The Robesonian., 1917-03-08
SYSTEM ANTIQUATED
AND CONDITIONS BAD

AND CONDITIONS BAD
Legislative Committee on Conditions
at State Farm Convict Camps
Conditions Are Due More to the
System Than to Officials in Charge
Raleigh Cor, March 5, Wilmington
Star.
The report of the legislative COM
mlttee to investigate the conditions
and management of the State farm
convict camps went in to both branch.
es Of the Legislature today with the
full membership of five signing a
lengthy review of the investigation
that finds the system antiuuated and
the conditions bad, especially as to
facilities for caring for the convicts
and with majority of the committee
signing a further report reading as
follows:
"The committee further finds that
the superintendent and others in au-
thorlty over the convicts have not
acted in any wise inhumanly, but on
the contrary have been lenient and
conslderate and humane and diligent
IN the performance and discharge Of
their duties and obligations placed
upon them by the present system"
This last clause is signed by Sen
ator Burgwyn and Representative
W. H. Joyner and J. H. Darden.
These members of the committee and
the other two, Senator Turner and
Representative Beasely, sign the full
report, which is a document of thir-
teen typewriter pages.
Investigation Thorough >.
Tho document ont fbo +bo,.
oughness Of the investigation and
finds that the housing and equip
ment at the farm are entirely made
quate. The sleeping quarters, espec-
ally for the negroes, far too small
and poorly ventilated and the bedding
bad, no separation of youthful and
hardened criminals; the dining hall
is poorly heated in cold weather and
white and colored prisoners eat in
the same hall with an alley way be-
tween them. All prisoners have to
wash from the same spigots and
trough, the whites and blacks crowd
ing each other Unfortunately at
the trough.
The report gives the food served,
and method of service and inatten-
tion to bathing are reviewed and fail
ure to supply towels for the use of
the convicts until recently, there is
no recreation provided for the con-
victs beyond their daily work. The
quarters for the women were made
| quate and lacking in necessary pri-
vacy and no woman in charge Of the
department and evils resulting there.
from are reviewed. No reading mat.
ter was supplied by the State and ne
chaplain engaged, although there is
a law authorizing such an official.
Practice of Whipping
The practice of whipping in connec
ton with the discipline is reviewed
and the methods described and abus
es in this respect are cited.
/ The committee finds that little O.
no effort has been made for mora
and mental improvement of the pris
onersI the largest possible result:
and profits from their labors bein|
the paramount object and that youth
full prisoners are often injured b.
their associations in the prison life
Of all the whippings administere
the past few years, of which ther
have been hundreds, none have me
with the disapproval of the author
tiles, so far as the records 20.
The Whitney or Baden camp
found to be a dangerous and hazarc
GUS place with poor equipment for tn
care of the men. Convicts retur
from service there "broken". I'll
committee says:
| "In the judgment of the committe
the conditions at the camps are MO,
due to the system than to the Off
ials in charge. The system has bee
handed down by administrations f,
fifty years and no effort on the pa
Of the prison officials or of the Sta
II authorities to make advancement
this respect"
II The committee finds that there HI
J been lacking any regard for. the r
formation of the prisoners and h
- return to society a better and mo
trustworthy man. The large per ce
of the prisoners, the committee fin
to be young negro men from 16
20 odd years old who might be tres
ed in such manner as to impro
them and make them dependable a;
useful after their discharge.
In conclusion the report makes I
Communications that have been larg
ly adopted in the special act chan
ing the prison system that the Leg
lature has put through the legisl
tive mill the past few days.
The committee concludes with t
NOT BOTHERED ANY MORE
So-called rheumatic pains, grip
aches, lame back, sore muscles
~ stiff Joints arc the result of Ov