Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-15

HT4 HERE Is nothing inhuman IN the
treatment of United States prison.
ers in the penitentiaries and Jafis
2 u belonging to the government. Pun
ishment is far lighter than most
men think It ought to be. and If a prisoner
half way behaves himself he Is better cared
for and more kindly treated than he would
be outside the great stone walls.
/ Despite the fact that the average cost per
day to feed a prisoner at Fort Leavenworth
is IL cents and at the Atlanta prison IL
cents, the daily bill OF fare Is far above
that found in many thousands OF homes IN
every state in the country. 1t equals that
Of the workingman's home. The cheapness
Is due wholly to the fact that the govern
ment raises much OF its own vegetables and
some of its meat, and that the work Is all
done by prisoners.
June p, 1906, the breakfast at the At
lanta penitentiary where 53S men were con-
fined for various ohenses. consisted of boz
( logna sausage, potatoes, bread, butter, cof-
fee. For dinner the bill of fare was soup,
beef potatoes, wheat bread, ice water and
for supper It was bread butter and coffee.
But for the milk and vegetables raised on
the farm the cost would have exceeded II
cents per prisoner on that day. June u
the bill OF fare at each meal was as follows:
Breakfast-Oatmeal, milk and sugar, bread,
butter, coffee. Dinner-Salt pork. potatoes,
tomatoes, wheat bread, Ice water Supper
Liver, bread butter, coffee. All kinds of
meat are used during each month. and tie
attempt is made to have the bill of fare
vary as much as possible.
r
The bills of fare at Fort Leavenworth,
where nearly LEO prisoners are confined;
at McNeilFs Island where there are about
130, and at the United States jails at Vim
tia, Arnore, South McAlester, Muscogee,
O ~ ITf-t l,
The four Jails in the Indian Territory feed
the inmates at about IL cents per day.
The penitentiary cook at Atlanta, as also
at Fort Leavenworth, is a salaried officer,
While all those under him are convicts ex-
cept the prison baker The cook receives
from the steward and storekeeper all pro-
visions for cooking in sufficient time to pre-
pare them thoroughly and one of the strict
provisions is that the food shall be care
fully prepared. He is required to reject any
food that is not wholesome. and he Is sus-
tanned when he does so. He is responsible
for the discipline IN the kitchen and must
see that 1t Is kept in the best sanitary con-
dition.
No prisoner entitled to food is prevented
from getting as much as he wants All
prisoners are seated in one dining hall
Their positions must be erect their arms
folded and their eyes to the front until
the signal is given to commence eating.
Strict silence must be observed during the
meal. Staring at visitors, talking or laugh
ing or gazing about are forbidden. Eating
or drinking before or after the bell sounds
using vinegar in the drinking water or put
ting meat on the table are prohibited
A man who wants more food makes his
wants known to the many walters by sig
nals-if bread, holding up the right hand.
II coffee or water, hold up cup; If meat
a fork; II soup, a spoon; IL vegetables a
knife If 1t is necessary to speak to an
officer about the food or service the left
hand is held up, and the officer goes for
ward and listens to what is said
Wastefulness in food is prohibited. and a
prisoner is required to prevent the waiter
placing more food on his plate than he can
eat AT the conclusion of the meal pieces
OF bread must be left on the left side of
the plate and knives, forks and spoons on
the right side.
When prisoner is admitted to a neni
tertiary he Is handed the printed rules and
regulations. He is informed that by OBJ
serving and obeying them he can make a
good record as a prisoner secure parole
and other privileges and the shortening of
his sentence
The first requirement is that a prisoner
shaIl obey the orders of officers without
reply or argument The next Is to be Quiet
everywhere and at all times There must
be no talking TO a fellow prisoner while in
lne or marching, at meals, in the chapel
or at work except when permission is given
Dy an oHlcer or guard. The same rules an
ply to free persons. Insolence, profanity
oDscehlty are not tolerated If man has