The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-30

the strongest kind OF inducement for pris-
oners OF the United States 20 show by
their lives while in custody evidences Of
genuine repentance. Moreover, there are
opportunities in prison 10 learn useful
trades and for improvement morally and
intellectually"
The Cause or Crime
What Is the principal cause Of crime?"
students OF the subject disagree
among themselves. Some say that igno-
rance is the first and leading cause.
am not Of that opinion myself. but give
poverty precedence over ignorance. Many
persons want 10 get something for moth
ing. Others are lazy. Vice leads 10
countless infractions Of the law Then
We must recollect that there is such a
moral deformity as a criminal instinct.
However, intoxicating liquor Is the d.
rect cause of most OF the crimes com
mitted In this country"
What is done with boy criminals?" I
asked
They are brought 10 Washington, il
under the age OF seventeen. and con-
good citizenship and mechanical trades
and formed into companies and drilled
with guns given US by the War Depart
ment In a majority OF cases our juve-
nile criminals We're convicted OF taking
mail sacks from the platforms OF rail-
road stations. cutting them open, and
stealing the money and valuables found
In letters and packages"
Are any women In prison al Leaven-
worth or Atlanta?"
Yes about fifty. half OF whom were
convicted and sentenced in the District
Of Columbia, where there are a prison
and ii workhouse, but where there Is no
penltentary. Some OF our female pris-
oners are inheritances from Territories
that are now States, and were locked
up IN Federal prisons because there was
no other place 10 put them. Practically,
there are no women offenders against the
laws OF the United states-no counter
feiters, no post-otiice burglars, no makers
of moonshine whisky"
How are your convicts EMPLOYER"
I'm the work OF constructing the peni-
tentiaries at Atlanta and Leavenworth.
The buildings win have been completed
in five or six years. as I have stated
and then We shall have to find Jobs for
several thousand men. All convicted per-
sons who are able 10 work should be
compelled to work. II they are idle they
soon become demoralized physically and
in other ways. Sometimes they commit
suicide. Formerly 1t was the custom Of
the States to hire their prisoners to con-
tractors. There were foundries and shops
at some penitentiaries. and contractors
came in with their raw material and
worked II into marketable goods-stoves,
clothing, shoes. and SO on.
Piece system.
Contractors wanted 10 make as much
money as possible. and evils. easily i'm
agined. crept in. Free labor finding
Itself undersod, naturally and loudly
complained. Then followed the piece sys-
tenn Contractors delivered cloth leather
iron, and lumber ar the penitentiaries
20 ne manufactured into various products,
under the supervision OF the prison off,
Gals, and 10 be paid for at a stipulated
price. according to quantity. However
competition with free labor continued as
before.
There are 5000 prisoners in the peni-
tentiaries of the States and Federal gov
ernment-2OO0 at Atlanta. Leavenworth.
and Mcneil Island. To find work for
them Is one of the greatest problems in
penolOgy. Experts in New York think
their system Is the best Prisoners in
that State make certain things used by