The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-04-28
CONVICT LEAVES
CROUCH BEHIND
Life for Prisoners Is Much
Brighter When Leaving At
Ianta Penitentiary.
NOTABLE REFORMS ARE MADE
Work in Duck Mills Is Very Advanta-
geous-Each Man Employed There
Learns Trade and Receives
Bonus for Work.

WaShlngt0n.-Out OF the gray
walled prisons, a shoddy, tell-tale suit,
IN one pocket the governments con-
tribution to the future in the form Of
a $40 bill. This was the picture, daily
repeated, of the average convict who
left a federal prison-left it Gas he
left others) ill-clad, broke, with one
prize possession-a crouch.
But under reforms introduced in the
big prison at Atlanta the picture has
changed. He may come out with a
priSOn-made suit. But instead Of the
single $40 bill he may have many 500
bills, a well-paying vocation, and I'M
less he Is a habitual criminal the
crouch is left behind with the prison
uniform.
This picture can be seen at Atlanta.
Shortly it will be typical Of other fed
eral prisons, a report to Attorney
General Daugherty shews.
Here is q concrete example of the
| fruits Of the reform in Atlanta, culled
from the report to the attorney gen.
eral: Last year $50 prisoners made
S45. 900. which will be held for them
unsn they are released, at which time
they will receive the accrued interest
as well.
Under Bonus System.
These prisoners are working under
the bonus system. They have an in
centive both to learn a trade and learn
it so we'll they can produce proftably.
Those who earned the $4,000 are en-
Iloyed in duck making. Here is the
story of these men as told by DR..
Hubert Votaw, brother-in-law of Pres
i1ent Harding:
9Th federal government established
~penitentiary at Atlanta, Georgia, q
cotton duck mill for the manufacture
of canvas for use by various govern
ment departments. No products of
this mill are sold in the open market,
and hence there is no competition with
free labor, and no conflict with the
authorities or the heads of organized
labor. Indeed. this method of employ
ing federal prisoners has the approval
Of leading labor leaders.
in the early days of the mill so few
orders were received that only a small
proportion of the looms could be run.
In March, 1921, orders began coming in
in such volume as to warrant the oper
alton of about 300 looms, and the en-
ployment of about $50 prisoners. Two
yards Of canvas duck have been
produced in this time. This product
has been tested by the bureau Of
and in every instance has
exceeded specifications. During this
period the mill has been operated at
a profit of $500 which represents a
to the government in just that
mount over what 1t would have cost
to purchase the canvas in the outside
Prisoners Earn Money.
"The law providing for the estab-
ishment of the duck mill also provided
hat the attorney general should pro-
nulgate rules and regulations for the
compensation of the prisoner en-
thereof. On April 80, 1921, the
lttorney general ordered that a bonus
# . cents per yard upon the output Oh
he mill be paid such prisoner en-
There has so far been earned
s bonus by prisoner employees up
of $4,000.
Drawing from the experience in the
peration Of the one industrial enter
rise now being conducted at the At
anita p~eritentiary, the benefits and
which will be derived when
imiIaf employment is furnished for
II the federal prisoners in each of the
hree penitentiaries has been clearly
hown. AT the present time there is
nder consideration in congress q bill
} provide a commission TO recommend
lie installation of suitable Industries
t the ~Leavenworth and Mcneil Island
enitentiary. 4
1.-The department might particularly I
eel proud of the moral and educa-
onal advantages which have accrued
, the prisoners as a result of these Il
accomplishments, especially with re- II
lrd to the duck mill at the Atlanta {
enitentiary." =