The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-18

and il he deems the offense sufficient !
to justify such acS1on, the guards
name Is entered on our records as
unfit for the service. In this way,
should he apply in future to a prison
in another portion Of the state, when
his papers come in we are advised
as to his iisqualifications, whereup-
on we order his immediate discharge
from the service.
The supervisor and physician make
what is called daily or trip reports,
on blanks furnished them. as they
travel from camp to camp during the
month and, On returning to their
from a general trip of
they are required to make
a full typewriter report to the com.
missioner on every camp visited, Civ
ing the dates Of the visits and the
conditions found at the camps. either
favorable or unfavorable and what
steps have been taken to correct the
evil II any is found to exist. If the
state we're working her prisoners d.
rectly, i cannot see where the work
and supervision would be any more
direct. In my judgment, from what
can learn the system is more COM
pletely under the immediate super
fe,ctly connected with the head of the
system than is the case in some
other states where they are supposed
to be worked by the state and coun-
ties.
Camp Conditions Nearly Ideal.
Your readers may be interested in
knowing the conditions surrounding
each prisoner at state prison camp.
Each prison barracks Is enclosed
with a high stockaie fence with
guard stands on every corner in order
that the prisoners when at leisure
In the stockade may have open air
for recreation in the enclosed yard.
Each barracks has = separate apart
ment for cooking, a bath room, din
ing room and sleeping hall, all well
ventilated and arranged so that the
windows may be closed in iuclement
weather without barring the health.
full benefits to be derived from the
sunshine. These are all swept and
Kept clean daily and secured once a
week. at least. Each prisoner has
his separate iron cot, government
regulation bedstead with mattress,
pillow, two sheets, pillow cases and
blankets to meet the necessities of
the weather. The prisoner is requir.
ed to hang up his clothes he works
in that they may air during the night,
while no Is furnished with q night
shirt which he Is required to use on
retiring. When conditions are at all
practicable. each stockade is equipped
with flushed sewerage. The quality
Of the food Is inspected by the sup
ervisors and physician, the variety
is sufficient to be heathful, the quail
ty Of the bacon, meal, -four, beans,
peas, rice, syrup and vegetables, in
season, Is better than the same class
of people purchase for their own use
when at liberty. Generally speaking,
lessees are we'll satisfied that it is to
their interest that their iaborers be
! well fed, clothed and comfortably
lodged that they may be able to give
efficient service when at work We
fully understand that in prison work,
as In other lines Of business, incon-
petent and dishonest individuals
creep into the service, but as is the
case with the merchant, the banker
or farmer. they are removed as soon
as their defects are known.
Female Convlcts Not Leased.
After six years of persistent effort
on my part, l am glad to state that
Florida no longer rests under the
Stigma of leasing out her female
prisoners and the diseased, crippled
and otherwise disabled male prison
ers for q moneyed consideration
Our state had the unenviable record
for a number Of years Of being the
only sovereign state that hired out
her women to be maintained with the
male convicts at state prison camps
located in the woods or at phosphate
mines. We now have and have had
for some several years central hos
pital maintained at the expense Of the
lessee company. the physician being
selected and approved by the Com
Board of Commissioners of State In
stitutions. Under the law as enacted
by the legislature of 1909, 1t become.
the duty of the board to maintain
a prison for female convicts. sepa
rate and apart from male prisoners
The board, 1T this time not being il
"a situation to carry out the provision
of this statute, an arrangement ha,
been made with the present lessee
company by which prison for VIC
men is maintained separate and apar
from male prisoners on the company
prison farm, where they maintain
their central hospital This prise,
for women 10 maintained under thi
arrangement at the expense Of tn
lessee company until the board i
. furnished with means to equip such
; state prison on the farm they Pre-
pose purchasing for prison purposes
| State Farm.
Those who are familiar With m
> views as expressed in my reports 70
the last six years are aware that
have insisted that our legislator
) should authorize the board and ful
nish the means from the hire Of stat
{ prisoners while conditions are sue
in this state that We are enabled t
get high prices for the labor Of GU
, iconvicts. to purchase a body Of Ian
! before land prices are too far AZ
, vanced, where the state can maintai
; the female population and that pal
2 of the male population disQualifie
: flor reasonable manual labor, whic
! l regard as the beginning CT nucleu
= for eventually handling all of OF
. prison population
b Our last legislature authorized th
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