Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-25
E%eulae'Sit EVening Yesterday aeois l4ZUO
Conditions at the Workhouse.

IL does not appear, from the report OF
the Legislature which made an invesuga-
tion into conditions at the New Castle
County Workhouse, that any more actual
facts were unearthed than were made
public bv the report of the grand jury OF
New Castle county, Immediately after the
escape of Price, the condemned muir
derer. The legislative committees report
differs only In recommendations, ana not
a great deal in that respect.
1t will be generally accepted, however
from the trend of both reports, that con-
ditions at the county institution hao not
been at the best. and the spectacular ana
surprising escape of Price brought them
into nublic view. The revelations of the
grand Jury investigation showed lack OF
discipline. erratic procedure, sometimes
going to extremes, in the punishment OF
recslcitrant prisoners, and lack OF eth
ciencv and economy in the general manage
ment. The report OF the legislative
committee shows that under the present
regime there has been manifest improve
ment in discipline and administration
since the changes that were inaugurated
following the escape OF Pnce-
The recommendation of the legislative
committees. generally are practical espe-
cialIv that in relation to sale OF the PRISON
farm because it ie conducted at loss
"a il is best to drop losing venture. inst
this should be so, however. IS a matter OF
surprise. in view of prevailing conditions
in the farming industry. Farm products
command large prices in the markets ana
surely farm should be managed by prison
labor at a cost of operation resulting IN a
considerable profit, whether the products
be utilized in feeding the prisoners or soid
in the omen markets 1t might be we'll 70
look into this matter very carefully before
resolving to dispose Of the farm, In order
to ascertain whether it may not De possl-
BILE to convert farm operations from loss
to profit bv more efficient management.
There is encouragement IN the com
mittee's finding that while under the
former nagement food al the workhouse
was insufficient and prepared under un-
sanitary conditions, and the meolcai
attention below the needs OF the lnsutu-
ton. these conditions have been very
much improved under the new manage
ment.
But thi. investigation. like that made
by the grand jury and the unofficial
INQUIRY conducted by the Central Labor
Union. does not reveal the mystery OF the
manner In which Price, the condemned
murderer. made his escape week before
the dav get for his execution. This is the
matter that most concerns the people, and
in the solution of which they are most
interested, yet the mystery IS az oeep
today as it was the morning following
the escape. The legislative committee
saws II was due to collusion and gross
negligence, and recommends further IN
vestigation by the attorney-general, al
though it does not seem possible, after al
the ground has been gone over so thor
ouehlv. even though fruitlessly, that TN
encouragement could do any more thar
the preceding agencies.
And So the escape of condemne'
murderer from the workhouse mus
roma;n q perplexing and aggravatin
mystery, with not the slightest probabiilt
that he will be recaptured and made t
pay the penalty of the atrocious crime
which ne was convicted. Tins rs tn
greatest injury inflicted upon the publl
and it is aggravated as much o
the failure to punish those who were
anv manner responsible for the affair, {
bv the evil this lapse of justice hs
brought upon the cause OF law and orde