Evening journal., 1921-02-19
WARDEN URGES
WORKHOUSE AID
Says 75-Cent Day Asked
For is for General
Upkeep
LOSE MONEYlON
MANY PRISONERS

Opposition 10 the bill providing
for the proposed increase in appro-
priations for the upkeep OF the New
Castle County Workhouse, which de-
veioped in the State Senate at Dover.
yesterday when the bill was placed
before that body. brought the fol-
lowing statement from NJ. $. Plum
mer. chief warden OF the workhouse'
today:
Trustees OF the New Castle
County Workhouse are not asking
IS cents per diem for food for each
workhouse inmate, but for the gem
#. eral upkeep OF the institution in all
departments.
For the information OF all who
are opposed to the proposed increase
by the counties to the New Castle
County Workhouse for the support
. of prisoners from 40 to rs cents a
day, / submit the following, self-ex-
planatory figures:
please bear in mind that the 20
cents includes the entire upkeep OF
the institution and not the cost OF
the food. The cost OF food per diem
per prisoner is % 3-5 cents. This
means that we are giving the pris-
oner three good wholesome meals
per day. which every man in the jail
is entitled to. I would not remain
warden OF this institution one minute
II had to furnish the prisoners in
sufficient food and improper living
conditiins. Total cost Of operation
follows:
Food. maintenance. clothing. in
terest. etc. s1l9.S95.13. Earned by
inmates. shop. s33.1Ol76; outside.
S22.625.5i; total earnings, $685.
72s.27. Net cost pf operation. sea-
1856. Gross cost per capita
. S1.242-5; net cost per capita, 76 l-s
cents: per capita cost OF food alone,
% 3-5 cents.
The above total cost includes
slS,S31.43 bonus paid TO inmates for
themselves and their families' also
s.23s.75 paid on non-support or
ders
Average number OF prisoner
during 1920. 322; average number
from New Castle county for terms OF
six months or over. 200; average
number from Kent county 25; aver
age number from Sussex county, %
average number OF short time pris'
oners from New Castle county. (sil
months and under) 76.
Included among the New Castle
county prisoners are a large number
from outside the State. arrested 10
railroad trespassing. etc. and dop'
hends who have an indefinite sen
tence all OF whom are dead expens
60 New Castle county.
Dope iends are committed to thi
institution physical wrecks. and dur
ing the time OF their indefinite sen
tence are a liability and very sci
dom II ever. able to perform an,
service The medicines given then
alone cost US over 40 cents a day
They have not committed any crime
but are sent TO the penitentiary q
cure their dope habit. and we hav
such prisoners from all OF the coun
ties OF the State.
we are allowed 40 cents per da
for prisoners who are sent TO jail 10
non-suppoFt OF families, yet we ar
compelled to give so cents back Z
the support OF the family; ten cent
more than we receive.
with reference to the statemen
made that the prisoners receive a
much as SO per day. this is enron
.eous. The prisoners were hired ou
10 the Levy Court for New Castl
county al SO per day to do the count
road work Fifty cents OF thI
amount was given TO the prisone
and his family and $3.50 was retaine
for meeting the expenses OF IN
county workhouse.
There Is always from 100 to Is
prisoners whom we are unable {
work in the clothing departmer
here. surplusage, as Il were. o
hand over and above our needs q
the workhouse. hence we use OF
best efforts to obtain outside labS
for them. We always give prefel
ence 20 the Levy Court OF New Cast
county. and the Levy Court OF Ne
Castle county and Engineer Grubb a
ways give their full co-operatiol
which we deeply appreciate.
by reason OF the fact that v
have a surplusage on hand durir
an seasons OF the year. even abo'
the need OF the Levy Court. we ha'
submitted a bill to the Legislatu
requesting law TO be passed ei
abling us to work prisoners on 9TH
than county work.
In conclusion. 7 wish 10 state IN
all Of this information has been give
&c the public before. and natural
we were under the impression tn
the members. OF the Legislature we
conversant with these facts.
II think II Is a little unfair 4
anyone to state that we are askil
75 cents per day per prisoner 4
food. which is absolutely erroneot
We are asking as cents per day Z
the upkeep OF the institution. whi'
includes every expense I'm connects
with its upkeep.
Il would he very much pleased
those interested in the expense
CURED in the upkeep OF this instit
tion would compare our expense wi
that OF other penitentiaries OF q
United States. or course. mean
states where prisoners are treat
as human beings and not turned o
to the public a menace to socie
swhen their'terms have expired"
KENT COURT OPENS MONDAY
aSnociai 10 The Evening Journal