Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-18
WORKHOUOE EXPERT
EXPLAINS METHODS
Frank Mcdonald Of Minneapolis
Here on Invitation Of Omaha
Business Men.
TO HELP BEAUT1FY THE CITY

Frank Mcdonald, superintendent
OF the Minneapolis Industrial Educa-
tional farm, the foremost expert on
warehouses; and work farms in the
United States, is here by invitation
OF the Commercial club to tell Omaha
how II should go about establishing
a workhouse.
In an hours address at noon at
the Commercial club and in an infor-
NAL talk 10 county officials at tho
court house, Mr.. Mcdonald graph
cally detailed his experience at Min
neapolis in building up an institution
which this year will pay into the city
treasury 1000. an excess OF s12,-
600 over its cost Of maintenance, In
addition to improving the moral and
physical condition OF hundreds OF
men and women.
The invitation was extended by the
Commercial club. following a suggestion
by County Commissioner John G. Lynch.
who visited the Minneapolis workhouse
three years ago. A Jaw passed BY the last
legislature enables Douglas county to
establish workhouse and farm.
Does Not Like One Clause.
Mr.. Mcdonald endorsed the law with
the exception OF the clause requiring
! prisoners to be sentenced first to the
county jail. leaving them under control
OF the sheriff. lie criticized this vigor-
ousiy.
You couldn't find high class man In
the United states 20 be superintendent
OF your workhouse under a sheriff I'M
less there is a man living in Omaha
capable OF doing the work. who would
be able TO cope with the situation by
reason Of being familiar with local con-
ditions." he declared.
My theory OF a workhouse Is that II
should be self-supporting and should re-
turn a profit. which may be used for
maintenance OF the prisoners families
and for themselves: that the city should
use ali it's products AMI that none OF
these should be sold In the open market"
said Mr.. Mcdonald. THE prisoners
should do any work that will beautify
or build up the city"
For instance we are making 100000
building bricks a year. which have been
used by the city in the building OF schools.
and 10000 sewer bricks. which have
gone into the city's sewers.
Helps Build Hospital.
I'VE built the beautiful Hopewell
hospital for tubercular patients at a
cost OF $4,000, saving the city $4,000 over
the lowest contractors estimates and
other buildings with similar savings.
These are some OF the business aspects
Of the workhouse, but / pay more at
tantiou TO Its value from humanitarian
standpoint and regard II as Of greater
inheritance. An Industrial education farm
properly describes my theory. Prisoners
are sent out after serving their sem
fences with knowledge OF how TO do
work well
Two have liquor cure which was ef-
fectivc in ESQ oWt OF 500 cases. We have
successfully treated large percentage
OF drug victims"
No Fence Around Farm.
Although Mr.. Mcdonald is opposed to
guns or shackies in handling prisoners
and there Il no fence around the Mime
apoils work farm there have been no
escapes from II 90 far this year and
there were only two last year.
Saturday night assemblies IN which
musio and other forms Of entertainment.
short talks by the superintendent and
conversation among the prisoners are
features are a part OF the regular routine
In the Minneapolis institution.
Mr.. Mcdonald is opposed to the prison
labor contract system and criticizesivig
orously crowded unsanitary conditions In
penitentiares.
4 In speaking at the Commercial club al
noon Mr.. Mcdonald condemned the COM
pensation clause in the Nebraska work