The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-29


ton. the discipline good.
More important than all IL the spirit
OF humanity and cooperation whics
peryades the institution. Superiniend
ent james b. Wood IL given the hiSnesi
credit for, the many reforms he hal
Instituted. including DAILY baseball
games. at which the attendance o.
good conduct men 10 permitted. A
band 10 At work to assist In giving
amusement to the prisoners. ManS
rewards have been tnauHurated fol
good behavior. and these are thor
ing hard Tor the insignia Of good con-
duct
The report II in part 40 follows:
Geoeraa CeaA9tiaa.
We are Slad to report that this In.
stitutton u In good condition and that
the provisions OF law and the regula'
tfons Of the PenitsnftaSy Board An re-
gard to the treatment Of prisoners arr
observed to the letter. We ind the
ample and OF good quality. the tasks
reasonable. the shops orderly. the hos
pital In . sanitary condition and dis
cipline good. Few pnnishmsnts are
inflicted. the prisoners seem as con.
tented as could be expected in the cir
reports Of misconduct, cruelty DR. pee
ulataon On the part Of prison employees.
The accounts OF the institution are
well kept and records are 20 filed that
the prison career Of any convict may
be seen at . glance. In addition, q
pervades the place. with little OF the
gruesome iil-wili that characterizea
many institutions Of this class. From
all accounts, conditions have vastly
improved during recent years and
should now be . source Of deep graft
ficaeion to the Commonweaith.
First among the changes q the In
troducti IN OF baseball games among
the prisoners. The teams play daily
IN favorable weather, except on Satur-
day and Sunday Oily those men are
allowed to play who belong to the
blue cap brigade. and the audience
u made up OF prisouars who bsar the
this innovation heartily.
Orgnnisaaloo e DaDl.
In the same manner . string band
has been Organised Beginning inn
mediately after supper, 1t plays until
S o'clock and gives to the end Of day
a certain cheerful air. The men seem
to appreciate this hand and enjoy the
concerts.
In this connection ws wish to put
ourselves on record Is favoring the
'ntr oduct1on Of harmless auuse.uents
in all our public institute 3na. The
sentiment Of the Commonwealth has
passed the point where II believes In
the wisdom or Righteousness Of thar
punitive justice which would confne
tine and hopeless solitude. Tho public
IL aroused t. the fact that the State
should seek the reformation OF ~
many prisoners % possible. or. where
this - not practicable. should at least
give these men Justice tempered with
convinced that amusaments within
proper bounds greatly improve disci-
pIine. In that they satisfy the craving
for amusement an1 take the mind Of
the pris oners from their condition
ne DyUoe0 - 19WnRh1.
While the system Of rewards intro
duced BY superintendent Wood has
been commented In previous reports. II
should be given attention here ~ per-
haps the greatest siuG1e thinG done
for Improved discipline since the PEN
itentiaFy was opened The superintend-
sns proceeds upen the wise pIincip!s
that the average naa VIII respond 70
Justice and Will appreciate . rseog-
nits IN Of his Good conduct. Accord
ingly he hss intreAuesd the foilowing
system Of rewards:
ID Every prisoner who spends SIX
months in prison without infractien Of
the rules b Givel . god conduct but
= -
card his striped cap and to wear in
stead o blue eaD." Furnished by the
prison; 90 every peisoner whose rec
ORD 10 clean for eighteen months =
gwen q pair Of sort enoeC N place
OF the usual feeeo eoeso - -: (As
every prisoner whose record 10 clean
f,r two years 10 allowed TO write home
every thirty 6ays. instsed Of every TIVE
months.
The eaecte % the syceeo eeve SIM
Who had violated practically every rule
Of the prison became ame:tious for
won one or the ,ther Of these distinc-
sio.s. We esserxed Q .unber Of pris.
conduct button. :.a %.n'fe:sIy self.
!; s. :: =:
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