The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-02-22
PRISON WORK.


lighter work at times, which could be
given for good behavior there would
undoubtedly be a great incentive to be-
have we'll What we need however is
an entire remodeling of the prison sys-
tenn, and the separation of the more
serious criminals from those who are in
for light offences.
1t is no use complaining about our
officials in the matter The condition of
the prison system rests upon the legis-
lature for several years back, not upon
the officials. They have had to do the
best they could with the means at their
command. Prison Inspectors, Wardens,
Attorneys General, and Marshals and
Sheriffs have all made their protest
against this condition of things, but
they might have saved themselves the
trouble of making their protests or the
labor of writing them. Legislatures
have far more important matters to
consider than prison reform.
Warden Henry has a plan for estab-
fishing a jute mill in connection with
the prison, so that prison labor can be
utilized for the manufacture of sugar
bags The idea is not bad one. The
Star has been ever averse to prisoners
being used on the public roads, and ex-
hibited as it were to every chance pass
err by.
| To the thoroughly depraved there is
no punishment in being paraded
through the streets. Indeed the hustle
and change is pleasant and there is al
ways the opportunity for tobacco and
other little luxuries being passed by
pals in spite of the vigilance Of the
guards
On the other hand to the man in for
first time the man who has made a
mistake and has an earnest hope that
he will get a chance to reform, the
parading him through the streets is a
cruel piece of torture. Moreover it has
a hardening effect upon him. One has
only to study for a while the different
individuals in a prison gang to see the
truth of what is here set fort
The Star has ever been in favor of a
farm for men who are in for light often
ces. A farm gives healthy and useful
labor, moreover it supplies a diversity
of labor. Men who come in and are
utterly run down, can be put to work
which is not overburdening to them
ana which viii eventually build them
up. 1t is the regeneration of the prison
er that we are looking to- more than the
punishment If we only want punish
ment let us get to the sulphur mines
of Iceland, so graphically told by Hall
Caine in the "Bondman " or the days of
galley slaves or the miseries of the
stone quarries Of Syracuse, or any other
Of the many instances of human misery
which could be cited.
But it is not this that we aim at. We
do aim at regeneration. Our wardens
have ever been kindly and worthy peo-
pie. our Prison Inspectors have been
men of the highest character, and every
one connected with the management Of
our prison has been earnest in doing as
much good, as the system would allow.
Still all confess it is not satisfactory
and this because the building and the
system is superannuated.
One must quote once more from War
den Low upon this subject He was
quoted in The Star a wv days ago
and it is worth while to quote him
again, because his report fan uEon deaf
ears, as others will fall uni SIS tho sub
ject is thoroughly and earnestly taken
up. In his report of 1896 Warden Low
said:
Some of the conditions of our sys-
TEN which has been continually except
ed to by persons experienced and versed
in prison discipline and reform who
have visited this prison, have often
been cause for study and thought on
my part.
when told that this is the Prison or
Penitentary of the Islands, they ask
Why are not all of the long term
prisoners sentenced to Prison Servitude
confined here under the direct supervi-
sion Of your Board of Prison Inspec-
tors? and What is the reason Cor as
sociating and cOnsigning short term
prisoners convicted for first offenses
and especially petty misdemeanor Of
lenses with the long term prisoners con-
yicted for criminal offenses without any
distinct separation"
while the laws of the country and
prison rules are arranged and wCrded
with the object of the reformation as
well as the discipline OF the prisoners
heretofore but little thought has been
given the subject and much less care
hence as corrective institute this
Prison is indeed most Intellectual.
The Prison premises and our system
Of work are the causes for complaint in
this respect the premises do not allow
of classification by separation of the
general association i'm congregation as
is practiced i'm all of the most success
tul correctional Institutes and prisons
Of other countries
"rhe general prison accommodations
here are such that the deprivations are
not oppressive, the change from the
outside life of the prisoner if anything,
is improved
10y this l do not wish you to under
stand that | am opposed to prison COM
forts, but on the contrary / would like
the cellular accommodation to be more
pheasant, but the liberties which pri-
soners enjoy to be more restrictive.
Inn, g,r