Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-12-25

man who does not look at the cloth
ing of his caller. and gives the same
kindly reception to the plowboy and
the laborer that Is accorded to the
high and mighty. and as the result
oil his democracy and good fellowship
he is one of the most popular men
in the state where he is known, be-
ing hailed everywhere by the best
people of Oregon as a good fellow.
superintendent G. w. James.
Hon. c. w. James, superintendent
of the Oregon state penitentiary, is
an official who has left his mark
on the big states prison, the affairs
of which he has administered since
April /, 1908, when, by appointment
on Governor Geo. T.. Chamberlain, he
took over the management of the
great institution. When Mr.. James
came to the prison he found 31S
prisoners there. Since that time the
number has increased fully 100, as
the present population of the insti-
tuition is about 420. The highest
point reached during Mr.. James term
was 449, that number being under
his charge one day in the past year.
During Mr.. James term many
changes have been effected in the
conduct of the prison. A two-story
building has been erected In which
execution of condemned prisoners is
had, the law having been so changed
as to provide that execution of legal
ly sentenced prisoners is only had In
the penitentiary, and seven have thus
a.. Ns.I L.. A.f Las
Corporal punishment has been entire
ly abolished. with decided improve
ment of the morale of the prisoners;
stripes have been done away with
except in the case OF prisoners who
violate the rules of the institution, n
cadet gray being used for orderly
prisoners clothing. A dining room
has been provided and he prisoners,
instead of eating in their cells, now
eat in the community dining room,
with the result that the cells are
much easier kept clean and the.
health OF the prisoners is better.
For the improvement OF the health
OF the inmates and officials the
greatest efforts were necessary Prior
to Mr.. James coming to the peniten-
tiary number OF cases of typhoid
fever were noted there. In the past
five years the sanitary arrangements
have been so much improved that
not case OF we'll developed typhoid
has been noted in the prison during
that time. The plumbing has been
thoroughly overhauled and the walls
have been scaled and painted until
the building Is as sanitary as any
prison In the country. Cigarette
smoking has been entirely prohibited
and not prisoner ia allowed to Sc
cure materials for the little coffin
nails" while the employees have been
forbidden To smoke them on the
premises.
Mr.. james has established H.
brary, the prisoners have also band
and an orchestra, and paper is
| published weekly I'm the prison and
In this the prisoners are taking a
deep interest. Recreation is allowed
the men, and as result OF these
many changes the men are observing
far better discipline than ever In the
past.
One OF the great additions to the
work OF the office ls the finger-prlni
system OF Identification. This is the
latest and most Improved manner OF
identification OF prisoners and prom.
ises TO be very valuable. Warden
+. n. Curtis and Bookkeeper Tom Il
Wilson have taken up this study and
established the bureau, which is con.
/ Quoted on the same lines as that oi
the United States prison at Fort
| Leayenworth, Kansas.
Mr. james and his able force oi
officials have certainly made an ex.
eellent record In the big prison and
their efforts will always be remem
bereG by those Of the people OF m,
state who know and appreciate IN,
results OF these improvements.