The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-29

but Filipino court is fairly crimson with
its red tape and huge seals of wax. Our
Judge at San Isidro is a shrewd, well-eGu-
Gated man of forty-odd years. He is duly
impressed with the dignity of his position.
and is also properly cogniZant OF the
amount of his salary. but he has ridicu-
lously attired himself in American cloth
Ing.
He explained that he believed 1t to be
his duty to dress in such garments, since
he was now an integral part of the jul
dietary OF the great United States.
The various courts, civil and military.
native and American, are rapidly filling
the penal institutions throughout the archl-
pelago. Bilibid, the great Spanish prison
of Manila, is fairly bursting with dishon-
orably discharged soldiers and native Grim
inals Fortunately for our good name, the
latter class greatly predominates. Pan
eastman and Zamba1es each has its Carcei
Publica, and Nueya Ecija's prison is here
at San Isidro. In this latter place are con-
fined more than three hundred convicted
guerrillas, ladrones, ordinary indicators,
and nearly hundred OF the grist from the
various courts martial throughout the Dc
partment of Northern Luzon. 1t is the
provost court that however, tries the
greatest number of Offenders. These courts
are judge, jury, and layers all combined
in the person of enc army officer. The
limit of punishment by the provost court
is one years imprisonment at hard labor,
and. in addition fine OF 81. 600 (Mexican)
may be imposed. If the fine be not paid it
Is to be worked out a; a rate of one day s
labor for each so scents of the amount.
Thus it is seen that nearly seven years OF
incarceration may be awarded to Juan or
Pedro If they cut the telegraph line, or
commit assaults or rob friends or aliens
and have not the funds to pay off the
money part Of the sentence.
''The Carcel Publica OF Nueva Ecija, as
this prison is officially designated Is in
charge OF Major Alfred Reynolds. of tie
Twenty second Infantry. For guard and
overseers a company of the majors regi-
ment is available.
Hard Work in the Prisons.
Within the four brick walls, with
strong, grated windows, have been estab-
lished tailor shops, smithy, carpenter
shop. and the great kitchen for the pris-
oners. Work begins at $3.50 O'Clock, and
with an interrcission of one and one-half
hours at noon continues until $500 o'clock.
1t is work, too, and not a mere shufiling
pretence. Many of the prisoners have
sought to complain of the difference that
prevails in our methods and those that OBJ
tanned under the Spanish regime. They
say When the Spanish had prison here
they did not require the prisoners to labor
as do the Americans. Why do you not al
low us our feast and holy days?'
Already the prison has become terror
throughout the province. Rice and canned
salmon, with an occasional addition of
canned roast beef, while plentiful i'll
amount and quite identical in components
with the food of the common people, does
not seem jrviting fare on which to build
roads, dig deep drains through swamp
lands, or on which to do twelve hours
work day in the great rock quarries. No
prisoners Of war are confined in any of the
carcels. Man of that class are kept at the
various garrisoned points and are not put
at labor
1T is not difficult to see that confine-
ment is even more irksome to the ease
loving Fflipinos than to the American pris-
oners. Certainly it is a sad-eyed lot of
men that greets a visitor when he passes
through the heavy barred doors and enters
into the great whitewashed courtyard On
Sundays, when visitors are allowed to have
brief interviews with the prisoners, come
from all the province troops OF the women
and families of those confined. Many bear
little wicker baskets of mangoes; some
carry clean and stiffi- starcned shirts, or
perhaps a howl OF cooked fish or chicken.
half hour is the limit for visitors. and
most of that time is usually devoted by
the prisoner to the delicacies that have
been brought him. Then back he must 90
to the companionshiI Of his 100 fellows, an
tumble 'hombre, aid the wife and little
family are left to Dstter off down the dusty
streets to wait in a roadside cottage for
one more week to drag its tiresome length
around"