The Lexington advertiser., 1906-01-18
MAKE PRISON A HOME
OFFENDERS RECEIVE EXCEED
INGLY LIGHT PUNISHMENT.
Even the Food of the Convicts Is Far
Above That in Many Homes
Wastsfulness Is Barred
Men Well Treated.

Washington.-There is nothing in.
human in the treatment of United
States prisoners in the penitentiaries
and jails belonging to the government.
Punishment is far lighter than most
men think 1t ought to be, and IL a pris.
oner halfway behaves himself he is
better cared for and more kindly treat
ed than he would be outslue the great
stone walls.
Despite the fact that the average
cost day to feed prisoner at Fort
Leavenworth Is III cents and at Atlanta
prison IL cents, the daily bill OF fare
is far above that found in many thou
sands of homes in every state in the
country. 1t equals that of the average
workingman's home. The cheapness is
due wholly to the fact that the gov
ernment raises much Of its own vege-
tables and some of its meat and that
the work is all done by prisoners.
On June "a, 1905, the breakfast at
the Atlanta penitentiary, where 35S
men were confined for various offenses,
consisted of bologna sausage, potatoes.
bread, butter and coffee; for dinner
the bill of fare was soup beef, pota-
toes, wheat bread. ice water. and for
supper II was bread butter and coffee.
But for the milk and vegetables raised
on the farm the cost would have ex-
ceeded II cents a prisoner on that day.
On June % the bill of fare at each
meal was as follows: Breakfast, oat-
meal, milk and sugar, bread, butter,
coffee, dinner, salt pork, potatoes. to-
matoes, wheat bread, ice water; sup
per, liver, bread butter, coffee. All
kinds of meats are used during each
month and the attempt is made to
have the bill of fare vary as much as
possible.
No prisoner Is prevented from get
ting as much as he wants. All pris-
oners are seated in one dining nall.
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 OBJ
served during the meal. Staring at
visitors, talking or laughing or gazing
about are forbidden. Eating or drink
ing before or after the bell sounds,
using vinegar in the drinking water or
putting meat on the table are prohib-
lted. man who wants more food
makes his wants known to the many
wAitnrg nv giunu1Sif III
up the right hand; II coffee or water.
holding up a cup; II meat, fork; IL
soup, spoon; If vegetables, a knife.
III 1t Is necessary to speak to an officer
about the food or service the left hand
Is held up and the officer goes forward
and listens to what is said.
Wastefulness in food Is prohibited,
and prisoner is required to prevent
the waiter placing more food on his
plate than he can eat. At the conclu
sion 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.
SO long as a convict has a good rec
ora ana obeys the rules he Is entitled
10 one ration Of chewing and smoking
tobacco each week, sufficient to last
him all week; to permission to write |
once In two weeks; to see friends once |
IN four weeks; to receive newspapers
magazines, books, etc, as may be an
proved by the warden; to receive fam
ly photographs, combs, brushes, pow.
Ter, soap, tooth brushes and other
'mall articles One of the first pun-
shmets for disobedience of rules is n
'eprimand. The next is the loss of the
obacco privilege; the third. loss of the
etter privilege; fourth, loss of good
lme; NTH, Imprisonment in solitary
onhnement on restricted diet. sixth
Imprisonment in solitary confinement
m restricted diet, handcuffed to the
Ioori seventh, reduction In grade.
ighth' reduction to stripes; ninth loss
# all good time.