The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-31
GIVE WARDEN FUND.
Committee Recommends That He
Have 5000 for Entertainment.

The senate committee on penal in
lstitutions, Senator U. S. Griffin chair
man. has returred from a visit to the
penitentiary at Lansing and made a
report to Lieutenant Governor Hanna
and the senate.
In the report the committee says
the members were received by
Warden Jewett in a most hospitable
manner and then further along in
the report the committee recommends
that the legislature appropriate $500
to be used by the warden in defraying
the expenses of entertaining legiS-
lative committees and other delega-
lions who go to the penitentiary on
business.
The report of the senate committee
also recomm endS that there be a bet
ter system of keeping account of the
coal shipped to the state institutions
that no more cars be lost in transit.
The report of the senate committee
is as follows:
Mr. Chairman=Your committee
on penal institutions visited the Kan
sas penitentiaTy on Wednesday, jan
uary Is, and were received by the
warden in a very courteous and hos
pitab bic manner
1--WE made as thorough an inspec-
ton of the buildings, machinery, Irvine
plant, brick plant. ETC., as was posi-
bic in the short time we were able to
spend at the institution. The needs
and requirements of the penitentiary
we discussed at length with the
warden and other officers We found
the prison clean and we'll kept and
very much improved in the last two
years in its general appearance We
are convinced from what we saw and
heard that the board of directors
Warden JeWett and the other officers
their power to make this one of the
best institutions of its kind in the
country.
1.-The women's building seems in
Der of inmates. but the foundation
has been laid for a new cell house.
which we think when completed will
make this department in keeping with
the rest of the buildings of the insti-
tuition.
1.-The Irvine plant seems to be in a
f1ourishing condition as noted in the
report of the warden and it is made
quate to supply the market with
Irvine, we would suggest that the
plant be increased as 1t needs. using
the funds which have already accrued
from the production of the Irvine
plant.
1.-THE growing need for buildings
and improvements in the various in
stitutions suggest to the committee
the possibility and necessity of enlarg-
especially recommend that an appro-
priation be made for adequate kilns
for the purpose of burning paving
brick to be used at the various insti-
tutions and places the state may
designate.
we found the library to be short in
the proper reading matter, the books
contained therein being old and worn
and fast becoming out of date. We
would recommend that reasonable ap-
preparation be made for supplying the
prison with additional reading matter.
Also, we would suggest that a range
be purchased for the kitchen room of
the penitentiary. so that the rations
prepared for the convicts may be
varied more than is possible now under
the existing conditions in the kitchen
This would necessitate an appropriation
of $500 at least for this purpose. We in
vestigated as far as possible the work.
ings of the indeterminate sentence law
passed by the legislature at its last ses-
sion, and found that the workings, as a
rule, have been satisfactory to those
who heve had 1t in clarke But in or
der to make it more efficient it is rec
commended that the governor appoint a
parole officer to more fully carry out the
purpose of this law. A bill along this
line has been prepared and will be be-
fore the senate for its consideration.
I'VE recommend that the sum of $500
be allowed the warden to help defray