The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-24
UNITED STATES PRISONERS.
Rewards and Puni-hment- Provided
on system by Inspectors.
From the Washington Star.

From the Washington Star.
The department % justice By reason Of
the fact that il has control Of all the pris-
orers Of the United States. has on ice
rolls "a number OF prison inspectors. These
officers make regular visits 10 ali prisons
where prisoners Of the federal govern
ment are confined. They investigate the
treatment OF the federal prisoners. tho
food they receive. their clothing. etc. An
informal understanding the department
mas is that its prisoners shall not be sub
iected 10 corporal punishment. This fact
led 40 a discussion recently OF the man
agement OF the Elmiu reformatory ot
New York 50 long under the management
OF Supt Brockway Mr.. Brockway hal
been using the laeh IN trying TO induce
better behavior. and the department had
a long correspondence with him.
"Rrockway was one of che greatest
prison managers In the United States"
said one Of the prison inspectors. and
make the prediction that the Eimira re-
formatory will never be the same thing
again II was under him. He knew more
about convicts than any man In the world
and could manage them better, despite the
attacks made on him. BroclCway used 70
have three classes OF prisoners In his in
stitution The classes were made for
the reward or punishment OF prisoners
The first class consisted OF well-behaved
prisoners They did not reach that class
until their records warranted Il. When
shey did so they were entitled to wear
blue suits. much resembling the uniform
OF naval officer. The uniforms were
really pretty The men were also enti-
tied 10 many privileges. They ate az
table Of their own. had nice plates and
table ware. with white linen, and many
things 90 make their surroundings attrac-
tive. The second class consisted 81 pris-
oners who might be termed probatloners
They wore a gray uniform OF not az good
material as the FIRST class men. and hal
a portion OF the privileges and pleas-
ures OF the first class. The second class
was made up Of The main body OF the
prison The third class was made up Of
had fellowE-those OF bad behavior. mean.
They had 70 dress IN q scarlet uniform
the cloth being red enough 20 be seen
long distance. They ate out OF plates
that had been cracked and misused by the
nrst class men. and on cheap tables 10
themselves There was no linen on their
tables and they were known 10 other
prisoners as the Holsters" on account
Of their bright uniforms. They were gen
orally called Holsters by all the others
and The punishment was severe. II was a
frequent occurrence for federal prisoners
20 come to me and ask TO b. taken out
81 his class Brockway had many other
methods that showed him 20 be great
prison manager
u have found that the best managed
prisons In the United States are those
where the prisoners are well fed. II IL
the old story OF mans stomach. Sat
isfy that and the man is satisfied. This
is especially the case with cOnvicts. Their
mental development Il not such a. 10 give
them mental worry and 80 the physical
are the greatest troubles they have The
West Virginia penitentiary NJ Mounds
willie Is the best In the country In this re-
spect. when l 40 there aud call upon
the United states prisoners they have no
complaints 20 make Almost without ex-
ception there n no fault to find The food
IS carefully prepared ana Sc abundant
they say. But many other prisons are not
they way. The food o. such as 20 cause
dissstiFfactlou and the men are ALWAYS
complaining Of hl-trcatmcnt and lack OF
proper food. Some prisons really give
the men s.arceiy enough to Mva>,u and
then punish them severely when they
complain.
The warden OF the Fort Leavenworth
penitentlary. formerly the warden Of Jo-
liet. never uses a whip on convlcts He
II an advocate Of solitary confinement as
a last resort In punishment bod man
will b. put IN room removed from other
rooms. where there is nothing or nobody
to be seen or talked with Ills food will
be bread and water lie generally gets
tho worst OF the bargain in a few days
aud Is then conquered" 4