The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27
Portuguese Political Prisoners Are Happy Lot

prison was a national holiday and the
prisoners had been granted a rest from
their usual work Thus had the chance
of visiting many of them in ats cells
found the majority of the cells extremely
clean, the condition evidently depending
largely upon the personal habits of the
inmate. Many of the cells were decor
ated with the personal belongings of the
prisoners and framed pictures, postcards,
newspaper illustrations, crucihxes hung
on the walls, especially of the political
prisoners cells
Under the monarchy the prisoners We're
subjected to solitary confinement. and
when they mingled as at lessons, they
wore hoods and masks. Under the repub-
lie, although the men sleep in separate
cells they work in common. | went
through the hall where clothes of all de-
scriptions are made. The chief tailor is
not a prisoner, but skilled workman
who comes in each day to direct the work
The work room was a good sized room,
with plenty of air and sunshine, and vast
ly superior TO some of the worl<rooms in
the big wholesale tailoring establishments
in New York and Chicago with which 1
am personally familiar. In the basement
of one of the wings visited the common
workroom of those who are engaged in
furniture making and woodwork of all
kinds. Some of the political prisoners
prefer to work in their own rooms and
several of this kind l visited. One in par
ticular was highly delighted to show me
his work. Teachers are brought in every
day to instruct the prisoners In the trades
they choose and this particular political
prisoner had had seven lessons in wood
carving. He showed me the first piece
of work he had done and then, with huge
pride, tthe carving he was then at work
on. A comparison of the two showed an
amazing progress.
Under the present system the work of
the prisoners is sold and the workman
becomes entitled to one-third of the
amount obtained for>his production. This
amount, however, is not given to him i'm
mediately, but credited to his account and
the total turned over to him without de-
ductions of any kind when he leaves the
prison. This provides an incentive not
only to hard work. but to good work as
WELL
DIR. Caldeiro Queiroz the governor of
the penitentiary, accompanied me over
the prison and pointed out to me several
changes he had made since he took the
institution over from the monarchy He
showed me the old water pumping install
latlon by which the prisoners. with much
iahor We're formerly compelled to raise
the water supply to the second and third
tler of cells. Then he took me to the en-
glne room and showed me the modern
steam pumping machine which he had
installed and which relieved the prisoners
OF one of their wc~st sated tasks. He
showed me the room in which, behind an
intricate barrier of steel bars wirework
and glass. the prisoners formerly held
conversations with visitors, and he point
ed out how he had not only simpliied the
barrier, but had improved IL so that the
voices would be much more easily heard.
Finally he took me to the classroom
where the men are taught various SUBJ
Jeets by fully qualified instructors. Here
one of the most significant changes had
been effected. Formerly the prisoners,
shrouded In their hoods and with the top
part of their heads covered by black
masks, were marched into the rooms and
imprisoned in tall boxes 18th openings in
front Just large enough 10 show their
heads. In these boxes the prisoners We're
compelled to stand during the entire les
son and were forbidden to speak One of