Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-04-22
FEE GRATING
DESIGNED TOGO
ATCOUNTY JAIL
Committee Also Considering
Plan to Move Prisoners to
Old Workhouse.

Abolition of the fee system, under
which the sheriffs Of Marion county
have received large profits for feed
ing Jail prisoners, and the transfer
ring Of prisoners to the abandoned
Marion county workhouse may result
from a conference Of state, federal
and county officials at the criminal
court today.
County Commissioner Joseph Hayes IA
vored the county paying for the feeding
Of all prisoners by moving the jail pris-
oners to the old workhouse, on North
western avenue. where the prisoners could
work in a large garden
This would make the institution near
IL self-supporting and would stop this
fee system" said Hayes.
HAYES PLAN
BEING CONSIDERED.
The opinion Of Commissioner Hayes
was considered by Floyd Mattice, deputy
United States district attorney who rep
resented the federal government at the
conference; Claris Adams, prosecuting at
torney; Russell T. Byers of the county
council, Mrs. Joseph b. Healing ard
Rev. Morris NJ Feuerlicht, all Of the
county board of charities; County Com
missioner Carlin Shank, Harry Hendrick-
son, county attorney; Judge James A.
Collins of the criminal court, Amos But
Ter and Demarchus Brown of the Indiana
state board Of charities, George D. Thorn
ton and Frank Brown of the county
board Of charities.
Judge Collins called the conference.
The conference resulted In the follow
ing action being decided upon:
L That the county commissioners at
once determine by estimates the cost OF
fitting up the Marion county workhouse
as a Jail
?. That representatives Of the state
and county board Of charities with a
representative of the federal government
personally inspect the workhouse.
8. That Dr. Henry c. Wright, an ex-
pert of New York City, who will arrive
here Sunday to begin an official survey
Of all county institutions, be instructed
TO INSPECT the jail and workhouse first
WOULD PUT
PRISONERS TO WORK.
4: That a program be outlined so
county prisoners can work in a garden at
the workhouse and raise produce with
the idea Of making the institution as
near self-supportlng as possible.
,. That the state and county board of
charities cooperate so a better under
standing Of the aims Of both boards can
exist.
6. That the entire system of housing e
and feeding prisoners at the Jail be
changed.
Z. That the county commissioners de-
eide to abolish the fee system of feeding
prisoners and that the commissioners
take charge Of that by paying the exact
cost Of Jail food and preparation.
Commissioner Hayes declared that the
workhouse, If used as a Jail, would make
it possible to give each prisoner a sep
arate cell to sleep in; a separate building
for women prisoners; a large dining
room; a power house; a hospital; a sep
arate building for insane patients; a
large garden tract and sanitary condi-
t.Ons.
SAYS PRISONERS
COULD GARDEN.
IF the county fed the prisoners, as
many other counties do,'N said Commits
sioner Hayes. I'VE could have a large
garden tract there to be worked by pris-
oncrs.
What prisoners would object TO work
ing in the open each day?
at certainly would be much better
20 have them do that than stay locked
ur in the Marion county JAIL" continued
Mr.. Hayes.
Mr.. Brown asked Mr.. Hayes If the
commissioners had the right TO abolish
the fee system.
Mr.. Hayes said. in reply: The
statutes do not say that the sheriff has
to feed the prisoners but this system.
Of letting the sheriff do It has been GO
Ing on for years.
I'VE pay 60 cents a day TO the sheriN
ard all above the actual cost Of feeding
the prisoners goes into the pocket ot
the sheriff.
Last week Commissioner Shank and
myself were in Pittsburg and the coun-
ty, not the sheriff, fed their prisoners
last year at the rate of IS cents a day
CONTINUED on Page Two.)