The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-12

1
out inmates who oppose him.
The Letter Writing Rule.
| Underestimate was turned out, .
/ said one of the inmates, because
Belts thought that he wrote the letter
which was printed in the State Jour
nal Underestimate had a letter to
his old mother, and he didn't want
Belts or anybody else to read it. When
he refused to let Belts see it. Belts
| told him that he would have to get
out The next day Belts took him
back to twon. This was just a day or
SO after the letter was printed in the
State Journal
Superintendent Belts did not deny
that he had turned Underestimate out
because he refused to show him the
letter he had written.
1T is contrary to the rules of the
institution for inmates to send or re-
ceive letters without allowing me to
inspect them" said Mr.. Belts.
Where are those rules?" asked the
State Journal reporter.
They are hanging on the wall in
the mems building" said Mr.. Belts.
The reporter expressed a desire to
see the rules. Mr.. Belts took him to
| the mems building, but the rules were
not there. 1.-The men all know what
they are, anyway" said Mr.. Belts.
! Finally framed copy of the rules was
found in the dining room, in another
building
These rules are worthy of more
than passing attention. They cover a
closely printed sheet about half the
size of newspaper page. and there
are total of 80 rules. At the bottom
they are signed Board of County
Commissioners The sheet is brown
and time stained, and bears the date,
May 1, 1886" The rules are there
fore 23 years old, and are apparently
they have been for quarter of a CEN
fury, without revision or amendment.
1t is safe to say that very few inmates
of the insitution ecer saw them, much
less read them all.
Il have read them" said Superin-
tendent Belts, land I follow them"
The rules were evidently copied from
the rules of some other poor farm
where they. were putting a good deal
of embroidery into their work. They
talk about "anti-scorbutic food" and
other interesting things which the or
dianry county commissioner never
heard of.
One of these ancient and hoary rules
is that inmates of the poor farm shall
not receive or send letters without first
passing them over to the superintend-
ent for inspection.
If these rules have any binding eff
feet on the Observation-Disclosures they
probably do not-Mr. Belts was strict
ly within his rights in demanding that
he be shown all letters.
The rule, however, is a dangerous one
and should be repealed by the county
commissioners with as little delay as
possible. The county poor farm Is not
a prison, and inmates are not subject
to such CALLING restrictions. They
should be free to send out letters with
out censorship. This is the only way
the inmates have of communicating
with the outside world. If this can be
choked off, the inmates are practically
at the mercy of brutal superintendent,
should any such person become con-
nected with the institution.
1t was a quarrel over a letter that
caused Rupin to leave the institution,
and such Quarrels are bound to con-
tinue under such a restrictive rule. 1t
is better that unreliable inmates should
once in while impose on their friends
than that 40. old and feeble men and
women should be left voiceless and
helpless, merely because they are poor.
Sanitary Conditions.
AS has been stated. 1t was evident
that Superintendent Belts was expect
mittee." The fact that the floors were
freshly scrubbed may or may not have
had any connection with that anticipa-
ted investigation. The fact is, however,
that the floors in some of the buildings
were yet damp from the scrubbing they
had received. There was also strong
odor of disinfectants.
The institution is unfortunate in hav-
ing no water and sewer facilities AT
small expense such facilities could be
provided. for Indian creek flows only a
few feet from the buildings.
There are one or two old tin bath
tubs in the buildings. They are said to-
be almost useless because they leak.
To get water for bathing, the inmates
have to carry 1t from the kitchen.
There are some primitive inside toilet
facilities for the sick inmates, but the
closet for the inmates is located on the
creek bank, in such way that the
stream is undoubtedly polluted and
rendered unfit for use. Moreover, the
stencil from this closet is highly dis
gushing.
What the county should do is to
erect a large elevated tank, and use
the windmill already installed to pump