Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-12
Prison, CLean-Up
Ordered by State

OTUCTCU Oy OLUCe
Continued from Pare One
tobacco the fundamental cause of much
Of the violation Of rules. -.
Advises Inspectors TO Yield
.Would it not seem then to be the
part of wisdom to yield some Of your
own undoubtedly honest opinions to tn.
logic of events?
ALLOW me to call your attention t.
the following provisions of the Act Of
Assembly creating the State Public
Welfare Department:
! Section 8. "The department shall
have supervision over
(d) All county prisons = = ~
, Section ~. "It shall be the duty
OF the Commissioner to visit and In
spect, or cause to be visited or in
spected oil prisons % . as
provided in Section . of this act
Whenever upon such vista
tion, examination and inspection of
any prison /" any condition
IL found TO exist therein, which in
the opinion of the Commissioner is
detrimental to the proper dis
cipiine or to the proper care.
maintenance, custody and welfare
OF the inmates thereof the
Commissioner shall direct the off,
Ger or officers charged by law with
or In any way having or exercis-
ing the control government or man
agement of such prison to cor
rect the said Objectionable condi-
tions in the matter and within the
times specified by the Commissioner.
In case Of the neglect, refnsel or
fnllure of any such officer to COM
ply with such directions the Com
missioner shall certify the facts in
the case to the District Attorney
OF the proper county, whose duty It
shall be thereupon to proceed by in
dictment or otherwise to remedy the
said Objectionable conditions"
I'm pursuance of the obliga tions i'm :
you that find the following objection :
able conditions at the Philadelphia
County Prison. which conditions are in
my opinion detrimental to the health.
discipline. proper care and welfare of
the inmates, to wit, dark cells or
dungeons for the purposes of punish
ment of inmates, the withdrawal of
food for twenty -four hours, a lack of
proper opportunity for that personal
communication so necessary TO the
health and welfare of human beings.
lack Of proper and sufficient oppor :
tunity for exercise. both in cell corrl =
dors and in the open mir, and an undue
monotony of the food served.
Orders Quick Action
I'm further pursuance Of my obliga
tions I hereby direct the Board of In =
spectors Of the Philadelphia County
Prison to correct the said Objectionable
condition, by the complet nbolishmen;
of the aforesaid dark cells or dungeons.
together with their return to their
original condition and use by the
abolishmcnt of the custom of the
twenty four hour withdrawal of food
as punishment, by the providing for
outdoor air and exercise Of each AMI
every inmate not working his health and
tho weather permitting for not less
than a period of two hours daily, Sun
day included, MS we'll MS for opportunity
for exercise in the cell corridors Mt
ether times. by the provision for free
communication ut any and all proper
times when not under special punish
ment with due regard to the orderly
conduct of the prison. by the permission
o! the proper use of tobacco when and
while outdoors during exercise hours by
a wider range of food mate
rails in order to vary the monotony of
the meals, with possibly a slight i'm
crease in quantity.
I'm further pursuance Of my obliga-
tions under the law I direct that the
Board Of Inspectors shall put in force
the above changes not later than the
first day of January. 1923. at which
time or shortly thereafter a representa-
tive of the Department of Public Well
fare will reinspect both branches of the
Philadelphia County Prison.
VERY truly yours.
u. VI. BALDY,
Commissioner of Public Welfare"
Statement to the Public
-. The State wide nriSon imnrovcn,ep+s g