The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-08-31

tdlnS the Teol9nabonS OF dll the
members OF the board but IL
could not be learned whether
the resignation Of Or. Jacob is
included
I'VE do not propose 10 be dictated
TO by Mayor Marx, Eddie Fitzgerald,
Abner + LArned, and other vision
ares regarding che erection OF a
new House Of Correction" said John
d. Wiley, a member of the prison
board, THURSDAY The entire board
Is OF one accord on this subject.
and We viii stand together We
have visited more than dozen Of
the largest prisons OF the kind in the
United States, and find that they
are copying the methods OF the De
trolt House of Correction our
methods are being used in Europe
even, and the members 81 the board
have given constant study 10 devise
a prison system that is the best.
After all that research il would be
foolish Of us TO yield 10 a few the
orists who do not know what they
are talking about"
These remarks were made by Mr..
Wiley when asked for an oppression
of opinion on the rumor that the
BOARD would resign II II were not
permitted 10 have its own way about
the building or the new prison. The
board advocates a prison on a 100
4 lot D,
I'd, while tho mayor and some OF
his advisors want a prison farm
plan worked out
The fight between the two fac.
tons was preciplated when he
prison board asked the common
council TO authorize the expenditure
of $4,000 for the erection OF
dormi,ory 10 take care Of the over
flow from the prison The council
committee recommended that the
dormitory be erected on the era
tiotavc. site MAYOR Marx and his
adherents felt thar this was an at
temp 10 commit the city 10 the
building of a prison on that site
and blocked il in the council At
present the mayor has the upper
hand and appears 10 be In posi-
ton 10 put thru his proposal for the
prison farm
According TO rumor all the mem
bcrs OF the board, including Marvin
Preston. chairman Jeremiah Dwyer,
John D. Wiley and Fred Postal viii
resign If their scheme is baked. as
has been done
Not one OF the inspectors would
admit. Thursday, that he had threat
ened TO resign but those Interview
ed agreed that they Ind reached a
decision TO stand together
Mr. Wiley said that he could not
understand why people with practi-
cally no knowledge of the subject
OF retaining prisoners would set
up their Judgment against that OF
the experts who had travelled all
over the country studying the situa
ton.
Fred Postal. another member of'
the board, who has one OF the finest
farms in this part OF Michigan. is
also opposed 10 the farm idea lie
declined 20 comment ON ne con
troyersy, however beyond saying
that he believed he had done his.
duty and could do no more A. TO
his imminent resignation he would
say nothing, referring the reporter
to Marvin Preston the chairman.
Nj Preston was not available
Dr. Rernhardf Jacob supcrnton-
dent OF the House of Correction.
declared that it would Boz foolish %
try 10 make the prison % corrective
institution. and declared the insu'u-
tion misnancd
How can We correct q man n 3N
days when the churches, 80 hoot7
society and other influence have
failed for perhaps 39 years. he
asked Most OF ou inmates are
short termcrs We average total
new population here six times q
year For instance. we have am 100
nual population oi moro than 5000.
yet not more Than 600 az ANY one
time. SO that rhc average length OF
a term does not EXCEED GO DAYS W"
might help "A confirmed criminal in
90 days but We cannot cure him.
This prison was established 10
1861 a. a corrective institution and
WAS intended only for first offend
ers Now We get every type of
criminal here. II We had q prison
garden on "A tract OF 100 acres We
could Hso all 1.-THE available prison
crs We have for outdoor work, hut
We do rot need large farm and
could not work if 20 advantage
However. am only a hired man and
,tot-- rrt-,r said a.DufG rf.fuu Also
! have never asked an alderman 20
favor ono plan or the other. altho
do believe b. would be- Wroug 'o 80
into the country. Tor after all our
industrial factories are more ina