The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-03-14
Several important Changes Recon-"
mended for Institution.
SUGGEST A PROSECUTION
For the Warden Claiming That State
Property Had Been Used for
Private Purposes.

Chairman Stevenson of the senate
committee have presented, on be-
half of the joint committee, the
report on the investigation of the
penitentiary. 1t follows:
"To the legislature of the State
of Idaho: Your joint committee
on state affairs and federal relations
beg leave to report that they made
thorough investigation Of the
present needs of the State. peniten-
tiary and found that a number Of
improvements should be made, and
believing that the warden would be
the best posted on the lines of inn
provements required we requested
him to make out a statement of
same which is submitted herewith.
eve believe, however, that the
policy of the State regarding its
State charges there, should be
changed. The prisoners are, to a
great extent, kept in idleness. This
in conducive to state of insubor-
dination. The record of the prison
shows, that those who are kept the
busiest are also the best behaved.
Some provisions should be made
whereby these convicts could be
placed at some labor, so that at the
expiration of their sentences, each
would be able to support himself
by some trade.
"In providing this means of labor
we should, however, always bear
in mind the fact that it is not desir-
able to teach them such trades as
would come in direct competition
with any free labor in our State.
The work by them should be of
such nature that, while returning
to the State something for the keep
of the prisoners, it would not affect
the price of day labor. We would
recommend that the prisoners be
used to the fullest extent possible
on all State works, wherein they
would not come in competition with
free labor.
I The improvements as suggested
by Warden Perrin could in a great
measure be done by the convicts,
and the cost to the State be thereby
greatly reduced.
"We also recommend that the
convicts be employed for the pur-
pose of building a stone mansion
suitable for occupancy by the gov
errors of our State. We certainly
need State mansion very much.
The dignity of our State suffers
when compared with our sister
states in this respect, and we believe
the few thousand dollars needed for
this purpose would be well ex-
pended.
I'm the adoption of any system
Of labor at the State prison it might
be we'll to investigate the methods
IN vogue at other prisons. As an
illustration we might cite our sister
state, Washington, where they have
jute plant and make grain sacks
for sale to farmers in that state
only, at figure but a trihe above
cost of manufacture, thus furnish
ing a much needed article at a low
rate. Something similar might be
adopted here.
The policy of keeping our pris-
oners in idleness and being wholly
supported by the tax payers of our
State should be changed to one
wherein they would at least partial
ly support themselves.
1--WE also present you herewith
the evidence taken at the investiea-
ton held at the State prison, which
shows conclusively that State prom
erty was converted to private use
during the preceding administra-
ton. and the rules of the prison
were wantonly violated within the
prison walls by officers in CHARGE
thereof, and we would especia1Iv
recommend that the attorney gen
eral be instructed to begin criminal
proceedings against these who were
SO derelict in their duties to the