Perth Amboy evening news., 1917-02-15

lii is blameu
men exercise for fouFteen S0ays W lfiis
prison. 1t Is admitted that there is
lack of adequate facilities for med
ical examination and segregation,
the board not being 'versed in ther-
apeutics- or psychiatry,' it is stated.
That there Is not adequate yard
space Is self evident. the legislature
having frequently been advised of
this fact.
With respect to lodging more than
one prisoner to a cell, the report
says this may or may not be true,
according to ones Interpretation of
the law. Three prisoners have been
at times placed in the cells in South
Hall, but these are more rooms than
cells. That the food is poorly cook
ed and improperly served and that
there is an absence Of dining hall
is a disputable conclusion, in the
opinion of the inspectors. The evil
dence given the inquiry commission
on this subject was not conslusive,
although there is need for a dining
hall, says the report.
1t is unfortunately too true that
there are inadequate educational
facilities, but the board had already
taken the matter up with the State
Board of Education, 1t states. The
''intolerable conditions In the way
Of punishment mentioned are pre-
sumed by the inspectors to be the
cramped quarters in the old dun
geons, which are abolished. The re-
port denies prisoners were stood in
the center wing, face to the wall, and
deprived of their meals. as dis
charged convicts claimed.
AS to this method of punishment the
report says "it Is only an adaptation OF
the usual treatment accorded an un-
rufy child"
The report admits the absence of a
merit of grading system, but says II
cannot be brought about during the
continuance of contract labor. The
board of inspectors preferred to OBJ
serve the humane law In conserving
the welfare of the prisoners by employ
ing more than 100 men to a contract
rather to "obsequiously follow" a
statutory enactment, which prohibited
the employment Of more than this
number to contract. The board has
no knowledge that the law has been
violated In the proper marking OF
goods manufactured In the prison con-
tract shops, but points out that it Is
optional with the contractor. accord
ing to the law. whether such articles
shall be stamped "made In prison."
The report states the inspectors are
unaware that the medical staff has
ever given expression to the thought
that two years term death sentence
to tubercular prisoner" and char
acterize 1t as too sweeping a conclus-
ion." The climatic condition of Tren-
ton. which Is not ideal, the board
states, must be considered in relatio II
to this question. Prisoners In road
camps or at the farm are automat-
ically paroled when their minimum
sentences expire, and only held until
the next transfer of prisoners, when
they are brought to Trenton for for
NAL parole. thus avoiding unnecessary
expense. Male friends are permit
ted to visit these men, although the To-
cations naturally curtail the oppor-
tunity for visits. Women have been
prohibited from visiting at the farm
or camps.
A general endorsement Is given the
recommendations made by the inquiry
com mission, including the making of
the baths available for use through
out the entire year, and the extension
of employment of prisoners at the
farm and on road camps Disapprov-
al of contract labor is voiced, but op-
position is declared to it's abolition un-
til some other method can be substi-
tuted insuring work for the prisoners