Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-02-09
Members Of the Legislature
Discuss the ACCESSIBILITY of
Passing Legislation So Pro-
viding.
WORK FOR THE cONvICTS
Report of State Affairs Com
mittee Shows Need of Mod
ern Buildings to Replace
Present Anticipated Ones.


tire state penitentiary in it's en-
tircty is being discussed by members
OF the present legislature and is meet
ing with not a little Roadway, it was
learned Saturday. The proposal is
that the entire group of alleged anti
Guated buildings at the states penal
institution be replaced by others to be
putt exclusively by the inmates thus
solving the problem of keeping them
pusy at employment over a series of
Years and at the same time giving to
tne state practically a new institution.
The site for the proposed new
penitentiary is adjacent to the pres
ent one. Those favoring the plan say
that the building of the walls could
start this year following which the
erection of the buildings could be
taken up and carried on without in
corruption. They say there is,plenty
or stone building material at hand to
carry on the work and that a great
many more inmates could be employ
ed to advantage than is now the case
The building site being close by
either to the east or to the west of
the present penitentiary, guards could
take out most of the convicts and
supervise the work without trouble.
REPORT STARTS MOVEMENT.
The report filed by the state af-
fairs committee of the two houses on
the state penitentiary showing the
condition of some of the buildings, is
said to be the basis for the proposal
TO start the erection of an entirely
new institution.
This report is as follows:
I'VE, your committee on state af-
fairs, pursuant to an investigation or
the conditions of the Idaho state peni
Tertiary beg leave to report as fol-
lows:
on the afternoon Of the Gath day
OF January, 1919, a sub committee ap-
pointed from the state affairs COM
mittees of the senate and house,
spent the whole of the afternoon of
said day in going over the different
departments and grounds in the peni-
Tertiary.
We found conditions in the kitchen
at the penitentiary to be unsanitary
and more particularly needing re-
pairs and changes in the following,
to wit We found the floor in the
Kitchen practically worn out, so that
In cleaning and scrubbing the floors,
water seeps through the floor into the
apartment below, occupied by the tall
oring department of the institution
making this department, by reason OF
the water running through the floor,
unsanitary We found the range used
In the kitchen to be practically burned
out and very expensive to operate. We
further found the walls of the kitchen
TO be of rough stone APPARENTLY white
washed many years ago, and to be I'M
sanitary. We further found the cook
ing utensils practically worn out and
inadequate to the needs of the
tuition and unsanitary. With respect
to this department we make the fol-
lowing recommendations:
First. The purchase and installa-
ton of new range adequate to the
needs of the institution.
Second. That the floor in the
kitchen be replaced by a hard surface
concrete or tile floor.
Third. That the walls of the
Kitchen be finished with a hard ce-
ment surface.
Fourth. That a proper and ade-
quate supply of cooking utensils and
tableware be furnished this depart
ment and in this regard we recon-
mend that a complete new supply of
spoons drinking cups and plates, salt
and pepper shakers of sanitary
character be used in supplying the
needs of this department.
With reference to the sanitary con-
oitions we further found exceedingly
unsanitary toilets installed as fol-
lows: (a) an open toilet in the yard
that Is highly unsanitary and without
any protection of any kind; and CD
fai1 at Al.
ward which we consider highly I'M
sanitary; and in this regard we would
especially recommend the installation
OF a sufficient number of outdoor and
anti-freeze toilets, and the ones re-
ferred to at the hospital be either
changed to some other part of the
hospital building. or else sanitary
toilet installed.
CONDITIONS UNAVOIDABLE.
I'VE further found at the hospital n
large crack in one of the walls,
through which the wind at times
blows, bringing in considerable dust
making the ward uncomfortable and
at times unsanitary, and we would
recommend that proper repairs be
made so as to correct this defect.
I'm the laundry department we
found the stove used in this depart
ment by the prisoners for the heating
of smoothing irons, to be practically
burned out, and the department very
much in need of a stove for this pur-
pose. and in this regard we recon-
mend the purchase of suitable stove
for the use of those engaged in the
laundry department.
i I'VE further found the women's
ward in the institution to be inade-
quate for the accommodation of any
large number of women. We found
upon the date of our visit only three
female inmates. but found them to
be all CHARTERED in one room. without
proper sanitary facilities and without
any facilities for segregation. and in