The Washington herald., 1912-08-11
MODEL PRISON Is
LOCATED In MANILA
Advanced Ideas Of Penal Reform
that Are Now in Operation
at Bilibid.

at Bilibid.
Manila, Aug. ia student OF the
Spanish fnquisition would scarcely select
an old Spanish prison as an example OF
the best In modern penology. nor would
one unacquainted with conditions be
likely to choose the Philippines as a
promising field for the study Of an al
most ideal system Of prison reformation.
Yet at Bilibid prison in Manila and at
its graduate. Home Colony, at Iwahig. on
the southern island of Palawan, one may
see In actual operation many Of the
most advanced ideals in penal reform.
In all the reviews of the international
congress and articles by special speakers
there has been no mention Of one OF the
most remarkable penal institutions in the
world and one Of the probably least
known.
The story of Bilfbid IL q story of re-
form rather than retributive Justice, Of
prepsrationAfor release and hope for the
future, rather than avengsment for the
past
Bilibid is not only the largest prison
under American supervision. but II is the
largest In the world, having under Its
control some 5000 prisoners and within
its own walls 5000. The prison Itself
tire represented by the high walls in
closing its administration offices, the
workshops and salesrooms. the dormito-
ries and hospital The spokes of the
wheel are the dormitories and the hub
the central watch tower.
Twelve Guard Towers.
On the walls rise twelve guard tow
ers. Six Of these are occupied by Amer
leans, armed with revoivers. shot and
Calling guns, and six by natives, also
armed, but without the Gatling guns.
The central tower holds an American.
armed with loaded revolvers and three
rifles close at hand. This man controls
also the entire lighting plant, and can
light or darken at will any or all points.
A highly perfected telephone system rem
ders possible a concentration Of armed
forces at any desired spot almost in
simultaneously.
There are never more than sixteen
guards over the entire 5000 prisoners.
and yet there has been no attempt at an
outbreak in more than eight years. The
seeming lack of watchfulness, the free
dom of action among the prisoners and
the apparent opportunities for escape
cause the visitor at first to wonder that
there are not more attempts for free
dom. but a careful study of the ''Bilibid
partments soon imbues a feeling in the
visitor. that, as expressed by one of the
officials. there is moral force at work
stronger than armed guards"
From All Parts of Islands.
The inhabitants of Bilibid come from
all parts of the Philippines and are of
all races, languages, and creeds. The
newcomers reception includes a search
ing, a disinfecting bath. the donning of
his uniform. careful measurements under
the Bertillon system, the taking of his
photograph. the assignment of his appro-
pirate division, and a hospital Quaran-
tine of a week.
Not the least notable feature OF this
notable prison is the hospital. a large.
modern REINFORCED concrete building,
three stories high, erected by the pris-
oners themselves. Here those sick in
body as we'll as in mind. are as care
fully tended as in private hospital, and
here not a little of the reformation PLAN
ned for man and woman is begun. The
top story, open on all sides, is a segre-
cation ward for tubucular patients. Care
fully watched as are all the inmates,
there is nothing to suggest the prison.
With the exception of those sentenced
to pay the death penalty, there is no seq
regation of the men in the yards and
workshops, and those in charge have no
knowledge of the crimes for which the
prisoners have been sentenced. Preju-
are thus obviated, and the "Bilibid prin-
ciple" of occupation and reformation is
applied to all alike.
Classes of Prisoners.
There are three divisions or classes of
the prisoners, according to conduct Into
the third, or lowest. class goes the new
conner. II in his first six months he OBJ
tains a rank of so per cent he moves to
the second class, and If in six months
more he attains 30 per cent, he goes to
the first class, with special privileges,
making him almost a free man in his
little community. He is marked daily by
each one under whose supervision he
comes. and these marks are turned over
for tabulation to an Office accountant,
who does not know and may never see
the prisoner. That the system of promo
tion has justified itself is shown by the
fact that since its introduction the num-
bers have changed from so per cent in
the third class to over 80 per cent in the
first Charges of infraction of prison
rules are carefully Investigated by a spe-
cial court, and the prisoner is given
every opportunity to present his defense.
kind Of work he does, and each trade is
under a competent Instructor. As you
go from one department to another. to
the machine shop, the blacksmith shop,
the carriage shop: as you visit the car
penters. the cabinetmakers, the painters,
and polishers: as you watch the silver
smiths, the tailors, the weavers of bam-
boo. the laundrymen, and the cooks, you
feel that you are in a great industrial
trial workshop. rather than in a prison.
No HanE-dog Shrinking.
There is no hang-dog shrinking from
observation on the part of the convicts,
and no more curiosity of you than in
great manufacturing establishment. The
business Of the place is work. and the
prisoners are thoroughly interested in
their business. There is no sign Of a
guard No arms are allowed IN the yards
and the officials accompanying you carry
only walking sticks.
OF few prisoners can 1t be said that
discharge is a letter of recommendation,
but the man released from Bilibid docs
not hesitate, in applying for work. to
state where he learned his trade. and
seldom. II ever, is he refused a job on
that account
Politics and labor unions have no re-
straining influence over the kinds Of
goods manufactured and sold at Bilibid,
and competition is not factor. Articles
made at Bilibid are sold for a higher
figure than similar articles made else
where. and they sell readily, because of
superior workmanship. Nothing goes
from Bilioid that Is not first class.
A Hungry Theorist.