The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-04-03
FACTS ABOUT
KENTUOKY'S PRISONS,

LAtA0O4N0s
Mr.. Daniel e. O'Sullivan, chair
nan of the Kentucky Board of Pris-
On Commissioners, made an inter
esting statement to the Louisville |
Evening Post, giving the exact facts
as they exist at present in regard
to Kentucky prisons. His statement
follows:
The state and the Prisons.
''The most important act passed
by the last General Assembly af-
fecting the prisons was the bill pro-
viding for State aid in the building
of county roads. While 1t makes no
reference to the penal institutions,
the opportunity it presents is prov
ideurlal On January l, 1915, the,
contracts OH the labor of at least
500 prisoners will expire. In the
face OF the adverse legislation in
Congress, It is probable that the
prison contractors will not again
bid for this isLor, even If the Pris-
on Commissioners were inclined to
make new contracts.
We are not quite ready to say
what the culture policy of the board
will be, but my personal opinion is
thai the convicts can be worked on
the county reads under the law just
passed by the General Assembly
without Waiting for a constitution
al amendment If the counties will
use convio. labor, under practical
plan which will shortly be outlined
by the Prison Commission, the pris-
on problem win be in fair way
to be solved. After a conference
with Gov, McCreary and Attorney
General Garnett more definite
statement will be made to the pub
lie.
Other Laws Passed.
"The law permitting the Prison
Commission to lease farms adjacent
20 the /, isons at Frankfort and Ed
dyyi'le is OF iDestimable yalue.TheSe
farms can not only be made SELF
sustaining, but the tubercular prls-
onres can be transferred there and
given the chance for life which is
sometimes denied them in the mar
row confines of prison cell.
THE indeterminate sentence law
does away with the automatic pa
role of prisoners and gives the Jury
the power to fix a minimum and
MAXIMUM sentence proportionate to
til. crime committed
In Regard to Children.
THE passage of law limiting
the age of children sent to the
House of Reform, near Lexington,
and making the county pay part OF
the cost when the child is not guilty
Of a penal offense will prevent the
scandalous practice prevalent all oy-
ar the State of consigning innocent,
drpedet children to this institution.
Some of the officials seem TO be In
a conspiracy with the parents to
get rid OF their unfortunate Off
spring and make the State support
them. The Prison Commissioners
have returned to their homes 126
children under thirteen years of age
| who we're sent to the House of Re-
form on flimsy charges. Two boys,
six years old, we're among the num-
Der. They were charged with house
breaking Dozens of cases Just as
fragrant could be cited.
1.-THE Board has under way plans
that win broaden and better this in
stitution, which 10 one OF the most
important In the State, as 1t deals
with the child after he has made
his first mis-step,
Some interesting Figures.
1T may interest the Evening
Posts readers to give paragraph
ic summary of the work being done
in the State prisons and House OF
Reform. The figures quoted Will roe
from the last annual report
Before the recent parole OF 4oo
prisoners under the Court OF APP
peals decision there were 1850 con-
victs at the Frankfort Reformatery
and $50 at Eddyville. The number
of children at the House of Reform
will average 700.
"The contractors at Frankfort anc
Eddyyille paid into the State treas
ury last year $352,OO0. The cost OF
conducting these institutions, sal
aries, supplies, ETC., was $o4ofo4
| The cost of maintaining the HOUSE
of Reform was $12S.3S6.
I'm eighteen months, from Aug
ust /, 1912, to January /, 1914 th'
prisoners have been paid In earn
ings the sum of $4,000. A grea
portion of this amount is sent hom