The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-14
MISS DAVIS ORDERS
REFORMS AT PRISON
Endorses Report Of New Blacl.
wells Island Warden. Who
Gets Free Hand.
Boards TO BE PERMITTED

Revolutionary changes are to We mad,
Blackwell's Island. according TO yes,er.
| days developments. Miss Katharine n
Davis, Commissioner Of Correction an.
proved a report submitted by Warden
John j. Murtha, the new head ~ m.
| ancient prison. in which he outlined I'M.
pending improvements.
Patrick Hayes, former warden a,
Blactwell's Island. who is on s.rh leave
will be assigned to another prison when
he returns. Miss Davis said, and Mur,h.
will be given "a free hand IN his WORK
Of prison bettermcnt.
Some of the changes suggested h,
Warden Murtha were recommended nv
the State Prison Commission after Il,
recent investigation of the peniteutiary
OF the Murtha report Miss DAVIS saws
"As n whole. Warden Murtha's sne.
| g~estions are admirable and meet with
my approval. They indicate that Mr.
| Murtha desires n humane and offc,en,
management of the pe%nitentiary"
I To do away with the cell huckets
Warden Murtha suggested that two cells
be thrown together on each tier This
arrangement. IL was said, stands out a,
| being of the greatest benefit to the In.
mates, lot II VIII Wdk' lNtlr cells
livable. The cost of this plan is to he
studied.
A prisoners clothes should he laundry
marked. so as he can get back his own
and not any suit which seems 30 A,
him. This plan has been ador'ed
Warden Murtha II against the short
hair cut and so is Miss Davis. Here.
after a prisoner may raise "A mustache
or a beard.
II will take extra money IN nut.
At the cooks. walters. bakers and bar.
bcrs with white suits. hut Miss Davis
is in favor of this idea If she can &c,
the white suits. The lack of money has
prevented the installation 81 sanitary
drinking cups.
The next suggestion bears on the
problem of s%egregating prisoners In
classes-the diseased from the healthy,
fret offenders from the case hardened.
Miss Davis and Warden Murtha have
not yst completed their plans In regard
to this change.
Warden Murtha recommended that
exercising periods be set aside for IN,
prisoners. This IL approved of 10y Mss
Davis VI II a be done withou, tie
danger OF outside communication with
the prisoners.
Tie new warden recommended also
that the Keepers clubs he taken away
Miss Davis is not 30 Keen for this ran
She is a firm believer in having order.
obeyed. The clubs will not 90 for the
present. she said.
AS was suggested by the state Prison
Commission, prisoners will be permitted
to sleep on cots In the corridors when
the Jail Ia crowded, as is the case at
this time.
Warden Murtha advocated a commits.
sary in the prison and Miss Davis vii
permit the establishment OF one, hut the
list should he short with restrictions as
10 the amount each prisoner may rIr-
chase. she said.
Miss DAVIS is opposed t. uucensoie 81
correspondence in the prisu.. but sh.
said that she would permit the Nardcn
20 use mis- W Judgment in regard 10
the opening OF lettcrs
I'VE have still large problems 20
solve Miss Davis said. pa rt!cu.arly Of
effective prison labor. which I'm my jIds-
ment is the crucial test OF an )airirls.
tration."