Evening star., 1900-04-25

all the penal, reformatory, and eleenosyn-
ary institutions in each should be under the
supervision of a central office.
Eleventh. The adoption of laws embracing
the above principles has been retarced by
the prevailing industrial, economic, social
and climatic conditions in many of the
states. These conditions are so diversified.
and the industrial, moral and educational
possibilities of the prison population diher
so widely in the several states that the
commission is of the opinion that it Is i'm
practicable for all of them to adopt uni
form law for the employment OF prisoners
that would be identical in all OF its pro
visions. The necessity for uniform legtsla-
ton is, however, fully realized 1t is the
only permanent remedy for the abuses that
exist under the systems now prevailing, ana
for the abatement of competition with free
labor.
The commission accordingly submits the
following general provisions of law mainly
from the New York statute, which are Ill
harmony with the above conclusions, and
recommends that all, or such Of them as
may be possible, shall be embodied IN the
laws of the different states. with such addi-
tional provisions as to management as may
be necessary to meet the prevailing social
conditions:
Proposed Provisions of Laws.
Within ten days after the passage of this
act the governor by and with the advice
four persons who shall be commissioners
for the purpose of this act, to be called
commissioners of prisons, who shall con-
stitute the state commission of prisons
One of the persons SO appointed snail hoio
office for one year, one for two years, one
for three years, one Tor tour years, as IN
dicated by the governor on making the
nominations, and all nominations there
after, except to fill vacancies. shall be made
for four years; said commission shall have
power to make and use an official seal ana
alter the same at pleasure.
1t shall be the duty of said commission TO
visit and inspect all institutions used for
the detention Of sane adults charged with
nesses or debtors; to aid in securing the
Just, humane and economic administration
of all said institutions subject to Its in
spection; to aid in securing the erection OF
suitable buildings for the accommodation OF
the inmates of such institutions and to ap-
prove or reject plans for their construction
improvement; to investigate the man
agement OF all Institutions made subject to
the investigation of said commission and
the conduct and efficiency of the officers or
persons charged with their management;
to secure the best sanitary conditions of the
buildings and grounds of all such inStltu-
tions and to protect and preserve The
health of the inmates: to collect statistical
Information in respect to the property, re-
ceipts and expenditures of said institution,
the number and condition of the inmates
thereof, and to ascertain and recommend
such system of employing said inmates as
may, in the opinion of said commission, he
for the best interest of the public.
The proper authorities shall provide for
and assign to such commission suitably fur
nshed rooms for it's office and Its place Of
meeting at the state capital, where 1t Shall
hold its meetings as often as once in three
months.
The said commission shall annually elect
one of its members as the president OF the
commission, and shall also annually elect
W ho shall keen record of all
Of its proceedings and perform such duties
may be required of him by the commits
sion and by law, and he shall receive 4
salary Of - per annum: and said COM
mission may also appoint as employees and
assistants of said commission and of the
commissioners, in the performance of their
offcial duties. clerk at an annual salary
Of -, a general office assistant at an
annual salary of -. and remove each
and appoint a successor at any time; and
the said commission is authorized to make
the transaction of its business and also as
to the manner in which reports to 1t shall
be made and all matters shall be presented
before it.
Inspection of InstitutiOns.
Said commission or any of said commits
sioners or its secretary, if authorized by it,
is authorized to visit and inspect any Of
said institutions subject to its visitations,
and may take and hear testimony or proofs
in relation to any matter before 1t or him
upon any visit, inspection eXaminati
made by such commission or member there
of, and the said commission or any mem
bers thereof shall have full access to per-
sons, grounds, buildings, books and papers
relating thereto, and may require from
the officers and persons in charge any in-
formation it or he may deem necessary N
the discharge of its or his duties. Said
commission may prepare regulations ac-
cording to which, and provide blanks and
forms upon which, such information shall
be furnished in a clear, uniform and prompt
mancer for the use of said commission.
Said commission shall make an annual re-
port to the legislature or to the governor
when the legislature is not in session, in
which 1t. shall give the results of its work
and such information as 1t deems proper
relating to said institutions, and its opin-
ions and conclusions relating to the same
The warden Of every prison, the superiu-
tendent or manager of every penitentiary
and keeper of every jail OF other institution
used for the detention of sane adults
charged with or convicted of crime or de-
tanned as witnesses or debtors shall on or
before the LIST day of November in each and
every year report to the state commission
of prisons the number of male and female
ing trial, the number convicted of
crime. the number detained as wit
nesses and as debtors in his custody
on the LIST day of October last past.
together with statistical exhibit of the
number of admissions. discharges and
deaths which. have occurred within the
past year, the nature of the charge, the
period Of detention or sentence and such
other facts and information as the COM
mission may require.
Any officer, superintendent, or employe