The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-17

each convict will be taken TO the we'll
equipped penitentiary baths in the base
ment. under the cell houses. where are ar
ranged rows OF porcelain-lined tubs and
showers.
A large building in which prisoners will
be required 10 cut and dress stone for peni-
tertiary purposes is shortly TO be erected
adjacent 10 the prison proper. This VIII be
q rooted structure with only one door for
entrance and exit; thus one guard viii be
able 10 prevent escape. New ~convfcts will
10 selected for special prison duties accord
ing 10 their previous experience. Thus II
tie warden discovers a newcomer 10 be a
cook he will be put 20 work in the kitchen.
Many convicts previously enlightened as to
tbs practice in penitentiaries purposely
claim some aptitude which cannot be made
ne Of by the warden. Locomotive en-
sineer" is a favorite profession for novices
TO claim. while there is record Of one con-
Wet who announced that ne was an aero
maui and qualified for no other work. Uncle
San is opposed to contract labor in his fed
eraI prisons. but has successfully employed
his c~onvicts as farmers. At Fort Leaven-
worth the penitentiary farm consists of 800
or 100 acres Of fine bottom land. This is
farmed for the maintenance Of the peni-
14E@ 60 go $500 go
excess Of prison demands are sold and the
proceeds turned into the national treasury.
Tie new Atlanta penitentiary will be
ultimately utilized for the confinement Of
al United States prisoners convicted in the
Southern States. There have been many
con plants made 10 the Department OF Jus
tice that prisoners shipped from the South
ern States TO Northern penitentiaries suf-
fer from the climatic change. Federal con-
victs from the Northern and Western
states will DC confined in the Fort Leaven-
worth penitentiary as soon as that is COM
picted. At Mcneil island. Washington
State. there is a third federal penitentiary,
built many years ago. This has a capacity
of only 100 and is utilized for the confne-
ment Of United States prisoners convicted
in Alaska and Washington.
BOARDING OUT" CONVICTS.
But now that Uncle Sam has completed
one big national hotel, where rooms and
board are free. and is fast bringing an even
larger Institution Of the kind to completion
the two having a joint capacity Of 1900
the old system OF boarding convicts out in
the State penitentiaries will be considerably
reduced. There are now about 5000 federal
convicts distributed about the country, but
even were every bunk of the Atlanta, Fort
Leavenworth and Mcneil island ~peniten-
tiaries filed there would still be about a
thousand convicts who would have to be
boarded in State prisons. However, the
Atlanta penitentiary has been built on lines
which will admit Of it's enlargement to as
great proportions as those of Fort Leaven-
worth, whenever Congress may see fit to
appropriate the money.
To board out his prisoners it costs Uncle
Sam all the way from 60 to IS cents per
man per day. and over 200 are now being
supported outside Of the federal peniten-
tiaries. These have been sent preferably
10 the penitentiaries Of the States in which
they have been convicted. Congress has
made the restriction that no federal con-
vet, wherever incarcerated, shall be en-
pioyed at contract labor; nevertheless
many United States c~onvicts beg to be al
lowed to work for the contractor in order
that they may earn the few cents overplus
given each day to those working extra
time With this pin money prisoners in
the state penitentiaries may purchase little
Injuries. contributing to their happiness.
Federal convicts in the state prisons are
subject to the local discipline. Thus two
men who commit precisely the same Of
tense may be subject TO entirely different
codes of discipline. depending upon the in
s~titution TO which they are sent. Thus
one may be subjected to the separate"
and the other to the doubling up" sys-
ten. One may be forced 10 maintain alb
solute silence during working hours and
the other may be permitted TO talk at will.
NEW "GOOD-TIME" LAW.
A new "good-time' law for federal pris-
oners has just gone into effect this summer.
Previously the reduction of a federal con
vict's term for good behavior depended
upon the practice i'm the state prison 10
which he was sent. Thus one Of our two
men taken above for Illustration might
have a year only reduced from his term.
while his brother in crime might be re-
lievcd of two. both having received the
maximum reward for good behavior. The
new "good-time' law for federal convicts.
wherever incarcerated gives five DAYS off
I'm each month for sentences between six
months and one year; one 10 three years.
six days off per month: three 10 five wears
sewn days off each month; five to ten
years. eight days; ten years or over. ten
days.
Probably the next federal penal reform
will be the adoption OF the parole system.
under which certain prisoners will be al
lowed 10 leave the penitentiary and to live
at home under certain restrictions until
their terms expire.
There are about nifty Federal life con-
victs now serving sentence. Each of these
lives in the hope Of pardon, and the De-
partment OF Justice is continually in re-
ceirt OF petitions for mercy. Photographs
sho wing results OF disease are sometimes
sent. and In one recent case an unfortunate
obtained a specimen from a hospital which
b submitted as proof OF his own pretended
disc ase.
The law as to the execution of Federal
convicts is uniform Hanging is the only
legal death which a capital offender against
the United States proper can suffer. Thus
a Federal hanging. when necessary. takes
place even in a State where capital punish
ment is abolished or where electrocution
has been adopted. Twelve years ago a
United States prisoner was sentenced 70
hang in Omaha. although capital punish
meat had been previously abolished in
Nebraska The government had pur-
chased ground for a postoffice, and there
being 10 gallows owned by the State. the
prisoner was hanged in one corner OF that
ground on an improvised scaffold. Federal
capital offenders are generally executed in