The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-09-01
Members Decide To
Stick After Confer
ence With Mayor
FALL IN WITH
LATTER'S PLAN
Definite Prison Policy
To Await Trial of
Prohibition

Hi'i AlNS anu pdithtu up lnelT
troubles The members of the board
practically surrendered TO the
mayor Thursday afternoon they
submitted their designations. Be
fore accepting them the mayor sum
moned the board for a conference
When the board members appeared
the mayor closeted himself with
them for a short time. after which
he announced that they had with
drawn their designations. com
! promise" having been reached
The inspectors, Marvin Preston
chairman. Fred Postal John y
Wiley and Jeremiah Dwyer with DR.
Bernhard Jacob. superintendent OF
the House of Correction. wanted a
Now prison built on tract OF land
Tho city owns on French-rd.. near
| GratiOtave. The mayor wanted A
prison farm Of at least 1000 acres
whereas the French-rd. site con
tains only 100 acres The mayor
and the board split on this PROPOSE
ton and when the mayor defeated
the board on test OF strength In
the common council the board re
signed In a body. II was also re-
ported that Or Jacobs resignation
would follow. altho II was not sub
mittcd with the others
When the members of the board
I "a a h. he NJ
FIRST thanked them for their long
and faithful work and said he re.
GREETED that they had felt II incum.
bent upon themselves 10 submit
their designations. Mayor Marx
made an address i'm which he sug.
gosted that the board remain in OF.
fec and 90 ahead with the erection
of m addition 20 the present prison
site. meanwhile looking up a site
for prison farm
He assured the inspectors that he
did not want a prison built al once.
but preferred 10 wait until prohihi-
tion had been in effect in Michigan
for "A few months. II has been said,
he told the inspectors, that alcohol
is responsible for the conviction of
dUflIi ffi iti Nfflll Nl AIlt UIlE0IfINi
and if a trial of prohibition proved
this true. IL would not be necessary
TO build such large prison He
wished 10 delay definite policy until
next July or August. when prohibit
tion rule will have been In force
long enough 10 indicate what might
be expected. and then have a prison
planned according 10 those findings.
The compromise was in reality a
complete surrender of the board 10
he wishes OF the mayor and his
advisors. lie had demanded a prison
farm after his agents had visited
such institutions around the country
and reported that they were the
most satisfactory form of prison for
Detroit
After considerable talk along this
line it was decided that the inspec.
tors would withdraw their resigna.
tions. an the members declaring
chat they had no other idea in sub
hitting them than 10 give the mayor
free hand in carrying out his pro
ject
Mayor Marx answered the argu-
ment OF the board that the prison
had made a large amount of money
for tho city by declaring that he
did not want 10 profit from the un.
fortunates. but wanted thu prison
10 be self-sustaining only. and AZ
the same time to- furnish outdoor
employment for the inmates,
Members of the board said they
would seek site where the farm
idea could b. employed and the in
dustria end of the institution. which
has paid he dividends 10 date, could
also be carried out.
Tho letter of resignation which
has been withdrawn was as follows
W, deem ~ duty 10 enter pro-
tcst agnin@t the proposed experiment
of~piacinc the Detroit House ~ COR
rcctiOu upon y l.000-acrc farm and
Joy sn doing changing a policy that
has proven a success for 81 years
'n our Judgment so large a farm
fnr thott-icrm prisoners. s. per cent
cf whom serve from five TO 30 DAYS.
and Nn uor cent ~ whom less than 20
DAYS is AGAINST tho interest Of the in
mates the city and the taxpayers
The present institution has been
rlf-supporting. has paid into tho
citN treasury about 81 Zoe. 900 and has
earned and spent $3.50 600 for new
buildings. repairs and improvements.
Ncsld"s paving about SIS .00n year
tp the prisoners In wages $40. 1000 "A
wear 20 Tho poor comWi ssioners. 90
Hn used fni tho support % families ~
prisoners. and $3.50 FOR tho support
uf prisoners families outside In tho
state.
Many prison reforms adopted by
other peuitcntiarics originated In
fhts institution. The care ~ prison
90 f4.r
inmate. adjustment 81 corpora !
r1nishment. the lock stcp and striped
uniforms enforced schooling FOR
BOYS encouraging the men TO attend
tho school. maintaining library.
rnud tctnE religious services. giving
entertainments. tho bctterment u
food improved hospital and medical
service and absolute cleanliness IN
their person and surroundings. with
tho result that our prison mortality
is low. and that We improve the
mental. moral and physical condition
~ tho inmates
We arc receiving and shipping out
500 carloads Of freight. \rcceiving
q GOO TONS ~ coal annually. necessi-
tatAng railroad facilities We receive
from tho city courts and discharge
from tho institution as many as 50
persons day No have So employees
living IN tho city. thus making rapid
and economical transportation q, no
ressity Much ~ our product Is mar
krtrd in Detroit subject toNour DO
itrfy making nearby location inn
portnnt The institution should NOT
Pc IN residence section and yet
should have lighting sewer. water.
police and Gre protection facilities
Wa have plat Of 100 acres on
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