Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-07-09

plank. 1t is not uncommon TO find
number of prisoners cougregated in
one room where they are allowed TO
read dime novels, play cards, and
smoke at Will. Because of the univer-
sally bad condition of these places, the
board OF control deems il advisable 10
issue this circular, recommending that
the persons in charge OF them take inn
mediate steps 10 relieve such deplor-
able condition. The board suggests
that improvements be made as fol,
lows:
That sufficient windows or openings
be provided in the walls OF the jails or
other prisons to admit the necessary
light and allow proper ventilation; that
the cell rooms and cells be thoroughly
cleaned and kept SO. and that they be
Irepaiuted whenever necessary: that
the keeper of each prison shall keep
such prison constantly elan and health
full, and, as far as may be, the persons
and clothing of the inmates also as re-
quired by Section 1850 of the statutes
of 1898; that provision be made for a
room TO keep women prisoners, as pro,
vided by section 1852; that the neCes,
sary and proper plumbing for water
and lavatOrieS be provided, and that
the same be kept in clean and proper
working condition; that each cell be
provided with only one bed, to consist
either of prison bed or spring fast
ened to the walls of the CELL and to be
| furnished with a proper mattress and
the necessary bed clothing as provided
by section 1854 and that each cell room
be supplied with the necessary stove
or other apparatus for heating, so that
the cells may be kept warm at all
times.
ut should always be borne in nina
that an inmate who is serving a regu-
lar sentence should be dealt with as a
prisoner, and that TO allow such in
mates to congregate, play cards. smoke
and read improper literature is highly
| Objectionable. 1t is further recon-
mended that each police officer keep
the same record of all persons arrested
by him and kept in any lookup or po-
! lice station, as is required by sub-divi-
sion of section 725 of said statutes to
be kept by sheriffs of prisoners com.
mitted to county jails, so that the board
of control may at once be appraised as
TO the number of people that may have
been kept in such place of detention at
any specified time. Officers in charge
of any of the places above mentioned
for the detention or confinement OF
persons charged with or convicted or
crime are earnestly requested to use
their best efforts to improve the condi-
ton thereof in accordance with the
above recommendations"
State Board in Session.
] The state board of control will meet
| in the capitol today to open bids for
the contracts for the labor of the pris-
and the state reformatory at Green
Bay. A number of bids have been re-
ceived and it is expected that the Of
! fers will be larger than was the case
! before, when all the bids were rejected
either because they were too low or
they did not offer a sufficiently large
variety of employment for the con-
victs
The board at the present meeting
will let a contract for the construction
Of large smoke stack at the hptne tor
the feeble minded at Chippewa Falls.
This has become necessary owing to
the large growth of the population OF
the institution and the fact that new
buildings have been erected there. The
stack will cost perhaps $4,000.
! The hoard also expects to let the
contract for the teas, coffees ann
spices for the state charitable and
penal institutions. This is let with
the option that the board may continue
it for two months or may prolong it
for six months, providing it so desire.
The contract carries some $4,000
worth of business when it runs for six
months.