New-York tribune., 1909-09-16
PRISON CONDITIONS BID.
FcdcraI ConJicfs TO BE Rcmored
from Pcnicntiary at allegheny.

Washington Sept iS-C Conditions at tho Western
Pcuiteutiary %, Pennsylvania, at Allegheny. have
been found 20 distressing and intulcrable as 10 re-
quir" the immediate removal of all federal prison
CTS whose transfer Is practicable, aud 10 demand
The most serious consideration "f tho proper public
authorities. Ths IS disclosed IN the report of G. H.
McGlass"u. Of the Department 81 Prisons and Pris-
oners. To- the Attorney General. The federal au-
thorites are guarded In their statements as II Is
not their desire to reflect the state officials Of
Penusy lyauia any others who may be responsible
the conditions the institution In his state
meut Wade H. Ellis Acting Attorney General. says;
The population the FIRST Of this month was
tin,es iijs ,nd Innr" tin haIf are confined two in
a cell The cells unusually small, and the cots
take up almost the entire length Of each. the room
d l%I n@Is ni,4s 'rrf inrfe fIcr. are more than
three hundred prisoners suffering from tuberculosis
and seventy min" cells are no" occupied by t.@Ss
showing advanced stages of this diseas'. tn"
prison rs filed with ycrmin of all kinds. although
the officials are making an EFFORT TO eradicate iheH
An unusually large number OF the prisoners are of
the lowest possible character, mentally and noraliy
and there Is but one general mess Tor an AMOS
Universal complaint II made about the quality "t
The Attorney General does not. OF course assume
that these uuturtuUat" conditions are known either
To- tic Governor OF Pennsylvania OF To other au-
thorities having imnedpte control Of penal institu-
\ COPY or an abstract Of the report made by the
agent Of this department viii be sent 10 the Gov
tiar. IT is not intended by this action to assume
tended 20 cal to tho attention of the proper an
Justify prompt earnest consideration
There are twcnty-one federal prisoners confined
hD thc Western Peaentlary of Pcnnsy Nania. All
here who be Immediately transferred. except
those whose terms will shortly expire. viii he
moved once to Atlanta Lcavenworth.
fRy Telegraph 10 The Tribune
IIttsburs. Sept l5--That three hundred of the
eleven hundred prisoners in the Western Peniten-
tiary are suffering from tuberculosis and that the
other eight hundred terror stricken lest they
contract tie disease told In statement coming
from the prison tonight In appeal to the Board
Prison Inspectors from certain convcts that they
be removed TO the government prison Atlanta
FOR their heaiths sake Almost the entire thirty
members OF the bankers colony in the peni-
alleged that proximity 10 the river makes 1t almost
impossible Ia prevent the spread of tuberculosis
Warden Frances tonight said that there three
hundred cases Of tuberculosis and that tho disease
WAS spreading quickly. Those who h1ve Joined in
The plea TO be sent 10 the government prison at
Atlanta include William Montgomery who wrecked
the Allegheny National Bank; Frank Rinehart who
wrecked the Farmers and Drovers' National Bank
Of Waynoshurs, and John Young and Henry Reiber
of the Farmers National Bank of Pittsburg, who
an accused Of having stolen s. 10000 from in two
years.
Resident members of the governing hoard of the
penitentiary. and John Francles. the warden.
fused to talk concerning the reports from Wash
ington Francies intimated oNeyer, that he had
been officially informed Of the Inspectors re-
port the plan OF the federal authorities regard
ing MS institution. He referred all inaurers 20
the Attorney Generals ofhce at Washington.