The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-05
P UT PRISONERS
At WORK ON ROADS
STATE COULD SAVE MONEY


10 time was lost Yesterday by Rev
j j Masfiu. SECRETARY 10 the state
Board "f Charues and Corrections 90
iollowius up Tho sue gestions regard
ANS tie werki, oi JAN piisonets Of
,ne roads. as contained iu am article
in Tn, Times dispatch Dr. Aastn
Us more than reioiced THAT the mat
to- has Seen taken up. and he has
gone 60 work ON the proposition On AL
Letters vote mailed by MIN yes-
terdaN TO- the sheriff OF every county
aud the sergeant Of cv"ry city I'm tho
state asNins for information as to tho
number ui prisoners in each jail ON
August 3d. These officers are also
called upon 20 report how many Of
,nesc prisoners ARE awaiting trial. All
other males are tlgibi. for the road
htudlue ilr.es.
Wouid save Nuch Money.
The proposition comes to- tho front
through thc SUGGESTION OF State Audit
tor q Lee Moore. as stnte- IN The
Times -Dispatch yesterday. lie looks
at IL primarily from the standpoint
Of tho states finances. Every month
ne is called upon TO pay huge Bills
for tho maintenance of many prls-
oners sometimes hundreds in tho
cities and larser counties Under the
new law every one OF these. save
those Who have not been tried and wo-
men. may be sent by the courts TO
work on the ROADS What is now de-
sired is healthy public sentiment. SO
that the courts may take these men
out OF the ials where they lie in
ldlenese amid the worst surroundings.
and give them healthful employment.
where thcy may improve the roads and
work for their keep.
State Hiehway Commissioner p st.
Julien Wilson Us also Interested. from
the standpoint OF road building. He
wants 20 see the convict road forces
grow in size. ana SO get that much
more highway constructed and I'M
proved.
Dr Mas,in annroachcs it from the
humanitarian standpoint, looking TO
tho moral mental and physical bet
tcrment OF the PRISONERS.
Would Empty the Jnii-.
with the three forces working from
different standpoints TO the same end.
it is hoped tina; NJ an early dag every
city and county VIII have jalls empty
save ion few trausients awaiting
trial and that thousands OF additional
men Will be at work on the public
roads Of tn. commonwealth.
The information asked FOR oy DR..
Mastin viii be used I'm the work OF
shaping purlic sentiment. and Is In
Much Valuable information on this
subject was contained in the last an
nual report of the state Board Of
charities and Correctons which was
in part as follows.
"Tnere have been confined In the
county and city ja.ls during the pres
mt year. 1875 persons OF whom 400
were insane, and SEA were drunk
ards about lisa were occasional Of
Tenders leaving l.i5I VINO may he
classed as confirmed criminals.
Opportunity fos Heiorm
The insane are innocent sick people.
whom. TO place in Jail Is "a Shame. Inc
drunkards are diseased people. VINO
should have medical treatment.
THE majority OF the oceasional OF
Tenders ana some OF the confined
rrimlnAls can be reformed. In the
ught OF the fact that our prison pop
tiintfou is increasing. the matter OF
reformation OF the criminal becomes
excedinsly important. In order to Sc
emo reformation. three things are
n.c.ssar ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS with rellsi
Gus :nstruction the opportunity 10
live decent life, physically and
,i.slthv employment The sihiity
and th, opportunity to reform should
To-, kept constantly before the inmates
~ our ians. ana the church. the So
,iol ORGANIZATIONS and the civil au-
thoritics Should stand always ready
TO help.
always ho given opportunity to work
,very day during this year we nave
mad nractcauy 1000 idle people In our
f.ns These were held at an aver
age cost for their keep of 5000 per
day. or S2leO0o per year. The ba!V-
moro city Jail ia 1905 made clear OF
Hfa Fe