Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-28

Warden New Jersey State Prison.
Of twenty men in the batch of prisoners
who had been inside the walls of the
New Jersey state prison before, although
one of them had served a term in the
pententiary at Moundsvlle, w. Va. They
had been given to understand something
about the reputation of the New Jersey
prison. however, and not one felt he was
to lie upon bed of roses during his term
of confinement.
The Trenton prison is not a strange
place to many Washington lawbreakers.
however for convicts have been sent
there before, a change in the place or
confinement having been made necessary
because of the crowded condition of the
prison. 1t Is said that the recent change
was made because of the difference in the
cost of transportation.
A Big Prison.
The prison in which District convicts
are to pay the penalty for their crimes
is composed of seven big wings, additions
to the old building having been made nee
essary from time to time as the popula-
ton increased. The daily average Of
prisoners last year was 1,24S.
The justices of the Supreme Court or
the District of Columbia the officials Of
the Department of Justice. the warden
Of the District Jail and members of civic
organizations are taking more than or
binary interest in the question OF prisons
at this time because Of the proposition
ito erect a penitentary here. In max
ing their Investigations they are looking
into the question of the cost of main
tenance and the general conduct and
treatment of prisoners in such lnstltu-
tons, and some of them believe that
the cost of maintenance here would be
about what 1t Is at Trenton, although
the feeding of the prisoners in their
eel 8 at Trenton is thought to MAKE the
cost about 20 per cent more than 1t would
be If they were fed in a dining room.
Warden Osborne has recommended Nhe
appropriation Of money for the erection OF
such a building and hopes the legislature
will act favorably upon the recommended
ton.
The net cost of maintaining the prison
last year Is given by Warden Osborne
as SILT, 021.1 IA.
Cost Per Capita.
Were the prisoners unemployed. the
warden states, the cost per capita per
annum would be $171 .31, or about Al cents
day. Men employed in the several
shops at the prison last year averaged
1873 daily. and their earnings amounted
to ss7, 1868. only about 50 per cent of
the prisoners having been available for
remunerative work. The state law limits
the number Of men employed in the va
rious shops, and the work of the institu-
ton has to be performed by convicts. A
number of the conV1ctS are crlppleS or are
otherwise incapac1tated for work. Under
the law the men are employed under
what is known as the pIece-prtce system
in the manufacture of mats and mating,
trousers and Wristbands. shoes, brushes
and blocks shirts, handkerchief and
brooms. Under the piece-prics system the
men are enabled to earn money for what
they do in excess of their task. Female
prisoners are employed making clothing,
bedding and other articles in which the
use of the needle is employed.
Upon the arrival of the convicts at the
prison they have to go through the usual
routine of having their hair cut, being
shaved, given a bath and answering the
necessary questions about themselves
Each prisoner is provided with copy of
the rules. the copy to be placed in his
cell where he may See it at any time and
keep familiar with the numerous require
mentS.
Feeding the Prisoners.
Food for the prisoners is supplied
from the kitchen, convicts being en-
ployed to do the cooking and baking.
In the preparation of bean soup for a
dinner the use of 675 pounds of beans
and 500 pounds of pork is required,
making about 40 gallons. About go
gallons Of coffee serve one meal to the
number of prisoners now at the insti-
tution-1,246 men and women. Coffee
is served twice day, except Fri
days and Saturdays when it Is served
three times. The men in the shops
have half-holiday Saturdays. and are
permitted more freedom upon SUI h aft
ernoons than they are other days.
Under a recent act of the Legislature
the mode of capital punishment is soon
to be changed from hanging to death
by electrocution, and all prisoners in
the state are to be electrocuted in the
penitentiary. A death house at the
prison is nearing completion, and there
are two colored men at Camden await
ing to be sent there. 1t is the intention
of Warden Osborne to have condemned
men enter the death house through the
back gate in order that they may not
come in contact with the other pris-
oners.
Warden Osborne Is not a stranger to
prison officials in this city. Because
Of his record he was recently selected
to serve another term. In prison cir
cles he is regarded an ideal man
for such a position. During his term
he has effected a number of reforms.