In January, organizing by
electing chairman and secretary.
They employ a warden, a matron, two
un 1erkeepers, night watchman, q
physician, clerk and an attorney, and
pay their salaries. The inspectors have
the authority to- draw on the county
treasury for any amounts needed for
the Jail. EVA .4,
The warden buys ail the supplies,
securing them as cheaply as possible
and sells all the manufactured articles.
1t is his duty to examine every cell at
least once a day, The prison inspectors
hold regular meetings onceia month al
which reports are received. The
physician must submit report Of the
health OF every prisoner. The in
spectors, in regular order, or one Of
their number is required to visit the
Jail weekly. They go around among
the prisoners alone and investigat.
matters without the assistance of tht
warden or other employees.
The prisoners are kept employed
They'make carpets, cane seat chairs
muslin shirts and some brooms. Thu
jail has a loom and ohe of the under
keepers, being a practical weaver, ha
charge Of the weaving. w.
As far as possible, an effort 10 mad
to keep the prisoners separate. Al
for. their health, the State Board o
Charities informs the prison inspector
that they have one OF the healthies
jails in the State. This may be OK
planned by the fact that they try :
keep the Jail scrupulously clean. tn
prisoners are required to battle at leas
once week. They do their own wash
ing and all the work of the Jail. On
of them, for instance, is the cook. .Fo
this position long term prisoner
generally selected and is taught
bake, and when his term is near IL
end, another long term prisoner is pu
at work in that department SO that b
may be able to takelhold when the firs
leaves.
The articles manufactured are sole
but the law will not permit their bein
sold az less than regular prices, tll
requirement. being made so as to pr,
vent the underselling OF honest labe
outside. Carpets are made, at time'
for families.
Speaking of the cost Of running IL
Jail, Mr.. Mercer said that last YET
there was an average OF 30. A prisoner
and the commissioners drew from Il
county treasurer s., 900, and the tot
cost of running it was S., 467. 19. ]
the matter Of Subsistence, 81, 633. 94'wi
B expended, slor ny cents u day p
IN prisoner. Therecords Of the jail SIM
lS42s show the cost of Subsistence 4
each year, Up to 1879 the warden VI
paid a.daily compensation for the boal
of,prisoners, and his compensation rs
from Is to % cents. In 1879, when ii
inspectors took charge Of the matt
of buying food, the cost dropped fro
iScents to 8 cents day and continue
30 for three years. In 1882 il was
5z cents; 1858 to 1877 D cents with "
F years showing slight increase; 1876
.&& 10; 1894, T3; 1885, ia; 1896, g.
II5 1897, 6.7;, 1898, TO. The increase
<NW the last year was due to higher price
The prison inspectors pay also for t
keep Of long-terIn prisoners sent to T.
Eastern Penitentiary instead of to ii
county Jail For 40 such prisons
they pay g cents day each sor
allowance is made for their; labor, al
the total bill for last year was 81, pa {
Young prisoners are sent to the HUI
ington Reformstory, not for speci
term but to reform thom If possib
For 20 such prisoners, the inspactt
pay 2S cents day for each for 81
sistence;iafter some allowance for tn
labor, the cost to the county for thu
is 81, 354, 25. Thus the total cost Of I
prisoners is 9,046. 81.
From the sale Of manufactured got
last year S4, 143.0 OF was realized;
cost of the material was s2,l23.
leaving profit of s2,0l7.78.
Speaking of their system OF keep
the prisoners separate, not even allie
ing them to converse, Mr.. Mercer 81
that he visited New Castle Jail witt
citizen of Wilmington and found
prisoners allowed much liberty;
only systom seemed to be TO let tn
do as they pleased and they were do
it. They ran everywhere On Wedn
day another Of the Chester cou
inspectors and the warden OF the Oh