The Saint Paul globe., 1901-01-19
A PROPOSED TORTURE HOUSE.

A PROPOSED TORTURE HOUSE.
The situation which confronts the peo-
pie of this community in connection
with future provision for the safe-keep-
ing of prisoners is worthy sequel to the
transaction of forcing the jail proposal
to a premature completion. The G 10 b e,
as strenuously as it might, resisted the
schemes of the jail-builders at every
stage of their progress. 1t foresaw and
stated most of the embarrassments which
have since shown themselves; but the
gentlemen of the former board of county
commissioners were determined that their
pet project would be consummated be-
fore their terms expired; and the COM
munity IS now beginning to realize at
least some of the immediate conze-
Quences.
The project of putting the prisoners IN
the attic Of the court house involves an
act of public brutality. In the days of
thumb-screws and underground dungeons
no doubt the provision which is contem-
plated would be regarded as admirabl
in its way. 1t viii involve exquisite tor
ture Of the unhappy inmates, and the
ever-present possibility of a scourge Of
not possess a single element of fitness.
Insecure, insufferable during the heats
Of summer and incapable of proper ven
tilauon in winter. the place is cramped,
Ill
Patience and robust frame may sus-
tain the unfortunate prisoner who, being
held over to the grand jury during the
summer months, is unable to secure bail,
and is accordingly compelled to maintain
life in such a place for number of
weeks; but God alone can furnish re-
lief from the torture which will be i'm
posed on any unfortunate who is sent to
such a place cf detention While in in
secure health.
The space which is thus designed to
be utilized can readily be made available
for other purposes. Departments like
the board of education and the city
physicians office, which are now pay
of the quarters they occupy, might find
suitable quarters there; but the thought
OF establishing there a temporary Jail
carries with it. in addition 10 its other
drawbacks, the condemnation of tho
entire top floor of the court house build
ing. since it would involve an outrage
on the general public to compel it to
transact any of its business in the I'M
mediate vicinity of the city lock up.
If the place could be thrown oren to
public inspection for one week there
would be a popular uprising among all
classes of humane people at the very
thought of torturing city criminals and
unfortunates by putting them in such
place. The utter improvidence and in
decent haste which chara acterized the
new jail scheme have put the community
in a very difficult situation Provision
must be made for the temporary deten-
tion of criminals. Since that haste and
improvidence did not permit the pro-
jectors of the new Jail to make any pro-
oners, every effort being strained to
consummate the undertaking before the
change in officials took place at the be-
ginning Of the year, we must not now,
on any theory of small economy, add
crime to public improvidence
1t is no part of the duty of the
G 10 b e to suggest to the wise men Of
the old or the new board of county
commissioners the way out of their preg-
ent hobble. But it is the duty of every
public journal, as it is that of every
thoughtful citizen familiar with the cir
cumstances, to denounce and to continue
denouncing the shameful proposal To
house city prisoners, as it is contemnlnt-
ed to house them, in the court house
attic.