The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-12
Doesn't Agree With Warden
Codding's Recommendations.
Demands Cell Houses Be Torn
Down and RemOdeIed.
"NIGH1IES" FOR CONVICTS
Also Bath Once a Day Instead
of Once a Week.
Separate Institutions for WOm-
en- and Sexual PervertS.

The Kansas state prison today came
in again for a scathing denunciation
from an investigating committee. This
time the report emanates from the
state board of health and is written
by a committee comprising DR.. Chas-
H. Lerrige, Prof c. A Haskins. DR..
B. J. Alexander and DIR. Lydia Allen
Devilbiss.
The housing of prisoners is the most
important problem at the prison. the
committee reports, and the present
quarters are the most inadequate OF
any found in the institution. The re-
port sets forth that these quarters al
low each prisoner approximately 200
cubic feet of air space during II hours
out of "a, and this space is polluted
by the odors and excretions from hun
ldredS of bodies
A plan proposed to the committee
by Warden Codding which contem-
plates making one cell out of two cells
is turned down flat and the committee
agrees with Professor Blackmar in his
proposition that the only way to re-
model the present cell house is to tear
down the whole internal structure and
rebuild it in such way as to give q
decent room to each prisoner and pro
vide adequate plumbing facilities.
The quarters for the crimina. in
sane are only slightly better. the com
mittee reports. The report also de.
nounces the prison hospital. especiassl
the surgical ward, as hopelesSly in
adequate.
Labor Plan All Wrong.
| But most emphatic of all denuncia-
tions is that pertaining to prison la
Dor. The committee states that ths
whole question of labor at the state
prison is on a wrong basis. The oc
t cupationS, it is declared, are distinct,
/ M nf a
as to be deleterious to health. A:
| between the mines, the twine plan
and brick plant, the committee rec
! ommends the brick plant to be th'
least harmful
1.-The coal mines" reads the report
provide opportunity for many de
grading practices. The twine plant
because of the irritating properties o
the Sisal and certain chemicals uset
in treating it, produces in many o
/ the workers an itching skin eruption
which causes much suffering"
| The StrangeSt of all recommenda
tions is all urgent demand that tn,
convicts be obliged to don "nighties
| I'VE often hear" writes the commit
tee, ''of the prison smell. Under sucI
| circumstances, as confront the prison
| ers, we cannot wonder. The commit
| tee recommends bathing facilities suf
ficient to give these working men
bath each day and frequent changes o
1 underwear, especially for those work
ing in the twine plant
Men Not Money.
| Making men-not money, is I'll.
principal purpose of a prison, the com
mittee believes. 1t does not beliey
that monetary gain obtained by tn
state from its prison in supplying 9th
| er institutions with cheap fuel an,
Kansas farmers with cheap bin6ini
tw1ne is sufficient warrant for keep
ing prisoners at occupations whicl
can do them no good and which, to
certain extent, is bad for their health
Even in all justice" continues tn
report 'if the money which is earne
by them in mines and twine plant wer
returned to the institution there woul
be ample funds for providing decen
quarters for the men and for sue
Improvements as are needed to brin
this institution in line with what ou
modern conception of such institution
should be. 1t would also provide suf
ficient funds for building a sanitar
and educational workshop"
The committee looks upon tn
presence of women prisoners kept S
near to a large body of men, Twin
under abnormal conditions, as a con
stant source of disturbance and an
noyance- A separate institution IN tn
state for women is recommended.
AS a result of the Bissell case tn
committee recommends also a sepa
rate institution for sexual perverts fo
their perpetual custody.