The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-27
FRIDAY. MARCH 81, 1908.
WILSON nEFORNI.

The people of the State VIII natur-
ally expect much OF the new Board If
Charities and Corrections. All who are
acquainted with the facts know that
taere is a crying need for many reforms
In the treatment of prisoners. We
have no sympathy with the maudlin
continent entertained by some toward
breakers of the law. We see no hero
ism in murder and no chivalry in
burglary or highway robbery. All 81
the foes of the law the land, from
Robin Hood TO Jesse James and Devil
Dick, are. in our opinion. simply felohs
Neither would we advocate such treat
Inent of prisoners as would be an en-
enlargement for the idle or vicious tol
look upon a sentence with longing orI
complacencr
Nevertheless. we believe that the die
tatcs of humanity require that prison
ers should be properly I'D, decentlyI
clothed and comfortably housed; that
they should be given sufficient exercise
for their minds and bodies to prevent
mental and physical deterioration, and
that care should be taken to dispose of
them in such manner as to prevent
the spread OF physical and moral con-
tasion.
In the first place, there should be a
different system of feeding and lodging
prisoners. Now they are farmed out.
so 10 speak. and the jailers are allow
ed so much per head. If they can feed
and lodge them for any less they are
at liberty to pocket the difference. This
is a temptation for a custodian OF pris-
oncrs to enrich himself al the expense
OF the health. and perhaps the lives
OF citizens or the Commonwealth. IN
der this system the humane and gem
erous iatler Will spend more than his
allowance, which he should not be re-
quired to do. and the mean and grasp
last point, which he should not, be al
lowed 10 do. A competent board should
prescribe for each Jail the amount to be
expended in feeding and lodging pris-
oners. and the jailer should receive a
salary for buying, cooking and serving
is little short OF barbarous that any
body should derive profit from the
hunger or cold of prisoner.
1t would seem unnecessary to say
that white andlcolorsd prisoners should
be separated; yet, If reports be true,
there are many 5ails in this State
where this separation is not invariably
practIced. Furthermore, the prisoners
awaiting trial, and who may be en-
tirely innocent, should not be penned
UP with those who have already been
convicted Those guilty of triflmg
onenses should not be confined with
the hardened criminals: vet. we know
that this mingling OF all grades OF
prisoners Is continually permitted In
many jails OF the State. with the re-
suit tina, many a careless boy, who re-
ceives Jail sentence for some trfline
misdemeanor. may learn from daily
contact with professional criminals the
false fascination and the elusive prof
of a career of crime. Too mucl
stress cannot be laid upon the neces
sity for regular exercise and hygienl
requirements. Prison pallor should b
unknown in a civilized country. Their
should be rigid physical eXaminatio,
of each prisoner al the beginning O
his sentence and those found sufferiu
from contagious or infectious disease
should be isolated from the rest. Diver
sions should be provided sufficient t
IN he ,iyit
healthy tone. OF course, all of TIL
influences which would have a ten
dency 10 improve their mental an
moral condition should be extended a
far as possible. These things ma
well be done without making prise
palace, or even an agreeable resor
for the thriftless, and they would mar
vast Improvement in the system 4
vogue in the iails of some of our coun
ties and cities.
1t is known that many OF these jail
are cold. damp and unsanltary. ]
aome the whites and the blacks, III
innocent and the guilty, the young an
the old. the beginner and the protes
sIonal. the sick and the well, the clea
and the unclean, are herded togetht
In manner best calculated 10 harde,
@ humiliate and embitter them all al
at them more effectually Than anythin
else could do for continuous care,
OF crime.
1t must be borne in mind that f,
many OF these conditions the jailers a
not responsible, as they can only u
h the facilities provided for them, a,
can only do the best they can und
the system which they find. 1t shou
-E!ao Va Remembered That prisoners