The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-03-29
SAYS FEE SYSTEM
IS wDISCRACEFUL
Representative ]. F. Wood.
ward Astonished to Find II
Prevails in Ten Counties
WILL ATTEMPT TO STOP IT
Under This Plan a Sheriff or warren
Who Is In Charge Of a County
Prison 10 Allowed a Certain
Amount for Feeding Prisoners.

1.-THE fee system Is a ~disgracefui
form of graft and should be abol'
ished entirely and Immediately" said
Representative James F. Woodward,
chairman Of the Appropriations Com
mittee Of the House OF Representa-
tives.
81 had been under the impression
he said, that the fee system had been
eliminated long ago in Pennsylvania
and | was amazed to find that 1t
still prevails In ten counties OF this
Commonwealth. I shall do all In my
power to have It done away with
Under the "fee" system a Sheriff,
or warden who is in charge OF a
county prison is allowed a certain
amount by the county for feeding his
prisoners. The average daily amount
allowed for each inmate Of the Penn
sylvania jails which retain the Zee
system Is thirty-three cents. But the
amount actually spent by the Sheriff
or warden n no case, 1t Is salleged,
exceeds ten cents a day, and is usually
much less, running as low as six cents.
The quantity or quality Of food to
sustain a human being for tw~enty-four
hours that can be bought for six cents
can be readily imagined. Prisoners
are complaining that they are being
starved. Some who have been inter-
viewed have lost heavily in weight
as a result Of the system.
The fee system permits the Sherif
to have as his own the difference
between the thirty.three cents a day
and the amount he actually spends
for the prisoners food. Thus Sheriffs
get rich at the expense OF their wards,
1t is estimated by the Pennsylvania
Prison Society that the ten sheriffs
or wardens of the fee" system pris-
o1s in Pennsylvania reap a harvest
of SAL, 900 annually from feeding their
prisoners. They receive other fees
in large number. They get no salary
and are compelled by law to recognize
the feeding OF their prisoners as one
Of their means OF livelihood" The
county generally provides them with
specious quarters in the jails, where
they live with their families.
The ten counties retaining the fee"
system are Bucks, York, Erie, Lycom-
ing, Washington, Blair, Franklin,
Lawrence, Mercer and Northumber-
land.
Representative Woodward did not
restrain his indignation that the fee
system should still be in vogue in
Pennsylvania.
81 do not favor high-class hotel
menus for county prisons. / think, so
long as prisoners are given wholesome
food and enough OF 1t to keep them
in health, that they are getting all
they deserve. But / am absolutely
opposed to a system by which sheriffs
or wardens take advantage Of them
and make a living by taking part OF
the money the country appropriates
to feed the prisoners. II Is contempt
ible. II the county thinks well enough
Of prisoners to give ~thirty-three cents
q day for their keep, then they should
get thirty-three cents worth Of food.
Personally, ] am sure that the aboli-
ton OF the fee system and the pur-
chasing Of food by contract would re-
suit in a saving to the county and
an improvement in the fare Of the
prisoners
Chairman Woodward is opposed,
however, to the Hess bill by which
It is proposed to establish six indus
trial prison farms in this State. He
was opposed to the saddlihg Of any
more institutions upon the State. He
is in favor, however, Of any measures
looking toward the employment Of
prisoners in county jails. Mr.. Wood
wards position with regard to the ex-
penditure of State money to build pris-
on farms will very likely be upheld
1t is expected that a bill abolishing
the fee" system in county prisons
and certain other forms Of abuse will
be introduced into the Legislature at
an early date.