Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-05

sential TO obtain good results. We also
have great hopes in the Prisoners AID
Society which has been recently organized
for the help of discharged prisoners.
For several years careful inquiries have
been made rs To the per capita cost OF
other penal Institutions, and we find that
in very many the cost is higher than at
the workkhousc with far less attention to
the care of the inmates.
$50 far as we are aware there Is no other
penal institution in the United States
which has men and women, white and
black, sentences from five days to life,
persons awaiting trial not as yet convicted
of any crime, convicted men under SEN
tence of death, and witnesses not supposed
TO be criminals Mt all, held only for court
trials All of the larger States have sopn-
rate institutions for these different classes
of inmates where they can be more wisely
handled than with oonglomeratc popula-
ton such as the workhouse contains.
FINANCIAL BURDENS HEAVIER.
"The past two or three years have
brought unexpected burdens upon the
management, not the least being the
financial needs of the institution. The
cost per capita has greatly increased, ow-
ing partly 60 the high cost of all article,
going into consumption, repairs and re-
placements as we'll rs increased salaries
and partly 10 the better care of the in
mates and the increased bonus allowed
them for good work. The allowance per
capita per day provided 20 years ago when
the workhouse was established, is entirely
inadequate TO rightly operate the instltu-
tion. and the trustees have prepared bill
TO be presented to next Legislature Tor an
increase in the allowance ;, The overhead
charges with the exception OF sustenanoe,
are practically the same whether the num-
Der of prisoners isneaTly 600 ass years
ago or only 300 as il Is today. our esti-
mate of the amount needed FOR the year,
which was presented to YOU in February
last. was S65O0O. With the decreased
population we have received from you for
per diem allowance only $40. 124, and have
had decreased number available for pro-
ductive work In spite of this last fact
however, the cash returns from productive
outside work have increased and We hope
will continually show greater increase. We
feel sure YOU viii appreciate these facts and
solicit your active support IN the passage
of the bill.
PRISON FARM FAILED 10 PAY.
The work of Mr.. Cullen, former super
intendcnt of Delcastle Farms, was very
unsatisfactory and Disappointing and 1t
was during his iucumbency that the farms
failed 20 produce results reasonably eN-
pected
Mr.. Cullens resignation took effect
July 81. Mr.. Plummer and the new farm
superintendent having been in control only
since that time, after most OF the crops
were harvested, there has not been an op-
port,lni;v 20 determine how much the
farms can produce under more capable
management. With the coming year we
expect much better results. VIC have en-
tire confidence that farm work Is reces-
sity for the institution and under the dlree-
ton Of the present warden ard superIn-
teudent. We feel sure the farms Will prove
not only health giving to many prisoners
but source OF profit as We'll
WANT 10 WORK MEN ANYWHERE.
"The other bin,which VIC have prepared
for submission TO the Legislature Is 20
give definite authority for employment
OF the inmates on any desirable work they
can properly perform. We had always
supposed that we had this &uthOrIty by
the original act and did employ the men on
various Jobs. such as work on the B. Il O,
road-bed, husking corn and harvesting Tor
reiChboring farmers, etc The question
having been raised, however, as to our
authority 10 have them work outside ON
anything except the county Toads and
our own farms. we have prepared hlll 70
cover the situation and solicit your sup
port
The road work given the mct BIZ your
court and the State Highway CommlsSIon-
CT has been most valuable II the men, and
provided in part means tc meet increased
expenses and pay interest on the remain
ing bonds We hope in the future you Will
continue your valuable ald 20 this county
institutioniin the effort 20 make It more
nearly sef-supporting-
One item OF great expense Is the large
number OF short term men who have been
committed recently and whom we are
unable to employ al profitable work
While support of the families OF men
serving sentence ought III some way 70 be
provided. stiIl the number of non-support
cases has been a considerable financial
burden upon this Institution which was
not anticipated when IT was established.
The warden and trustees are entirely
in accord As to the urgent need ,of q Sepa-
ate women 5 prison. We hope this VIII be
provided by the incoming Legislature.
Our opinion Is that the Board Of Managers
OF such institution should be composed
entirely OF women.
Prom the physicians report YOU will
learn that the general health Of the inmates
has been greatly improved. The buildings
and physical properties are IN excellent
condition. andsare being carefully looked
after.
Respectfully submitted,
T. Allen Hilles, President.
Attest.
J. Frank Ball, Secretary.
WARDEN HUMMER s RE- oRT
'sTo the Board OF Trustees of the New
Castle County Workhouse