Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-21


By tho officials and hard treatment for
the unfortunate who protested. Tho
prisoners know this, and they do not
complain on such occasions.
When Or. Dudding pointed out con-
ditiona in one jail in a nearby state.
his accusations aroused The county ~
action. A grand juryman came ~
Washington 70 talk over the situation.
"Go ofit there 10 see for yourself"
budding told him. "But when you go,
insist on the officials staying out and
letting you go IN alone. The men VIII
then tell you exactly what ] have. ard
show you proof"
Dirty bedding, dirty clothing. bad
ventilation. rats. vermin. and poor
/ food sound like medieval prison con-
dtions, but they are not the root syil.
Dr. budding explains. a great part
Of jail discomfort is attributed by him
and by others acquainted with mo ST
uation 70 the fee system.
The Fee System.
The fee system works this way: ,or
every inmate in a jail the jslier re-
ceives from the county treasury a
sum for food and such clothing and
necessities as may be called for. The
amount given varies widely IN differ
ent states and counties. ~ may be
said, roughly to average so cents
day per person. The jafier Is gencr-
ally paid a small salary. and n any
thing can be saved out Of the er-
lpenses Of the prisoners he can pocket
lit.
Thus, II he can feed his bonrfers
on beans, bacon, and potatoes Tor ~
cents a day and save more than 30
cents head, ne sometimes succunbs
TO the TEMPTATION Of making this much
profit. regardless Of the health of fhe
men who are dependent on him. This
profit. whatever - is. the iaiier may
divide with the sheriff who gave him
his political appointment.
DR.. budding says that when crime
IS duh, and a JAN IL empty u n not en-
unknown practice for a sheriff 20
speak to special detectives on the rail-
roads about the hard times. II the o.
tectiVes are amenable - the suggs--
ton, they win take extra trouble 20
Il hunt out all the hoboes they can fnd
for a few days and send them 20 fii
, up the fail. Each bosrder az the insti-
tuition means, OF course. 20 cents a
day, or whateYer can be saved out of
the expense money. 20 the jaflsr.
Politics too. play a part In AN al
ministratlon. The sheriff n elected. He
appoints a county jailsr. and as r.
' always true where political appoint
ments are made, sometimes a man 10
4 selected who Is not known for execu-
e tive ability or honesty. So graft some
9 times creeps in.
: Personal belongings of prisoners.
o such as watches, knives. and wallets
!. are taken from them when they wear
u jail clothing. We are told that In some
Il places the 5ailer does not consider 70
O necessary 70 return these articles
n when the man is released. One pris-
Z oner who was transferred 10 peni-
. tentisry was refused sI2 left IN hts
:, pocket when he entered 3afl 20 await
= trial. The prisoner was helpless. The
superintendent Of the penftenflarY
learned OF the instance, however, and
wrote a letter which brought the sf2
a by return mail.
! So long as the fee system and poi
IL itics are associated with our tnnurner-
q able county iails, the situation can
o not be much improved. DR.. Duddine
a believes. Here and there where in
n vestigations are held OF officials a-s
) honest and take a personal interest IN
g. the welfare OF their charges. there s-s
- jails which are eft for human being:
TO live in
The remedy. according 10 DR.. Dud.
ding, is to make jail officials civs
- service appointees. He thinks that /
te the Federal Government were 70 SUI
III pervlse these institutions and inspect
re them vigorously once a month, condi.
ai tons would be bound 20 improve.
The next best thing would be STATE
no control Of the county institutions 70,
n prisoners. This would be easier Q,
ao bring about than Federal control. DR.
.te budding also thinks that by limitins
ne jail officials to fixed salaries. OF rea.
Is sonable size, and by having a stric
lis system Of accounts and supervision
nd cur medieval 5ails could be made con
he siderably more up-to-date.