Evening journal., 1920-03-15

ii1rtA nave udl some experience lh
helping prison officers 20 understand
their Jobs, and / should be willing TO
assist in developing such a plan and to
go TO Wilmington once or twice for that
purpose without compensation.
II such school should be undertaken,
and The results schould justify II, you
might obtain further assistance from
such excellent prison men as Superln-
tendent McClelland, Of the West Chester
County Prison, and the new warden OF
Sing Sing Prison, Major Lawes.
l may be mistaken as 10 the practica-
bility Of this plan, but feel very CON
ildent that II you get a warden who is
capable and Is interested he can work IL
out successfully, IL Is time that we re-
cognze that prison work Is technical
job for which people should receive
special training.
THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
I was glad 10 learn that you have ap-
pointed young physician who Is ex-
pected 10 interest himself vitality in his
job. The physician Is one Of the most
important officers Of the prison and he
should be a llrst-cass man who Is not
too much cngr0ssed in his private
practice TO make his prison work his
chief medical interest. Every prisoner
should receive a thorough medical cX-
animation upon admission, and should
receive such medical and surgical treat
menl as may be necessary 10 put him
IN the best possible physical condition.
You have wisely made the physician
responsible for the dietary land this
duty should not be a sinecure). The
physician should also be made respon-
sible for The sanitary condition OF the
prison, throughout, and should have
authority TO enforce his sanitary re-
gulalions
EDUCATION.
/ note with hearty approval the en-
plOyment OF two competent teachers
and the establishment of well-organized
schools with competent and well-paid
people from the city Of Wilmington.
These teachers. II well chosen. can
exercise strong influence for the i'm
provement and reformation Of prison.
crs ! desire TO call your attention to
The Importance OF dlgnifylng the posi-
ton OF prison chaplain. Your chaplain
is receiving S35 per month. This COM
pensailon should be increased 10 at
least SEQ per month"; and the chaplain
should visit the prison and establish
personal relations with prisoners at the
! cell door or In the prison yard on Sat
urdays. The personal work Of a wise
chaplain for the individual prisoner Is
more important than his formal preach
ing.
In order 10 promote educational work,
/ would suggest a change In your dining
room arrangements; namely. that the
! present dining tables be abolished and
| hat small tables, seating not more than
/ six or eight men take their place. Then
! let chairs be substituted for the benches
so that the prisoners can eat like or
dinary people. These tables can also
be used for school purposes, and II VIII
be possible, when the school Is not In
session, TO use the dining room as a
llivlng room where men whose conduci
1uslines 10 may be allowed TO read and
play checkers, etc. for and hour or twC
each evening. This plan is pursued II
a number Of prisons with good effect
Il will not be necessary 10 have more
than two guards in charge Of the livine
room. The prisoners will greatly value
this privilege and will. themselves. sup
press any manifestation Of disorder In
order not TO sacrifice the privilege.
II. THE PLANT.
The Workhouse plant is not exactly
what YOU would build at the present
time. but 10 Is on the whole, reason
ably good plant for the care Of about
800 prisoners. When the number OF
prisoners was at its climax, about $50
men. II was necessary 30 put two men In
great many cells. but the present num-
Der Of prisoners can be cared for with
out adopting the dangerous and 0b-
lectlonable plan OF doubling up
There is a lack Of sufficient storage
room. Flour was stored in the officers
dining room. conyicts were eating IN inc
general store room, and supphes were
kept in several different places. Thert
should be one store room OF sunicleh
size TO contain all valuable supplies ahC
they should be kept in charge OF
responsible store keeper and issued only
on requsition. only in this way car
responsibility be secured.
The kitchen and the main dining room
are one room. The kitchen should n'
separated by a partition and should
either be extended in a one-story wlni
or should be supplied with fans 70 Sc
cure proper ventilation.
The drug room, dispensary, and hospi
J ial with three bedsl have insuhlclen
room. Larger quarters should be pro
, yided.
The ward for tuberculous patients
with It's ample sleeping porch, protecie'
/ nv steel bars. Is excellent; but It wa
. hannilv unOccupied for lack Of patients
The most unsatisfactory part OF IN
nlant * the women's department Whlcl
, has no kitchen. no dining ROOM ~
living room. The women eat ana 81
either in a small work room or IN IN
narrow cell corridor In front Of the cell
, The food for The women Is cooked D.
the men and sent up by dumb waiter
= This is very bad arrangement Tor th
roaeon that Il Is a constant temptation
! a. illicit communication. The Two cel
= blocks are of equal size ana u Is rn
iirely impossible to CLASSIFY lhe pIls
oners by day or night. Therc are N.Y. NJ.
, together In close association -,
[ white the colered, those awaiting 'rlS
! those serving short sentences Tor ms
I deuesnors. those serving long sentence
! for felonles. including murder. prostl
Z tutes. drug fiends and girls arrested IL
= the FIRST time. -, q,
2 The women are constantly smut u
FOR weeks az time they do not Sc
y foot out OF doors. In pleasant weathe
lhev are sometimes allowed to go INTO
a verv small yard, surrounded by pulio
! ings This ward contains the whlpplh
Z most and the stocks. made TO hold
Il nrlsoner nv the neck and both arms.
n fhis ward the gallows Is set up Wile