The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-27
A new "'PEN''
This Is Plan Before Legislature
This Winter.
Construct S25O,OOO Plant in
Central Kansas.
PRESENT PRISON is DINGY
Make 1t Over for All-County
WorkhOuse.
Legislative Senate Committee
on an Investigation.
C0DDING SEES THE NEED
He Has Done Wonders With
What Money He Had.
Food and Treatment o. X. but
Housing Inadequate.
Make 1t Over for All-COunty
WOrkhOuse.
Legislative Senate Committee
on an Investigation.
CODDING SEES THE NEED
He Has Done Wonders With
What Money He Had.
Food and Treatment o. X. but
Housing Inadequate.

After visiting the antiquated. poor
ly equipped, dingy and musty celled
state penitentiary of Kansas, the char
liable and penal institution committee
OF the senate is considering seriously
the recommendation that a quarter
million dollars be appropriated by the
legislature this year for the construc-
ton of hcw modern renai structure
in central Kansas. Make the present
plant into a workhouse for county
prisoners. is the idea advanced by ].
K. Codding, warden. and the commit
tee from the senate and house has
faith in his theory.
The committee from the legislature
led by J. w. Howe, senator from LICK
inson, headed the Investigation cf the
Lansing penftentia-y. They listened
with the usual cold appreciation to
Warden Codding's recommendation
Later they visited the federal penIten-
t1ary In Leavenworth. The contrast
between the modern, well ventilated.
sanitary and fully equipped condition
of the government prison, and the un-
sanitary, and at times repulsive lack of
accomm modations at the state institu-
t1onS, brought back to mind the argu-
ments of the Kansas warden-and the
committee is threshing out today its
proposed recommendations to the SEN
ate and house.
1t is agreed by the legislative COM
mittee that the Kansas penitentiary is
disgrace to the state. Warden Cod
ding concurred in the decision. All
that money can do--tha- Is, the avail
able money-has been done in the last
four years of the Codding administra-
tration-and still the prisoners are
forced to live in disease breeding
holes-In-the-wall and the state is
spending thousands trying to make in
habitable the various old and imprac.
tical buildings 81,
1t is admitted that something must
be done-despite the threats of the
administration to reduce the taxes.
The proposed penitentiary would be
located in the central part of the state
tho location has not been deter
mined. 1t would be built cheaply be-
cause of the labor that could be do
mated to the work. At a cost of $3.50
900 a penitentiary representing a
value of much more could be con-
Structed. The new pen" would have
no high walls around it. Each cell
would be ventilated and provided with
sanitary facilities for the needs of the
inmates. Everything would be includ-
ed in one building, greatly economiz-
ing the use of fuel. Hospital con-
veniences, school rooms. mess halls
all would be compact
1t has been figured by Warden Cod
ding that the money now wasted in
heating the scattered and old build
1ngS OF the present prison, would cover
the interest yearly on the erection of
a new penitentiary in the central part
of the state.
The plant now in operation would be
continued. It is estimated that the
mines are good for at least S5 years.
The brick plant facilities are complete
in the matter of material The twine
plant is running successfully. Bring
the county prisoners to the state prison
at Lansing, pay them small sum to
work if necessary and the counties
could save thousands annually on the
meals of the prisoners-and the state
would have their assistance in working
the mines and the brick plants.
The needs of the prison now are
enormous modern hospital is ncces-
sary. Prisoners should be paid wages
for the aid of their families. Old wag-
ons, worn out mules and ancient ma
is scheduled for the junk heap.
The administration building needs COM
plete remodeling. Boilers in the engine