The Washington times., 1922-12-29

|
effecting moral reformation.
superintendent makes regular in.
spections of the cots and any pris-
oner found delinquent has his at.
tention called to his slip of memory
In a way he is likely to remember.
Meal Kept Back.
1t is not to be supposed that the
men are subjected to severe punish
ments for oversights of this kind.
Omissions are called to their atten.
| tion and they are told by the super.
intendent that lapses of memory in
| this connection in the future will
mean missing a meal. Missing
meal Is one thing the property yard
inmates regard with particular
aversion. The meals are entirely
too good, too substantial and too
well prepared to be easily foregone
by a hungry man.
Records kept by Superintendent
Stein show that but one man has
been subjected to punishment OF
this kind within the past two
months.
Personal cleanliness Is insisted
upon by the superintendent One
forced at the yard Is that each
man take bath at least twice a
week. He may bathe each day II
he desires to do so. lie is also
required to keep himself properly
shaved and his clothing in proper
condition. The washlines at the
yard fly ample proof that the in
mates are doing their best to sec
ond the wishes OF the superintend-
ent in this respect.
Few institutions have a more in.
viting mess hall than is in use at
the property yard barracks. 1t Is
kept scrupulously clean by the
houseman, prisoner detailed ny
the superintendent to perform the
duties OF messboy. Here the men
sit down to three square meals a
day. Here they are taught proper
table manners. for the superintend-
ent Is stickler for department.
"It is possible to send the men
out from here better citizens in
every way. and that Ia what I aim
to do" said Superintendent Stein
as he viewed the mess hall. 1T Is
just as important man should
learn table manners as to keen
himself neat. When a prisoner ar.
| rives here he is given to under
stand that his department in the
mess hall must be such as to cause
no friction with the other inmates,
and it does not take him long to
learn what that means.
Commenting on the attitude of
the men toward the life they are
forced to live at the yards, Super.
intendent Stein said:
I'VE follow the Golden Rule here.
Every man is shown the work he is
expected to do and then urged to
perform II in the right spirit. The
method seemingly works out right
for during the past two months IL
has been necessary to punish but
ono man. He was a newcomer. He
missed just one meal. After that he
turned In and has shown an ap-
| preciative spirit ever since. When
you get a man to feel like working
In the right spirit you have gone
long ways toward keeping him
out Of trouble when he Is released"
Make Trips to City.
Prisoners at the yard are EN-.
ployed frequently on outside mis-
sions. The drivers OF the wagons,
for instance, are men 1t has been
found can be trusted. They make
various trips about the city on
prison work. The fact they are
never in trouble outside and are
never late In returning to the yard,
is accepted by the superintendent
as proof Of their moral reformation.
Superintendent Stein has several
improvements in mind. But he re.
fuses to talk about them. Among
those which might be put into ef.
forf Ia urht L.,
the man being discharged from
term served at the property ward
going forth with at least funds
enough 10 provide for himself for
few days while securing employ
ment. No such provision Is made
| at present. Social workers are
| unanimous in the declaration that
the discharged prisoner should not
be set free penniless. In connection
with the property yard 1t is pointed
out that the work is of n charac-
ter which should be compensated
for In n small way at least. One
of the suggestions made is that
each discharged prisoner should re.
ceive at least IS earned money
This would enable him TO pay room
rent for few days and provide
himself with food while securing
work. Superintendent Stein, de.
clined to discuss the feasibility Of
such a provision.
For students of prison reform
the operations of the property
yard as an adjunct to the penal
institutions Of the District is OF
! interest as illustrating a practical
WY to provide transitional stage
between imprisonment and freedom
The discharge OF a man from the
Eastern Penitentiary Of Pennsyl.
! vania, who had served twenty