New-York tribune., 1903-01-31
4 FIRM FOR WONEN.
Prison Association Thinks 1t Of
Great Ref0rmdtiUc Pdlue.

The bill 10 establish institution. TO be known
as the State Farm for Women, as introduced on
Thursday by Assemblyman G. B. Clark at the re-
quest Of the Wouaan's Prison Association, OF this
city IS enthusiastically supported by all women
scouainted with existing conditions In urging the
Opening OF such place the prison association gives
some convincing data in its latest report During
The last wear an examination of the records OF the
WoIkhouse. Raymond Street Jail and the district
prisons has been made. with the result that OF l44
women arrested 30 were discovered with records
Of more than a hundred sentences each. and one
had reached the two hundred limit. Nearly six
hundred had d record OF upward Of fifty arrests
each
prisoners give a different alias for every arragn-
nlent that an accurate record cannot be obtained
TIE cost per capita at the w7orkhouse Is % cents
2 DAY. amounting S33 095 o. in 1901 for main
1ensnce. besides the cost OF each arrest The low
est possible estimate places this at s2 for arrest
arrsignrnent- and conviction For FOUNDERS" who
lock upon tEe workhouse and jail as convenient
lodging places. and get themselves arrested with
malice aforethought' the sum which such arrests
cost the taxpayer nears the hundred thousand dol
lar line and is a considerable in the yearly
budget One woman. for instance, in the Borough
of Brooklyn had had twerty-one sentences which
amounted only 1d days.
In view Of facts like these the Prison Association
urged detention for long periods for those who are
morally or mentally irresponsible shown by
inability 10 avoid arrest, and for FOUNDERS who
carefully court il. Such detention would be mani
festly Unwise as well as physically impossible at
Torkhouse district prison. In most Of these the
conditions neither educative corrective, and
even in the verkhouse the many who reach there
in an indescribable condition are scarcely bathed
and clothed when they return again to their low
dives and filthy lodging places State farm, on
the other hand, for those with record Of five or
more arrests year would furnish healthful occu-
patton and an opportunity to form habits Of indus
try and thrift
4 number Of prison officials who have held their
positions for many years, when questioned as 10
whether they had ever known OF a permanent
reformation resulting from present prison reg7lia-
tions. replied without exception in the negative.
This concludes the Prison Association, is ample
proof that the conditions not corrective, while
they arc many times more costly than would be
ltie penal farm
At Auburn Prison twenty women raise more than
enough fruit and vegetables TO supply 1890 prls-
oners.
Had the la. habituaI misdemeanants referred
been put work farm they could nave
raised all the vegetables consumed by our public
institutions and at the same time have stood a
fair chance Of regaining normal condition. physi-
cally and neutrality-suspicious. even morally, urges
-iise t4ilCe l.; NNVVo'i ~; - .+,tiC1
houses and prisons of New-York besides the three
- ate relormatorles and the Auburn State Prison
mas made careful STUDY OF the effect OF ouJdooT outdoor
considerations the curative and inspirational quail
worth the initial outlay involved. '''rne most vi
cous become subdued through vigorous exercise IN
M. open air, and the frailest become strong and
robust.
At present the women confined in tho prisons Of
Ney- ork have absolutely nothing with which TO
occupy their time. except the daily care OF the
cells dormitories, etc their OWE laundry work and
such assistance the prison caretakers may need
There are many hours of idleness and gossip that
cannot fai 10 have deleteTioUs effect upon those
already prone to dependence and vice.
Among other GYMS pointed out in the district
prison regime Miss Woodbridge lays especial ON
plass cl the working hours and salary of the
irons. hey duty very 1aF in the
year eNccpt a ten days vacation i'm summer.
curing Il respite Of Two Sundays month only by
working fsgtftfy-four consecutive hours the
naming StiuaaNS. They alternate between ten
hours oay ana fourteen nours nignj crty. and. Tor
DAY. Miss Wco, bridge thinks that the women
i8ETaycss should this matter up and see mat
women in tire city employ receive living wages and
sufficient firrc fof rccreator.
y 1eH ei the rencn interested IN the ASSOCIATION
arc-