The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-19
Richmond Prison Should
eEmptied Of Healthy
Men.
WORK HINDERED
BY FEE SYSTEM
Lazy People and Drunks Ought
to Work for Living City Gives
Them-State Board of Chari-
z ties and Corrections Gets
Report Of Local
Committee.

In It's annual report on the condition
of the City Jail and Almshouse OF
T:ichmond. made yesterday to the State
Board of Charities and Corrections,
the local committee appointed under
the law to visit these institutions
urges that the inmates of jails be put
to work on the public roads. A slap
is taken at the fee system OF compen-
sating public officials. which operates
against putting jailbirds at some oc-
cupation which would improve their
minds and bodies.
The practice OF putting criminals
and suspects together in the pen is
apparently disapproved.
Referring TO the Alnshouse, II is
urged that the lazy and the intemper-
ate should be put to work Attention
Is called to the fact that men who are
able bodied and fully fitted to earn an
honest and independent living perter
to be the objects OF the city's charity.
The course which permits such con-
dition is seriously deprecated.
Places Are Clean.
on the whole, the condition of both
institutions. especially with reference
TO cleanliness, is heartily commend
cd. The City Sergeant is thanked for
to cooperate with him IN the treat
ment of the men and women placed
under hisIcare.
One recommendation which Is in
tcresting Is that the former Mancheste,
City Jail be used exclusively for the
accommodation for the women prison
srs of Greater Richmond. and that the
present jail contain only men. The de-
STABILITY OF this segregation OF the
sexes is too apparent. in the opinion
OF the committee. to need argument.
II is requested that an advisory COM
rnittee be appointed by the State Board
TO make visits TO the Aimshouse, TO
confer with the officials. to devise the
applicants. and to study ways and
means wherby the unfortunates housed
there can be best handled.
The Local Committee.
The committee which reported at
the meeting OF the State Board of
Charities and Corrections held yester
day at its Offices in the State Library
Building is composed OF DR.. Moses D.
Hoge, Jr, Mrs Kate pleasants Minor
and NJ J. Straus. The committee waa
appointed by the State Board under
an act of the Legislature. providing
that "for each county and city there
shall be appointed by the said board
a local committee OF visitors, consist.
ing of three persons, one OF whom shall
be member of the local Board of
Health, and one Of whom may be a
woman. to aid the board In its work,
The duty of said committee shall be
to visit and inspect as often as 1t may
deem advisable, or upon request of the
board, and to report annually, or upon
request, to the board any matters of
Importance respecting the iails and
almshouses in any such county or city.
and to encourage and aid the local au-
thorities in maintaining such institu-
tlons in an efficient manner"
AS to City Jnil.
The report is in full as follows:
Rev. ]. 7. Mastin. Secretary.
Dear Sir: In compliance with your
request, we have together visited the
Richmond jail and almshouse, have
OF these institutions. have observed for
ourselves existing conditions and have
together discussed the questions these
inysstigations have raised.
you the conclusions we have REACHED,
which seem to us pertinent
Cleanliness in both, and, second, for
the courteous consideration we re.
ceived from the officials. We We're
questions were answered fully and
freely, and 1t gives US pleasure to eX.
press our cordial indorseplent of the
gentlemen in charge of both insttu.
tions.
The Jail.
We found the Jail not over-full on
the day OF our visit. and We're given
day da ut Which might M fairly be- be ranked aSs as
average.
There was pen in which were
gathered eleven boys ranging from
some older ones from sixteen to eigh.
teen We're gathered on the outside OF
the pen and the crowd were all on tn-
We're brothers and some of them we're
awaiting trial. as yet convicted of no
offense, while others We're serving SEN
tences for stealing and other grave
crimes, and still others held as Wit
They were all without any SEM
blance Of employment and free to en-
JOY each. others conversation unmo-.
Tested, while for those inside the pen
the direct rays of the sun We're Inn
possible at any hour Of the day and
the prevailing tone was that OF dark
and cloudy day Upstairs 4 there ea were
men. These We're practically, private
rooms and here were. confined prison
( ers serving q term for offenses Of a
grave nature; but the previous life
of the prisoner, his habits of decency
or cleanliness, led the officials to spare
him the humiliation of life in pen,
or even in a corridor,
There was a pen somewhat better
lighted and of larger dimensions for
the colored women These, too, were
without occupation and lounged on
withdrew behind a small calico our
tain glad of the shelter it afforded.
Other, women We're husly enga ged
n ,hers washng saan the steps and floors but
ones, 5Dg
An Excellent Subject. {,
a natron In charge of the women,
showed us around She has supervise
ion which enables her to enforce per-
sonal cleanliness among her charges
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