Pueblo chieftain., 1922-01-20
OUR MEDIEVAL JA|LS

prisoners know this. and they do not
complain on such occasions.
When DR.. budding pointed out con-
ditions IL one Jail in a nearby state.
action A grand furyrnan came to
Washington to talk over tho situation.
Go out there to sec for yourself"
budding told him But when you go.
insls; on the officials staying ou, and
letting you 80 IN alone. The men will
tell you exactly what 1 have. ano
show you proof
Dirty bedding. dirty clothing. bad
ventilation. rats .vermin. and poor food
sound like medieval prison conditions.
bu, they are not the root evil. DIR.
budding explains A great part OF Jail
discomfort is attributed by him and
by others acquainted with the situa-
tion 10 the fee system.
THE FEE SYSTEM.
The fee system works this way: FOR
every inmate in n Jail the jailer re-
ce!ves from the county treasury "A sum
for food and such clothing and n.ces-
stiles as may be called for. Tho amount
given varies widely in different states
and counties 1t may be said. roughly
10 average 90 cents day per person.
The 1ailer is generally paid small
salary, and II anything can be saved
out OF the expenses OF the prison
- sAH 'fL P'hhcl
Thus. II he can feed his boarders on
beam. bacon and potatoes for is cents
day and say. more than 30 cents a
head. he sometimes succumbs to the
temptation OF making this much profit
regardless OF tho health OF the men
who are dependent on him. This profit
whatever 1t Is. the jsiler may divide
with the sheriff who gave him his
political appointment.
Dr. budding says that when crime
is dull. and Jail is empty IL is not
an unknown practice for a sheriff to
speak to special detectives on the rail-
roads about tn. hard times II tho
detectives are amenable TO the sugses-
ton. they will take extra trouble to
hunt out ali tho hoboes they can find
for few days and send them to fil
up the jail. Each boarder at the fr-
sutution means, OF course 20 cents a
day or whatever can be saved out OF
the expense money. 10 the jailer
Politics. too. play a part in jail ad-
ruinistrstion. The sheriff Is elected.
He appoints a county jailer. and as Is
always true where political appoint-
mcnts are made. sometimes a man 1.
selected who is not known for csecu-
tive ability or honesty So graf, some
times crecps in.
Personal belongings of prisoners.
such as watches. knives and wallets
are taken from them when they wear
jail clothing. We are told thar I'm
some places the iailer does not con-
slider IL necessary to return these
articles when the man is released. ono
prisoner who was transferred to a
penitcntiaFy was refused Sia left in nls
pocket when he entered Jail to await
trial Tho prisoner was helpless Ths
superintendent Of the penitcntiary
learned of tho instance however. and |
wrote letter which brought lhe ~
by return mail.
So long as the fee system and politics
are associated with our innutn.rnhi,
county jsils. the situation cannot lao |
much improved. DR.. budding bcIfIy.x
Here and there where inysst!sattans
ara held or officials are honest AMI
take personal interest In the weiflr.
OF their charges. there arc jaus whicA |
are fit for human beings 90 live ip.''
The remedy. according to Br. pud- |
ding. Is to mako Jail officials civil
service appointees. He thiaks that n |
the Federal government w.,c TO su
pervise these instltG-'ops aud i.,spoc
them vigorously once u mod,l. conli-
tons would b. bound To improve
The next best thing voi.d be stat.
control OF the county institutions for
prisoners. This wound be easier 10
bring about tina Federal control. DR..
budding also thinks that by I'M ,.rE
jail officials to fixed salaries OF
reasonable size. and by hay ng n strict
system Of 1csoIr.s and suparv.si,n.
our medieval jails couli be made con-
siderably more up-to-dato.