Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1911-02-15
NEVADAS RUSTY MACHINERY
AT THE STATES PRISON
A Chance for Many Reforms by the
Present Legislature

Yesterday The Appeal reporter
witnessed the workings of the laws OF
the land, and after seeing the ma
chinery turn round was convinced
that it was all out of gear. That the
machinery is old, obsolete. and needs
modern improvements. 1t is work
ing on the plan oil the muzzle-loading
shotgun as compared with the auto
matte OF to-day. In fact, it is way
out OF date and needs the assistance
OF the law makers now in session to
throw out the old plant and put in the
modern.
Sheriff Lamb brought in Riley Wo-
ten from Humboldt County. Woten
killed man at National, was tried,
the stripes that mark him as crimi-
nal. This il but the smallest part OF
the workings OF the law. The man
deserved punishment but does not
deserve the lic that is before him.
Wotcn is an engineer by trade and
a good one. lie is an electrician and
an all-round me 'hanic. While drink
ing he killed his fellow man. That
was his trouble. Now comes the rusty
machinery of the state.
After placing on his new suit OF
stripes he is consigned to steel cell
inside of stone walls. He is abso-
lutcly lost to- usefulness. He is SEN
fenced to life OF this everyday rou-
tine. He will be reused ut certain
hour. fed three lines day, be placed
in his cell at certain hour. and dur
ing the twenty-four hours oi each day
he is rotting in idleness. The state
provides nothing for him to do. either
10 relieve his mind or give him the
use OF his trained mind end hands. ]
His usefulness to this world is gone.
He is but one OF the two hundred men
in the same stone house who follow
the rules laid down by the state.
There are others with him who are
competent TO do work, and expert
work at that Men are confined in
our pcnitentiary who can perform
work that is beyond the average
reader, mechanical and otherwise.
Instead OF putting his time to use he
is sentenced TO life OF confinement
where his muscles and mind become
warped and congestcd. He is simply
Il. Al. J.,
ing but the day he can get out OF the
hated walls. and the state provides no
future. 1t is certainly bad mess We
are in.
Governor Oddic. in his message to
the Legislature, made strong plea
for q reform in this rusty piece OF
state machinery. lie suggests that the
men be placed on road work through |
out the state. That the outdoor lie
is beneficial and that il casts but
trillc more to guard the men on the
road. That the State Police when not
on other details can assist III the
work. The Governor should be con
sidcrcd in this matter.
Nevada has made some steps for
ward. She has practically adopted
the referendum. the recall and initia-
tive. Her Railroad Commission is the
best in the West. while the anti-gamb-
ling law is a reform tina, other states
can follow.
Yet with all this in active operation
the prison reform is certainly rusty.
When the State oi Nevada and
most other states release prison
or he is simply turned adriit. There
is money enough furnished him to
leave the town and then he is on the
hustle. II he is known as an cx-con-
vict he is Stunned as a rule, and the
prisoner realizes this condition keen
". In New Zealand and Australia
they are working along broader lines
The prisoners are put to work, but
are allowed small money compensa-
ton. This money is held in credit
by the State until the time The man is
released. when he has sum sufficient
10 take him to friends or out OF the
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