Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-01-27
BOARD REPORTS ON
PRISON AFFAIRS
Suggests Rebuilding Prison
On Unit Plan and Changes
in Conducting It

That plans and specifications for a
new prison of reinforced concrete, fire
proof construction be prepared; that it.
be built by prison labor; that it have
the outside cell system; that it be built
by units within six years and that it
be financed by six annual tax levies,
are some of the principal recommends
tions Of the 80 made by the board Of
survey that was filed with the state
board OF control yesterday. The mem
bers of the survey signing the report
are +. w. Mulkey, chairman, Portland; I;
E. f. Brodie, Oregon City; and L. j,
Wentworth, Portland.
That cells be provided for all but
TRUSTEES; that there be only one man
to the cell and that TRUSTEES have dor
mitory sleeping accommodations.
That the first unit of the proposed
new prison include cell house of 100
cells to be used for incorrigibles and
in addition thereto give each prisoner,
| by the use of the present penitentiary
and the new cell house, separate ell.
| A separate board for the manage
ment of the penitentiary is recon-
mended
| Among the above recommendations
are several that have been advocated by
Captain Charles A. Murphy, the new
! warden, as necessary in providing ade-
quate means of caring for the prisoners
at the penitentiary. Warden Murphy
has favored the building of the prison
so that the cells shall be on the out
side wall instead Of in the center as it
now is. He was also in favor of build
ing the new prison by units by the pris-
oners, thus saving the state money and
affording work for the prisoners.
1t is urged that the Mutual Welfare
league, as applied in Sing Sing prison,
be experimentally tried, and that a
balanced diet be given the inmates
under the direction of skilled steward,
who, the report says, could have more
than his salary.
More Produce Advised.
Touching upon the penal farm, the
report says that it should be operated
to supply the general demands of the
penitentiary for farm produce; that it
be drained where needed; that all of
its products of a perishable nature must
be canned or prepared for use or mar
seting.
"To do this," the report declares, '"it
is necessary to repeal the law prohibit
ing the sale of prison made goods in
competition with the products of free
labor" and the report SO recommends
that the. law be repealed.
Quarries Are Suggested
1t is suggested that prisoners, il
compensated, be required to pay for al
or part of the cost Of their apprehen
sion and trial.
Any industry for the employment OF
prisoners should be one that requires
the smallest initial plant investmen;
per unit, the report asserts and the
smallest number OF units; one that EN-
ploys .profitably the largest amount oi
unsRilled labor and the least amount
of machinery, and one that does moi
have to depend for a market on inter
state trade. The commission believes
that the quarrying and grinding o.
limestone by prison labor is worthy Of
consideration.
Continuation Of the present chaplain
system is recommended, but, it is said
religious teachings should have NOR,
prominent place in the work Of ref
ormation Of prisoners.
!. Re-establishment Of common sehoo
work at once is suggested. 1t il
urged. that such work be placed undei
competent paid teacher. to be super
vised by tho state or Marion county
school superintendent.
It is urged that vocational training
be established, that military drill anC
calisthenica obtain, that en- American
flag fly within the prison grounds and
/ that inside officials, except the ward
en-, be in prison uniforms, and that pris
oners be required to salute officials.
i In suppression and handling of vic'
! it is recommended one-nan eel
4 system be established and that steri
i lization Of the feeble minded and cas-
I tration Of the ineorrigible. be insti
J tuted.
(n1s. ks.A1 VI