The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-01-25
ITO WORK REVIEWED At T0NYh
ANNUAL MEETING AND
ANNIVERSARY.
AIDING Ex.C0NvIcTs
WOULD ABOLISH KANGAROO
COURT AND FURNISH WORK
FOR PRISONERS.


citation celebrated its tenth anniversary
at its annual meeting in this city
Thursday. The anniversary program
was held at Unity church. under tho
auspices Of the board Of direction Of
the Prison Association. Luncheon was
served by the ladies' Of the church at
D. m. and there were numerous ad-
dresses afterward Former Governor
C. S. Thomas delivered the principal
address
! Hon. Henry V. Johnson. president u
the association, was unable to be pres
ent owing to recent fall from which
he is still suffering, but he sent com
munication to be read, which Is in part
as follows:
THE care and attention and little
money properly expended at the righ.
time has saved many a poor. despond-
ent and hopeless man from relapsius
into the old life which has placed him
behind the bars. This is not only hu-
manity in its highest form. but it is OF
great benefit to the state OF Colorado.
because every ex-convict that this
ciety through its efforts can save from
. relapse, means a large amount in
good, hard dollars to the honest cit!-
zens OF the state.
The Kangaroo court which has e,-
listed. and l understand still exists in
the city OF Denver, l take great pleas
ure in branding as a disgrace to the
people of the city and county of Den
yer, and as thing which the judges
OF the District Court OF this city and
county should see to is at once and
forever abolished.
Another thing which this associa-
ton. through its officers, has been en-
deavoring to accomplish is the enact
ment and execution of a law by which
the convicts of the state OF Colorado
shall be put to some useful and re-
muneratiye work. 1t is economy Oh
that part of the state, and it is human.
ity toward the convicts themselveA
With the 700 or more able bodied COZ
victs in the state penitentiary, much
beneficial, useful and remuneratiys
work could be done for the state. When
l thought over this matter, have pic
=
these convicts could do for the state
Of Colorado. in the building of roads
throughout the state, or the building
of reservoirs at proper places. These
works. under the supervision OF con-
petent engineers. could be done in q
way that the results would last for a
thousand years or more. Think Of
the magnificent roads that could bs
built through our mountains and other
parts OF the state, and thereby enable
the citizens Of the state to transform
what today is a desert, into homes and
gardens. But they would not be linn
ited 10 these two things. There are
many other useful lines in which they
could be employed to the great adyzn-
tage OF the convicts themselves. and
TO the state a. large
Some people may pronounce s-ch
aims and hopes as vagaries and the
o-ies. but happily the matter has bsea
thoroughly and beyond all cavil ye-.-
fed. and shown TO be entirely possible
and practicable.
Last November while on visit %
Detroit, ! had the pleasure OF visiting
the Detroit House Of Correction
was met by the Superintendent, Nh
Mcdonald. who very kindly and s-ac-
iously took HE all through that III
mense Institution. The cells OCCUPIED
by the prisoners were in q large court
OF building that was thoroughly lighted
and thoroughly ventilated. The air u
he place was as fresh and as pure
that outside. Order and discipline and
without the use Of any kangaroo court
was found TO be easily maintained, not
wlthstandIng the fact that they hl.ys
OF an average Of over 400 prisoners n
the place. All of the prisoners abs 10
90 any work are occupied in r1an1tao-
turing three or four useful things, W.
chairs, pearl buttons, scrub brushes
and horse brushes and although -EeT
. are employed IN manufacturing only
these four named articles. al of ths
expenses Of taking care Of the p-is-
oaers, OF feeding them. Of guarding +
them, Of buying material and ilp!t-
meats 70. them TO work with, are PAD +
Tor, and last year a net profit 70 ths I
city OF Detroit, they showed the eno''
nous sum q $4,000. In addition 10
paving all Of these expenses aad II
paying for the raw material, there Is
small amount each cay credited TO ne
prisoner who proves himself Of good De
hayior, and TO be steady and indus
irlous. The prisoner is credited with
this amount, and at the time that his
Imprisonment expires, he has some
small amount Of money to his credit
which is paid over to him The prs
oaers were not dressed In stripes anu
as rule they had happy or 81 ieas'
a conten:ed look upon their faces
The report Of ". & Collect- genera
secretary os the association. shows
that in four years. since the Associs
tons enlargement, from the Prisoners
Aid Society, between 500 and soh ef
prisoners and the families of men Eno
are IN prison. have been assisted ID
securing suitable employment sni fur
! niShed with extra eIo.hins. tools III