Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-07

tions are best, but to place where the
Federal Bureau Of Prisons shall be a
model for the entire country.
This cannot be accomplished by
adopting "fads" in prison management
The attainment of this high aim rather
lies in quiet and steady advance along
three lines.
OF course, It involves providing more
adequate facilities as to housing and
physical equipment. That is always the
easiest thing to do. Committees OF Con-
gress and other investigative bodies,
and, indeed, the most casual visitor OBJ
serving the present overcrowded condi-
tons, join in recommending the estab-
lishment of new institutions to take
care of the excess population. ] hope
never again VIII Congress permit the
enlargement of a penal institution above
| 900 inmates. MasSing 5000 anti-social
minds in such close quarters as has
| been done in two Of our institutions
makes the problem Of rehabilitation too
difficult.
The second phase Of improvement in
| Federal prisons Is completely to re-
organize the personnel of officers adj
ministering the unit and the institu-
lions under it.. Salaries must be paid
more nearly commensurate with the
high social value of the service rem
dered and sufficient to attract men and
women of vision. The outstanding quail
ifications requisite for prison officials
and guards include a real interest In
human beings, a reasonable amount of
sense.
The third step toward our goal Is In
| the establishment of enough industries
in each institution to give every prisoner
| eight hours constructive labor day
| under normal conditions, including the
| payment to him Of nominal wage.
| Desire to live by wits, not work, leads
| more often than anything else to crime.
| Keeping such a man in enforced idle
ness for a year or more faStenS the
| anti-social habit upon him.
| For six years we have worked to OBJ
| tain new industries in each prison.
What we have repeatedly asked is the
organization Of an industries depart
ment under the superintendent OF
prisons with power to use the surplus
new industries and teach trades.
! The Federal Government can never
manufacture commodities to be sold on
! the open market in competition with
/ those produced by free labor, but 1t
! does now and should to much greater
degree manufacture articles used by
! the Government. There Is consequently
/ an almost unlimited field. The recent
survey committee appointed by Con-
gress has also recommended the estab-
| lishment Of new industries with con-
solidated working capital. The pas
sage of such bill by the next Congress
will be great step in advance.
+ + \ \
| A T the last session Of Congress the
creation of two Federal narcotic
farms was authorized. These rehabili-
tation hospitals will be equipped to take
care Of drug addicts now in prison.
The transfer of such addictS to hos
pitals will afford a large measure OF
relief from overcrowding in Federal
penitentiaries. Another means OF re-
lieving the prisons lies in the enlarged
use and wiser application Of the pro-
baton law. A section Of paroles and
probation should be set up under the
superintendent Of prisons.
| In spite of red tape and governmental
| inertia, much improvement has been
brought about in the Federal penal sys-
TEN in the last five years. Women
sentenced in Federal Courts, whether
for long or short terms, have, from the
beginning of our Government. been
Obliged to serve their time in local jails,
frequently under introlerable condi-
lions mentioned above as prevailing In
local jails.
THE establishment and eouipnent OF