The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-15

boy in Jail, and it was one of the most
deplorable sights l ever saw. The boy
had no employment, and sat there play
ing cards and loafing with hardened
criminals
Rev. Edward Fredenhagen added his
announcement of the present Jail sys-
tenn, saying he had seen some jails in
Kansas in such a condition that IF
healthy hog were put in them it would
have cholera in four days"
President Blackmar called attention to
the system in vogue in Colorado, where
boys and those who commit petty Of
fenses for the first time, instead of be-
ing confined in Jail and thrown into the
company of hardened criminals, are al
lowed to remain at home and go to
school or follow some employment, but
every week they required to report
to the judge who tried them. Sometimes
a boy will enter a court room while the
judge is hearing a case, but the judge
stops a moment while he is looking over
the boys report card, showing how
many days he has attended school and
his conduct.
Mrs. Diggs said that the influence of
women on Colorado politics had done
much to bring this about
A number of others expressed their
belief that this system should be adopt
ed in Kansas.
Edwin Snyder in making his report
on the condition of Kansas jails and
sion. among other things said:
THE jails thus far visited have been
found to be in very bad condition i'll
many ways
First, the buildings are poorly
adapted to the use for which they are
intended. They are mostly built of
stone or brick, and many of them are
poorly lighted and poorly ventilated,
and the first thing to greet the visitor
upon entering is a Stuffy, offensive
ifcaY-
ton of the room. The lockups of the
smaller towns are generally disgrace
to humanity. They are principally used
to hold drunks until they have recover
ed a state of Sobriety. Many of them
have only bunk hinged to the wall Of
the cell, and no other furniture what
ever. However, this is about all the
furniture a man carrying a heavy jag
has any use for, and an iron bed serves
him as good a purpose as the finest
mattress, and will certainly bear the
wear and tear of an hilarious occupant
much better.
Outside the cell is usually a coal
stove for heating the apartment. The
ventilation is usually by a single win
dow, and the floor is frequently found
covered an inch deep with coal ashes
and other litter, with no evidence of its
having been swept out for months.
THE city jails of the larger towns are
usually very well kept. as jails go. While
there is much room for Improvement,
they are usually kept fairly clean, and
the prisoners are made fairly comfort
able, and what is of the greatest i'm
portance, the prisoners are provided
with work While the rock pile is not
particularly elevating field of labor, it
is certainly better than enforced idle
ness
Mr. Snyder said that Leavenworth
especially has a well kept Jail.
The county jails that / have just
visited" he continued, 'are nearly all in
a deplorable condition; all are more
less filthy, and many infested with
vermin, which there seems to be no eff
fort to exterminate.
Nearly all are upon the same plan-a
steel cage inside stone or brick build
ing, with corridor about four feet wide
running around the cage. AS jail they
are unsafe. Very few that 1 have viS-
tied do not show a place where some
prisoner, tiring of public hospitality. has
made his escape.
The beds are nearly all the samoan
IRON bunk, usually hinged to the wall,
and the only bedding consists of an ex-
Iremely dirty mattress and blanket
street a half hour without perceptibly
soiling it-indeed, if the street were
dusty 1t would purify it some, and
have seen blankets doing duty on bed
that looked like discarded horse blan-
ket 1t cannot be said of some of these
beds that the prisoner is the only tenant
they are like some of Colonel Mulberry
Sellers schemes: There's millions in
EN- No pillows of any kind, no sheet
ventilation always poor, sometimes ex-
ecrable, and sanitary condition exc
era BILE.
The average county Jail is disgrace
to civilization The prisoner by trans
crossing the law has forfeited his right
to liberty, but he has not forfeited his
right to humane treatment"
Mr.. Snyder said that to obtain better
conditions through the legislature is too
slew and he advised that appeals be
made direct to county commissioners,
mayors and city councils.
BLACKMAR ELECTED
Rev Edward F'redenhagen delivered
an address on the Redemption of the
Criminal" in which he emphasized the