The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-03-16
PENITENTIARY INQUIRY
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE MAKING
STUDY OF PENAL INSTITUTIONS.
Interesting Testimony OF Officials as TO
Management, Correct Methods,
Reform, Etc.

Huntsville. Texas, March lj.-Ine leEis-
l.tlyc committee OF Investigation hogan III
earnest rpon the penitcatiary today. Cap
tin J. g.. Smither, assistant superintend'
emf In charge Of huntsville prison, aud
Captain Jcn Kelley, the undcrkecper OF
tine same prison, we're placed on the stand
ana questioned under oath with regard to
Tho handling Of the conyicts Immediately IN
iheir charge and also asked to tell what
they know Of tue management OF the PEN
tontlury In general aud to give their IDEAS
OF bow the system IN operation In the man
agcment OF the States penal institutions
con be hettered
Both Of these officials have been Ia the
convict bn~4utss Cor q number OF years,
bpyiug begun when the conyicis we're
;.a4cd to contractor, and continued therein
under state control Both OF them have
had unlimited experience with convicted
cr;umul, aud are cmnenty competent to
throw the Eind Of light the committee is
after on the matter in hand.
Asked to state how, In their opinion, the
penltrntlaricS in their present condition
compare with what they were in the past
they declared that they were much I'M
proycd. Ihcy told Of The religious ana edu-
catlouaI adjuncts of which huntsville prs
ON now cam boast and declared tlat these
aid materially iu maintaining usclpilhe'
'Thev described the hospital iacilltles Wh'ch'
according 10 tner testimony are up-lo'uate
and enable every care To be bestoWeu upon
the cunvicts la ease vi SICKNESS. nsS "a
n'nined that ten hours work per Gay Is
what il required of the conNlcls uhbet lhell
Immediate charge, and tcsthfd that hohe
of these convict. are driven or as iule,,
required 10 work more thau hali as haIu
"A. they would work for wages II Tree
V'Ih regard To the diapOsing of cdhNlcts
upou their receipt ttOW JAMS tap'9ln
| SiulfLer aud Captain Kelley ea'h testlheu
| thar an EFFORT Is made III every lhstahce
| tn ,sccrtaiu whether the prisoner mas
| trade and To put him TO wO AZ IL il posi-
| bic Whenever prisoners manifest ~
| sire. TO learn q trade a chance Is gwen theh
| to do su and " thrt are iouhu honest u
| tbair EXPRESSED purpose 10 acquire mnnua
| training that Will enable them to earn al
! honest living when they regain lhelr Tree
| dom they are assisted ana ehcouraseu
! that purpose, In this connection OaplaAl
| sn,ftber further testified that he knew
| a number Of instances whore men VINO nat
| learned trades Ia tie penitentiary had goh
ont and done well and perseyered IN hohoi
| able careers, ,.. o,t,ar
tisrles arc established aud maintained ioi
| q. utntn Kplicy said he understood the OF
iect Of IN FIR creation 10 he Tor the prote,
lion Of gOcicty ana the reformation OF Tin
! ratv t'grtaiu Smithcr expressed simlla
view and said that Il WAS his endcaVor !
civ. every Convict chaucr 70 get alont
Grcordiug IL his estimate, ont Of about ~
crnvicts under his charge. about f' ~
| a. ,ubie.ome white ihF other fH 50 anon
/ their business without over manifef'ing
disposition 10 DO anything but behave lhc'i
selves 4 Largo proportion ~ the men
the penitentiary he said, get there - n y
suit Of a single crime, Often committed