The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-06-17
OFFICIAL CITY PAPER.
MONDAY, JUNE II. 1901.
ELEvATiNG THE PRISONERS.

Senator Deltr1cn OF NEBRASKA is IlS-
uring on a bill to control and parole
all the federal prisoners by utilizing
their labor in constructing irrigation
bitches and water res rvoirs in the
arid west.
His aim is to better the condition
of the prisoners, and at the same time
make their labors useful to socity.
Immediately before the newly-elect-
ed Nebraska senator left for Washing
ton he met his colleague, Senator J. H.
Willard, in Omaha and discussed the
basic principles of the plan. The two
republican congressman, Elmer J. Bir-
kett and David H. Mercer, were also
present, together with two lawyers.
Senator DIETRICH made known his
views on convict labor and they were
heartily approved by his colleagues.
The lawyers failed to see any serious
constitutional objection to his plan
AS result of the meeting Senator
DIETRICH fastened to Washington to
work out the details of his scheme and
draw up the bill.
Senator DIETRICH proposes to divide
the United States into immense dis
tricts. In 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
well-behaed convicts for labor in the
arid regions. 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 and efficient
labor will greatly shorten the SEN
tence. Besides the men will get a fair
sum each month for their services.
This will be saved and given to the
prisoners when discharged.
In this way the task of redeeming
the barren lands in the western states
could be cheaply and economically
done by men who are now pining in
confinement. A vast increase in
wealth would result, contends the
senator.
The convicts would be greatly bene
fitted because the pure air, wholesome
food and interesting labor would make
his surroundings better and more
cheerful. The effect of the tainted
atmosphere of the prison would be
counteracted. Short term men and
those whose criminal instincts are
not prominently developed could la
Dor together and the worst feature OF
prison life, the dissemination of Grim
inal ideas. 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 strong picket line OF
soldiers. The latter would not come
In contact with the convicts and could
receive valuable training in actual out
door service. For pardons, good pris
on conduct would be required. Sena
tor DIETRICH is confident that insurrec
lions and attempts at escape can be
eliminated almost entirely.
Civil engineers and government ex
perts are depended upon by the Sen
ator to outline the work. He proposes
that the work be apportioned anon,
the states by act Of congress or pri
vate agreement. Appropriation.
from the national treasury and con
tributions from the various states ar,
his sources of revenue for defravin,
the expenses Of the project.
Senator DIETRICH is a self-made ma,
and is now bank president, TWEEN
ty-dve years ago, while working in tn
Palmetto swamps of the south h.
conceived the project of alleviatin,
the lot of the c0nvicts. In the cor
vict camps Of that region the prise