, 1901-06-13
SENATOR DEITRICH'S PLAN.

Senator DIETRICH of Nebraska be-
lieves he has discovered a plan by
which the arid west may be largely
benefited. The plan is outlined by the
Kansas City Star as follows:
Senator Dietrich proposes to divide
the United States into districts, in
each one Of which a federal prison will
be maintained. To the federal prisons
all convicts will be sent The authori,
ties at each penitentiary will be re-
quired to select all orderly, well-be-
haved convicts for labor in the arid re.
gions. These men are to be provided
with citizens clothing and taken to the
scene of their labors, where they will
be treated as ordinary workmen. Good
conduct will shorten the length Of the
original sentence. Besides the prison.
ers will be allowed a fair monthly sun
for their services n the total amount
will be given them when they are dis.
charged. In this way the task of re-
deeming the barren lands in the west
ern states could be cheaply and eco
nomically lone by men who are now
pining in confinement. A vast increase
in wealth would result. contends the
senator. The convict would be great.
ly benefited because the pure air,
wholesome food and interesting labor
would make his surroundings more
cheerful. The demoralizing atmos.
phere Of the prison would be counter
acted. Short term men and those
whose criminal instincts are not rrom.
inently developed could labor together
nd the worst feature of prison life. the
dissemination of evil desires. would be
eliminated.
ITO 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 rarely come in
contact with the convicts and would,
he ays receive valuable training in
scouting. In camp a detailed record OF
the delinquencies of the convicts could
be kept. For %pardons, good prison rec
ords would be absolutely indispensable.
this method Instructions would be I'M
heard Of and attempts to escape would
be made rarely.
Civil engineers and government ex-
perts are relied on by the senator to
outline and direct the work By care
full selection the convicts would be suf-
ficiently skilled to perform all of the
labor required. He has devised no
method for determining in what sec
ton of the country the work would be
done, intrusting hat feature to the gov
ernment's civil engineering depart
ment.
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
its %terrors, was in vogue. The prison
ers were compelled to do the most ex.
hausting labor on a diet of bacon, corn.
bread and river water, with only a few
hours devoted to sleep and rest. Near
ly all the convicts wore the ball and
chain. The inhuman treatment and
loss Of energy, as well as the unsani-
tary conditions. wildly impressed the
future senator. From that time until
the present he has never ceased to
mediate on a plan for improving pris.
on conditions
According to this theory, confne-
ment within prison walls detracts from
the strength of.mind and body. The
moral atmosphere is tainted and con.
taminaidng. There is no distinction
made bStween the most debased GRIM
inal ant the man who erred through
81 .