Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-15
PLEASANT JAIL LIFE
Criminals Lot Happier Than That
of Honest Men.
IN A PORTO RICAN INSTITUTION
Influence of American Order and
Cleanliness.
CONDITION OF THE CELLS

| Acting Secretary of War Meiklejohn re-
| ceived official report upon the general
! aspects of the jail 1T Mayaguez. Porto Rico,
| which contains Interesting comments upon
! the Spanish penal system in force in Porto
| Rico.
| The report states that the jail at Maya
gueZ is at the present moment one of the
| cleanest, healthiest and best kept estab-
| lishments of its kind in the West Indies.
| The cells which serve as dormitories for the
| prisoners 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 prison.
ers now confined in them. The official who
| makes the report says that he found the
walls all newly whitewashed, and that they
| We're kept clean and free from the writings
of pencils and chalk marks that are so COM
mon on the generality Of Jail cells and
walls.
The prisoners quarters face on three
sides OF the spacious court yards, of which
there are several in the building, and their
quarters open into the court yards, where
they are free to roam at will to and from
their respective cells. There are very few
| cells reserved for the purpose OF solitary
confinement, but these are not frequently
used. These cells also as clean and
comfortable the others mentioned.
Nothing Gloomy About the Cells.
The report states there is nothing gloomy
about the cells, but in eact-with few ex-
cepdons-are camp cots tastefully orna-
mented, and little shelves which put one in
mind of the room of poor but thrifty
workingman. The same features of COM
fort are also to be found-minus the shelves
in the big halls or dormitory, where camp
cots are fewer, and which are reserved for
those who can pay for them.
lnese 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 are the
Kitchens, laundry, baths, outhouses and
also the quarters of the privileged or in
other words, the paying guests of the es-
tabllshment, who wish to avoid contact
with the common herd and pay for that ac-
comm0dation.
There is also Jail hospital where those
who are on the sick list are placed on COM
Portable cots, where they can at leisure re-
cover from their Illness
The report further states that there is
nothing gloomy or Respondent in the faces
OF the prisoners confined in the jail After
the street cleaning gangs have departed
Tor their various stations in town the Jail
yards are thronged with the remaining in
mates, who frolIc, play and jabber at pleas
ufe behind the bars that separate them
from the entrance hall. The babel of voices
ana laughter is almost incessant, except
when a foreigner is shown in, when, with
great flourish of their sticks, the corporals
of the guard make the prisoners relapse
into comparative quietness In looking at
them unseen one would take them for
school boys at play at recess time rather
than for people over whose heads 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
Life in the Jail.
The prisoners kept in order in the
yards and halls by guards called "corporals
of the guard" who wear red stripes on
their sleeves insignia of their author
ity. These guards are for the most part
chosen from among the prisoners them
selves, either account of exceptionally
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 awaiting trial, while
others are men already convicted and serv-
ing their time.
As far can be ascertained no distinc-
ton is made between the men already con-
demned and those awaiting trial. They
are all mixed up together during the day,
and at night are locked up separately. The
relations between jailors and jailed are OF
that cordial and friendly feeling that char
acterlzeS the Spanish race, and with their
prison garb on-eXcepting those of the low
est classes-are as much senor'd and
don q by their keepers as if they were free
CIt4HeilS III lHe streets. Josephine is merely
word that, when needed, is used in the
jail vocabulary. but which seldom requires
to be practically applied, so perfect is the
entente cordiale between the jailers and
their prisoners.
Comfort from the outside is often fur
nshed 20 the prisoners by visitors who
come to talk with their friends or relatives
through the grated DOORS and who relieve
tne monotony of the prisoners lives by
gifts OF fruits, cigars, cigarettes and other
commodities.
When the prisoners return from working
In the streets they are placed in line in the
entrance hall preceding the courtyard and
each member of the gang is searched for
concealed weapons and pieces of iron ar
steel. which are forbidden to be carried into
the jan. During this process, which takes
very niue time, the prisoner is compelled to
hit his hands on high, one of them holding
MS hat while in the other are various arti.
cles OF luxury, such as kerrings, fruits to-
bacco, cigars or cigarettes which tbav baya
purchased or have been given to them ont
side This operation is performed at noon
breakfast time and again at or ! o'clock
which is the dinner time
Food of the Prisoners.
The prisoners are fed three times a dav
their food being coffee in the mornina
which Is their breakfast Their dinner is
composed of a deep tin dish full of half
soup. half stew, composed of rice, beans
potatoes and meat mixed together In a6
dition, each prisoner is given a fonr-cent
lear OF fresh bread the quantity being
amply sufhcient to satisfy an ordinary an
peate. me evening meal is similar to the
midday meal but not quite so heavy.
As to clothes: When the suit which tho
prisoner wore when arrested is worn out he
is furnished with a Jail suit by the NUM-
cipality.
Many of the prisoners are better housed.
FED and clothed and better treated in the
opinion of the official making the report
than many poor. honest wretch who is
fighting outside for living by honest work
from early morning until late at night
The report does not say that the Maya
guez jail is true type of the jails else
where in the island; nor does it state that
the treatment of the prisoners and the
condition of the building are the same as
they were in the time of Spanish occupation.
On the other hand the official feels that
the present condition of things in the Jail
is due to the civilzing and order-giving
influence of American rule.
Danger of Excessive Kindness.
The report further states that if so much
material good has been accomplished, and
filth and oppression have been wiped out
in short order. it must not be forgotten that