Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1912-10-10
By WILL n. MAYES.

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prisoners, granting them many
opportunities and privileges no
formerly accorded them. Thes,
laws, under which the peniten
ltentiary syetem is NOW operated
were adopted in September
1910, and become effective .Janu
airy Goth, 1911, following the
penitentiary investigation or
dered by the the thirty first
Legislature. They largely EN-
body the recommendations OF
the Investigating committee, ano
while probably needing amend
ments, they, in the main, care
fully safeguard the interests OF
the prisoners and of the state
the changes needed being only
such as might be naturally ex
pected to follow a first serious
attempt to reform the penal sys
temof a state. Whatever changes
may be suggested will be treatrd
in another article, the purpose
of this being merely to acquaint
the public with the laws that
now govern the system, as they
affect the personal rights and
privileges of prisoners.
After conviction, prisoners
must be taken, without undue
delay, by the sheriffs of their
respective counties, or by peni-
tertiary agents, direct to the
Huntsville penitentiary. Each
is required to make a statement
giving brief history Of his life,
where he has resided, names and
postotfice addresses of his imme-
date relatives, and such other
facts as will tend to show his
past habits and character This
statement is verified or disprov-
by correspondence, and is filed
for future use. The prison
physician makes thorough
medical examination Of the pris
oner, which is certified to the
commission, photographs are
taken. his description is attached
to these and Bertillion measure
ments are taken. The prisoner
is then, according to sex, color,
age, health and knowledged, as
signed to work within the walls,
or outside, it being the policy Of
the mission to assign each
one to the work to which he or
she may be best adapted, and
where the services may be most
needed. A prisoner when re-
ceived is carefully searched. and
If any money is found on him, or
is received by him afterwards it
is taken in charge, placed to his
credit and expended for his bene-
hit on his written order under
such restrictions as may be pre-
scribed, and it is made a felony
for any officer or employee, hav
ing in charge prisoner mon
ey to misappropriate any part of
it.
Prisoners are classified. In
the first class are included young
men, first offenders, those APP
pearing to be corrigible, or less
vicious than others, and likely to
observe the laws and to main
tain themselves by honest in
dustry after their discharge. In
the second class are included
those appearing to be less cor
rlglble, or more vicious, but con
tent to work and reasonably
obedient to prison discipline and
who will not likely interfere with
the labor or conduct of those
with whom they may be en-
ployed. In the third class are
the iucorrigibleS, those who are
inSubordinate to prison diScip-
line, or vicious, and who inter-
fere with the labor and moral
development of those with whom
they come in contact. The priS
on commission makes rules for
the promotion and reduction of
prisoners from one class TO an.
other a each may deserve. The
prisoners in eachof these classes
must De kept, as far as practlca-
BILE, IN different or separate uris
ons, cor upon seperate farms.
Stripes aud checks have been
abolished, except for third class
prisoners. except a a mode for
punishment for the violation Of
prison discipline
The law has abolished whip.
ping. except as "a prisoners Of
the third class. who cannot be
made 20 observe the rules by
milder methods 81 punishment.
These can not be- given more
than twenty lashcs on th. bare
rump and thighs with a leather
strap, nut over two and q half
inches vidg and twenty four
inches long. attached 20 wood
en handle. No convict can 1e
Ehipfed ultl whipping has been
authorized 1y ~ lessf twu VI thc
PRISON commission upon their
written order, such order g. bs.
executed iu th" presence If the