The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-01-02
COMMITTEE FAVOR
NEW REFORMATORY
RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO The Pen
" Hkid Modify Punishmcnts, Provide
Uniforms for Women Prisoners
and Increase Jute Output.

Mead mas received Tue HiSt ui"tt y
the report of the committee appoint
ed by him to investigate conditions
at the state penitentiary at Walla
Walla. The full report, signed by
all the members of the committee
will be rendered in few days
Among the recommendations when
the committee will offer for the CON
sideration of the Legislature are the
following:
believing that the welfare OF the
prisoners. moral and physical, would
he promoted. the warden ana OIL
GERS aided and encouraged ana lhe
community in general aroused 10
greater interest in matters so vital
TO the state. we suggest that you
recommend a law authorizing the
apopintment of an advisory boar1
Of visitors. composed of represents
five men whose professional educa-
tion or occupation best fits them tof
snch appointment. The members OF
such board should serve without
compensation except for actual rat
road fare, at the rate OF cents per
mile.
"In the state penitentiary, locat
ed at Walla Walla are confined nor
than 500 criminals of all classes
beginners in crime are forced to as
sociate with old and hardened OF,
tenders. That the reformation OF
many beginners is rendered Well
nigh impossible by this demoraiA
ing influence is beyond dispute. ow-
ING to construction of building ana
mode Of employment at the state
nenitentiary, it is almost Impossible
10 separate and class the men lncar-
cerated there.
"The method of the institution to
care for the criminals from 10 to 20
wears to separate first Offenders
from associating with hardened
criminals to afford the best ana
most modern methods of reforming
the young offenders. has long been
felt in our state AS it is II the
criminal is too old to be sent 10 the
industrial school at Chehalls, ne
must go to the penitentiary, where
he is thrown into constant assocla-
ton with those who have mao
crime their avocation.
1--WE. Your committee. therefore
recommend the enactment of such
legislation as may be necessary e
accomplish this. and We further rec
ommend that such an institution Dc
located on the west side OF tins
mountains: that said institution be
so equipped that convict Offenders
may be taught the literary branches
moral effects trades and proper ply
steal branches.
"a further subject would be tc
locate this intermediate prison on q
section or tract of land now owned
bv the state. whereby, if possible
the young offenders might be KEEP
employed on the farm or otherwise
with the idea in view of making the
institution self-supporting. Then
when they leave the institution, they
are equipped with a trade, by means
of which they can earn living. Thl;
way the state could not make ar
investment which would produce
better returns.
'With reference to the revolving
fund. which constitutes, as is vel
known. the manufacturing revenues
OF the state penitentiary, We. your
committee. would respectfully rec
ommend that 1t be made a revolvinE
fund in fact. and not in dubious des
i ignation, as ii may now be account
ed.
'.Under the custom at present il
Vogue. the proceeds of the jute mil
and brick yard are transmitted
monthly to the state treasurer, who
IS We understand it. under former
uling of the attorney general,
plds them subject to disbursement
bely at the discretion OF the legis
live assembly. Thus they arr
thdravn from utility in behalf o
e penitAntiarv, a proceeding mani
kstly unfair, seeing that a proper
0n Of the remittanees represents
ofits earned by prison labor. II
u Of such regulation, therefore
hieh necessarily carries in its walk
any and obvious embarrassments
/ would respectfully reeommen,
at sum be appropriated by thu
xt legislature adequate in amour
operate the inte mill from yea
year and so legalized under the
hates as to be rendered accessible
the state board of control or thu
perintendent Of the institution.
Fin our Judgment the prison
build be SO managed that the in
ktes should be required to labor in
striously toward their own keep
II thereby lessen the burden from
shoulders OF the taxpayers o.
common wealth
In order to make this report o
IT, committee more easily grasped
append herewith a summary o
y recommendations which WI
te seen fit To make. trusting tina
Nese mav have been so stated il
report as to be easily referred
gst separation of the EN-
ploaAt,(rom the convicts, as far a.
4r. seeo Modification Of the ex
cue s ION Of punishment known
third vii service for the EN-
piogment OF Wards and employees
NFourth-Ihrease in salaries
along the entirt line
"Fifth-Unifofus for women pris
oners.
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