The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-14
MAKE JAILB|RDS
WORK FOR LIVING
Committee Recommends Neces-
sary Changes in City's
Charter.
WOULD AID REFORMATION
Confinement in Jails Is Costly
and Inclincs to Degen-
Grafton.
AID REFORMATION

Changes in the charter OF the city
which will give to the Council the
power. II II SO desires, to establish
warehouses;, work farms and reforma-
tories, and to transfer to such insti-
tutlons such city and State prisoners
confined in the City Jail as tho Judge
of the Hastings Court may designate.
were recommended by tho Ordinance,
Charter and Reform Committee of the
city Council last night after prolong-
Ell debate. The resolution simply in
structs the City Attorney to apply to
tho General Assembly for new sec
ton Of the Charter giving the Council
this power, committing the city to no
special plan of procedure thereafter
Mr. Nonderyehr. patron of the meas
urc. outlined his own Views as to whG t
form OF labor should later be pre-
scribcd. Several members OF the COM
mittee disagreed with his views as to
details. but held tho general plan an
excellent one, and voted for the reso-
luton.
Manufactures Criminals.
DIT. James Buchanan, superintendent
OF the Associated Charities. spoke in
favor Of the resolution, asserting en-
phatically that the City Jail. where
strapping men now loaf and play cards
In idleness while their families sufrer
Tor the necessities OF life, manufac-
lures more loafers and puts the stamp
of whiskey on more men than any sa :
loon in the city lie described condI-
tons as he had seen them at the iatl.
where but two mcagre meals n day
are given, and stated that many of
those coming to the Associated Chart
ties for relief on leaving the Jail were
physically unable to work. and. be-
cause of their weakened condition.
caused by lack of nourishing food and
outdoor exercise, nabby muscles and
general degeneration due to idleness
they readily became drunkards at the
first opportunity. He said he knew OF
as many as nifty able bodied men who
regularly spend much OF their time in
jan and whose families have to be
aided by charity
Confinement Only Degenerate,
Each confinement merely debilitatcs
these men the further. teaches them no
trade, and they leave after their asso-
citation with criminals less able 10 cone
with the world and make a living for
their families than before. The Hen
rico jail was especially condemned for
its practice OF receiving for the FOES
that are in il men who are merely
passing through the city looking for
work. on the technical charge OF beinr
trespassers
There were fully 100 men in Rich
mond who habitually neglect their
families DR.. Buchanan asserted These
men, he thought. should be put on a
farm and be made to work under COM
pulsion. in open air. with healthy food,
ana their wages turned over to their
families Drunlss. petty offenders, and
all of the common "jail-bird" type
who were not real criminals. he
thought. should be 20 treated.
Might he Sclf-Surpnrting.
Mr.. Nonderlchr suggested that such
an institution might he made self
supporting. calling attention to thu
tact that the city pays $3.50 annually
ior small hrooms for street sweeping
which could readily be made by hand
lie remarked that any such plan for
treatment of minor ard habitual Of
tenders would materially cut into the
lees OF the city Sergeant. who no.y
receives per diem for each Jail pris
oncr. state or city
Mr. llirschberg fought the resolution
Vigorously holding that 1t would bring
lail-birds into competition with union
labor. which other members OF the com
mlttee asserted was not their purpose
at all His motion to strike out the
word "workhouse.' making the amend
ment apply only to a jail farm. was
rejected, and the resolution recon-
mended TO >. s follows:
Ayes-Mcssrs Butler Gunst, Kahn.
Moncure. Nonderlehr and Umlauf
Noes-Messrs. Hirschberg and Moore