The weekly examiner., 1901-06-29
LABOR OF CONNECTS.
PLAN TO UTILIZE IT IN ARID REGION
 UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL.

UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL.
 Senator Dietrich of Nebraska Re-
 wives and Works Out an Idea Ad-
 vanced Some Years Ago by Western
 Labor Men-A Bill For Congress. . A Lincoln (Neb) correspondent writes:
 Federal control of penitentiaries, the parolling of the greater number of the energies ill constructing irrigation ditches and water reservoirs in the arid west are some of the changes which Senator Charles H. Dietrich of Nebraska will aim to bring about by introducing bill embracing all these features in the next congress. By his scheme he purposes to better the con- dition of the prisoners and at the same time make their labors useful to so- ciety.
 Recently he conferred with his col league, Senator J. H. Willard, and dis cussed the basic principles of the plan. Congressmen Elmer J. Burkett and David H. Mercer also were present, with two we'll known constitutional lawyers. Senator Dietrich made known his views on convict labor, and they were heartily indorsed by his col leagues. The attorneys failed to see any constitutional objections to his proposed course of action. AS a re- suit of the meeting Senator Dietrich hastened to Washington to work out the details of his scheme and draw up the bill. He will have the hearty support and cooperation of the re- mainder of the Nebraska delegation, who will try to secure additional aid from the representatives of the arid states.
 Senator Dietrich purposes to divide the United States into immense dis tricts. Tn each one of them federal prison will be maintained. To the fed eral prisons all convicts will be sent. The authorities at each penitentiary will be required to select all orderly, we'll behaved convicts for labor in the arid regions. These men are to be pro- vided with citizen clothing and taken to the scene of their labors, where they will be treated as ordinary workmen. Good conduct and efficient labor would, of course, greatly shorten the sentence. Besides, the men would be allowed a fair sum each month for their services. This would be saved and given to the prisoners when discharged.
 In this way the task of redeeming the barren lands in the western states ho aho oi<o1 11xy done by men who are now pining in confinement. A vast increase in wealth would result, contends the senator. The convict would be greatly benefited, be. cause the pure air, wholesome food and interesting labor would make his sur roundings better and more cheerful The tainted atmosphere of the prison, would be enumerated. Short term men and those whose criminal instincts are not prominently developed could labor together, and the worst feature of prison life, the dissemination Of criminal desires, would be eliminated.
 To guard the prisoners the idle troops and cavalry squads could be pressed into service. The district in which the convicts labor, according to the plan of Senator Dietrich, could be guarded by a strong picket line of sol diers. The latter would not come in contact with the convicts and could receive valuable training in actual out door service. Tn camp detailed record of each mans delinquencies would be kept. For pardons good prison conduct would be required. Senator Dietrich is confident that insurrections and at tempts at escape can be eliminated en- tirely.
 Skilled engineers and government ex- perts are depended upon by the sena- tor to outline the work. By careful selection the labor would be sufficient ly skilled to conduct the work.
 Senator Dietrich was first prompted to devise the scheme on Humanitarian grounds. Twenty-Five years ago he was working as a day laborer in the swamps of Arkansas and Mississippi. At that time the convict camp, with all it's terrors, was in vogue. The prisoners were compelled to do the most exhausting labor on a diet of bacon, corn bread and river water, with only few hours devoted to sleep and rest. Nearly all the convicts wore the ball and chain. The inhuman treat ment and loss of energy as we'll as the unsanitary conditions wildly im- pressed the future senator. From that time until the present he has never ceased to mediate on a plan for i'm proving prison conditions.
 According to his theory, confinement within prison walls detracts from the strength of mind and body. The moral atmosphere is tainted and contaminat- ing. There is no distinction made be- tween the most debased criminal and the man who erred through the strenu- ous pressure of unfortunate circum- stances. He maintains that out of the 33, ,OOO criminals in the United States 25,OOO are detained within the prison walls on account of the defects of the present system