The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-23

suit is q saving Of money and increase Of
power. 80 much for electricity.
The reform most needed is the proposed
addition to the upper end Of the prison Of a
wing containing 800 steel cells 5xS feet in
dimensions. fitted up with modern convent
Warden Addison johnson. now In charge OF
Sing Sing. like State Superintendent Collins
Is a man of ideas. Having served In various
public capacities, and been Sheriff of West
chester County. he learned much Of Grim
inals and human nature as II appears In
prisons. and so is practical as well as pro-
In search Of information he has visited all
the principal prisons Of the United States
and read the books throwing most light on
the great problem of how to deal with crfm-
finals. 1t was instructive to hear his views
on the subject. He believes in the accepted
modern system that criminals should be re-
formed. not brutalized. Under the best treat
ment the average convict is bad enough.
The first step toward reforming ~convicts
Is to have proper buildings for their con,
finement. with steel cells. larger. lighter and
better ventilated than any known thirty
years ago. There shoul never be more than
one prisoner in a cell-never the old-tims
system Of doubling up-as was the case In
into LOO cells.
Il fully agree with State Superintendent
Collins" said Warden Johnson yesterday.
that q permanent dentist and an oculist
should be appointed to each prison to give
immediate attention to patients when need
ed How can We expect prisoners to be In
in the torture Of toothache or injured eyes!
Discipline Il everything.
THE modern prison Is now supposed to be
an institution for the reformation of the
convict, to teach him to control his temper.
But for the lack Of this a larger part of the
crimes would never have been committed.
Take proper care of your men. keep them
cure far better results and achieve the end
desired by the law and the State"
Great changes have come to Sing Sing
contract labor through the demands Of the
workingmen and their trade unions. For a
time IT seemed almost q crime to deprive
prisoners Of the healthful influence OF I'm
dustry to quiet mind n body. But plenty
Of legitimate work was soon found fol
them to do without competing with free
outside labor.
Warden Johnson said yesterday: II can
keep the men well employed improving the
grounds and buildings. and making the
place healthful. respectable and attractive.
work to be done at once. and set the men
to laying out walks, grading and pavine
the yards. making lawns planting flowers.
painting tho b~uildings-aii necessary and
Of great advantage to the prisoners and
the Institution.
Then. q large number Of men are kept
busy IN the shops. making knit goods. boots
ana shoes. brooms. mating. furniture, sash,
doors and blinds. brushes and mattresses,
besides doing a vast amount of manu-
boSu dS cIAtlOIISIy, DIIuIlnR anu
stone cutting. which. Of course, being ex-
jected to by the labor organizations"
.b we ennvi IN a h.s s ! , sTdnches Of indgstry
den johnson said that. as a rule. good and
capable mechanics were seldom known In
You can ind plenty Of expert bookkeep.
ers. writer's. .penmen. forsers and the like.
but seldom does the list go beyond that.
know Of only ive or six good mechanics
We have had some fine wood carvers and
pretty good house painters and decorators,
yet few high-class artists. Competent, hard.
ings. are too busy, too much ensrossed tc
commit crimes and drift into prison. II you
want expert penmen. forgefs. writer's of ro-
c %anf fnS % p1snfS =, an; ,psm o: a. s,I nlas ssr you
good mechanics seldom or never"
In q most interesting interview that IA
nous veteran prison ofncial.. P. K. Con
and nov the superintendent Of Sing Sing
said that the most remarkable change NJ
has observed during his long experiences
does s.' Of 'I s%ensy years o. s sce p IN those assp ssn,
the worst OF the convicts were like say.
ages. numerous. and always on the watch
seldom heard OF. An entirely different class
OF men has taken their place.
Has not q change In the severity Of thu
punishments something to do with IT." ]
Yes, I think Il has"
Then Mr.. Connaughton went on to speal
Of the punishmeuts Of other days-when re
leased prisoners told the newspapers AMI
their friends Of the terrors Of Sing 6ing-oi
the shower bath. where q man was showed
into an iron cylfnder. locked in and par
aiyzed into a nightmare Of torture BY q
~thunderbolt Of water shot from aloft beat
Ing upon his head: OF the padding system
another horrible form OF prison discipline
also the Spanish custom Of suspending .
man from hookA his weight supported b.
flesh, dislocating the joints. turning III
black In the face until paralysis came. Al
these barbarie methods OF alleged punish.
were admitted yesterday e ave ex1ssed
q Warden johnson sad that the chang.
70 ths present humane Detho6D aee&uutej
See H. disaloeennee 8 - Uume1nk