El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-11-18

rlCrn
them among the MeNicans and indians
confined in the Institution and, some
among the American prisoners
aLfbe-ties Too Many say Some.
Critics say that the inmates are
given too many liberties; that they are
being cOddIed and spoiled; that they
are being given opportunities to escape
to again become menaces to society,
and other criticisms along the same or
similar lines are being voiced by those
VINO cling to the punitive idea Gov
ernOr Hunt and superintendent Sims
are not inclined to be sWerved from the
course they have mapped out for them
selves in this matter. They listen to
the criticisms and invite the critics to
visit the prison in order that they may
base their fault finding upon knOwi-
edge gained at first hand rather than
upon hearsay. They admit that some
prisoners have escaped from the road
camps, but they point to the records OF
the prison for the corresponding
months Of the year previous to the in
stituting of the reforms" to prove that
more men escaped in the same time
than have escaped during the reform"
months and they argue the giving OF
greater liberty to the men, instead of
encouraging prisoners to escape, deters
them
A strong factor in inducing prison
ers to be good" under the new or re
form" system, in governor Hunts esti-
nation, is the double time off given all
honor men who live up to honor re-
quirements. If prisoner tries to
escape or does escape and is recap
tured he fOrfeits all good time and is
never again given any of the priv
Ieges which make life in prison under
knows what a break for liberty viii
cost him and as a rule, is afraid to
take the chance.
To save Prisoners Property.
Governor Hunt has in mind the in
StitutiOn of a further reform if the leg
islature viii back him up with the
necessary legislation. He wants it
made possible to have the property OF
a man who may be sent to prison safe
guarded so his family, if he has one,
may get the full benefit OF il or if he
has no family, it may be saved for him
self against the day he may be re-
leased As il is at present, the mo-
ment the doors of a prison close be-
hind a man convicted of crime, there
is usually a rush of cOrmOrants to, by
hook or crook, appropriate his property
regardless CT who may suffer. The
old idea was that a convict had no
rights that any one was bound to re-
Spect Governor Hunt wants a change
IN that respect, particularly if the con-
Wet Leaves family behind him. One
of the coIlmOnest methods of getting
the means CT the family of a convict
is employed by those who pretend to
have influence with those in authority
sufficient to bring about the pardon
of the Unfortunate one. Money is of
course, always needed and the wife
and children v i'll always dig up their
last dollar and borrow more in an at
tempt to free the husband and father
Usually the self appointed agent has
no influence and simply pockets the
money.
Part Of Earnings to Prisoner.
Governor Hunt would also like to see
lt made possible for the men who are
employed on road or other productive
work paid a certain portion of their
earnings to be turned over to their
families, If they have families. or to
be held in trust for them until such
time as they may be released. Many of
the prisoners now earn money by max
ing canes, horse hair brides. watch [
iobs and hat bands; silver ornaments
Of all kinds, all of which find a ready I
sale at good prices. The money thus
earned is held by the prison authori- /
ties, TO be drawn by the prisoner to /
whom it belongs for any legitimate I
purpose He may send it to his family,
buy more material with which to make I
more goods or buy luXuries with tit 4
rs his and he is free to spend it as ne 4
pleases IN any way that conforms to {
the prison rules. TIME was when the I
prison authorities held out a portion !
Of the money thus earned ny prisoners /
rs "a commission for handling the /
goods This has been done away with I
hen men who manufacture goods of /
any kind during the hours they are /