Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-12-04

AANI -
penitentiaFy TO the board Of control IN
dieates that the maintenance cost et
the penitentiary has increased approx
imately $4l ,000 during the past bien-
mum over the proceeding hiennium-
Aside from the management, the rise
in prices generally has been responsible
for the greater part OF this increase
The increase IN salaries and wages
alone is nearly $4,000. While the NUM-
Der of employees has been decreased,
it was found necessary, in oraer to re-
tain competent employees, to raise the
scale of wages and to adopt an eight
hour day. The cash on hand of over
$4,000 in the betterment fund. as well
as farm tractor and several auto trucks
may properly be considered as credits
and offset against the increase. A large
chimney was constructed at tha expense
of approximately $1,000 which may alse
be credited against the income.
fsAmong other items responsible for
the increase are the repair and fur
nishing Of cottage for the Parole Of
ficer and the maintenance Of himself
and family and the maintenance of his
automobile, which expense was added
by the last Legislature. There may also
be added the expense of refurnish-
ing the warden's cottage as well as
the added expense in connection with
the maintaining of convicts at the
state lime plant and at large wood
camp and also the boarding of civil
ians working in the lime plant, brick
yard and flax industry.
Under the circumstances, the ex-
pense would probably have been great
or than IL has baen had 1t not been for
the extensive trusty system in effect
The records show that since January
In. 1917, three hundred thirty-five mea
have been placed out as trustees and
have worked outside, without the ex-
pense Of hiring guards and that nine
tenths Of these have made good.
! Warden should Name Parole Officer.
f0ro insure future harmony at tho
penitentiary and to prevent needless
| turmoil, and strife in regard to whs
is the active head of the institution,
either the parole officer should appoint
the warden or the warden should aP
point the parole officer, so that there
can be no question in regard to who
| is the superior authority. This grand
iurv recommends legislation providing
that the warden hereafter shall appoint
parole officer and that he shall be
responsible to the warden.
aLastly this jury recommends that
the law prohibiting competition of con-
vict with free labor be repealed in 20
far ais the same pertains to the employ
ment Of prisoners inside the pensten-
tiary. The establishment Of an industry
of some nature In tho penitentiary thas
will employ practically all prisoners At
all seasons Of the year is a matter OF
urgent necessity. The taking of pris-
oners from one job to anothe-. from one
part Of the state to another not only
causes much loss OF time but causes
friction among convicts and does nos
tipstill in them the habit Of sticking
with 4 lob for any length Of time. Tho
establishment Of some industry to fuilH
utilize the factory buildings now there
and to employ all conyicts at ! y times
a matter Of such great Importance
that It shouldb be taken care Of vory
early date \.
!, lit Is with regret on the part Of
1.-The individual members Of the jury thas
we report some Of the matters contain
, cd herein, particularly as the same per-
tains 10 the governor Of this state and
to the parole officer. Individually, It -
| lo1.nf that fhn OoVnruQx