The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-07-05

Wants Self Government System
1--WE further recommend the gradual
installation Of a system OF self govern
ment among the prisoners, based, so
far as is feasible, upon the plan in op-
GRAFTON at Sing Sing-namely, the
prisoners in groups may select their
representatives to hear their COM
plants and transmit them to the prin-
cipal keeper, with the power upon the
part of the principal keeper to guide
the selection Of the representatives Of
the said several groups by means Of
the veto or preferably by naming to
the prisoners of the different groups
the prisoners belonging to them whom
the principal keeper would consider
desirable to be such representatives
and who would not, il elected, be We
toed by the said principal keeper.
I'VE recommend that the work upon
the property opposite the prison, at
the prison farm at Leesburg and on
road building should be pushed as rap
idly as possible, to the end that those
men who are capable of working out
side the prison should have employ
ment with all reasonable speed, idle
ness at the prison being one Of the
main things to be avoided"
AS an ultimate aim, to be attained
within such reasonable time unit as
may be possible, the following is
urged:
THE acquiring of additional prop
erty on account of the o~vercrowded
condition Of the prison and the diff
Guilty with such o~vercrowding of pro-
viding adequate shop facilities for the
employment Of the prisoners. We sug-
gest taking the Railway reformatory
for prison purposes and securing an
other reformatory along new lines.
This suggestion is made with the
knowledge that the Railway reforma-
tory conforms more to the prison type
structurally and would be more suita-
BILE for prison purposes than for the
purposes for which 1t is at present
utilized.
ITO take every step which may be
possible to give additional space with
in the prison, more especially with re-
spect to the men confined there"
While the report says that Kersey
shall be "reinstated" and then retired,
Ellis P. Earle, president of the State
Board. announced that c. w. Hunting
ton, president of the prison board, had
assured him that Kersey would not be
restored to duty. This means that
Kersey will not return even for a mo-
ment. He is a back number. and he
passes with this comment:
"Mr. Kersey has had a long connec-
ton with the prison and has had years
of experience in the handling of GRIM
mails. He is a prison officer Of the old
type, not imbued with the modern
views of prison administration and re-
formatory practices, but WI believe
that he is an acceptable officer of the
older type. He should be restored by
the prison board to his present posi-
ton with full pay, as the infractions
of regulations committed by him were
under great stress at the time of the
riot. He should then be permitted the
opportunity for early retirement on
pension. We would commend in gen.
eral his long term of service and
would indorse his application for re-
tirement in view of such long period
Of service"
Coal Reports Conflict
Conflicting reports have been re-
ceived by Governor Silzer respecting
the coal situation as it exists today
and is likely to exist next winter. Al
though the production and distribu-
ton of coal is not a state function or
one in which the state a hope to ac-
complish anything, the governor de-
sires the people to be informed that
he has received from the federal fuel
distributor the following information:
First-There is a substantial amount
of coal being mined, but a large part
Of it of necessity is being sent to the
lake ports and northern New England.
This is made necessary by the early
closing of these sections by the cold
weather.
Second - Arrangements have been
made with railroads and Instrumental
tiles for the satisfactory distribution
Of coal during the time when most OF
it is to be shipped.
The federal distributor also stated
that, although constructive recommen-
dations will undoubtedly be made by
the Federal Fuel Commission, no Leg
islative action can be taken until Con-
gress meets in December. He recon-
mends the immediate purchase of coal.
saying:
considering the general situation
today, and in view Of the positive rec
concentrations made by the secretary
Of commerce and the great national
trade, transportation and public utili-
ties bodies, it is difficult to see how
the consumer, with ordinary prudence
and foresight, en- avoid following the
advice given-that his winter supply
of coal, whether for domestic or indus
trial use, be purchased and stored dur