The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-08-25
TIMES PRISON
REFORM PLAN
WINS SUPPORT
Leaders Back Proposal to
Put Jail Officers Under
Civil Service.
CONTINUED from Page One

control tho various state ana county
institutions. but also would enable
the operation Of a uniform system.
There are so many really bad
criminals IN local Iails whose &C
tiWties are statewide that they are
too dangerous 10 be left in small
county Jails with poor equipment.
such as az NOblesvilIe. There ought
to be some authority that would
have immediate power TO transfer
such prisoners 10 a stronger build
ing. This probably could be brought
about with a central penal board as
suggested.
Monsignor Maurice r. O'COnnOr
fSt. Joan OF Arcs Roman Catholic
churchJ-I think that Governor
McNutt did a very good thing IN
bringing the board Of penal experts
into the state recently TO make a
study Of the prisons. Everything
pertaining to prisons should be nom
partisan and done for the purpose
Of helping the unfOrtunates who are
in our institutions. The whole thing
should be taken out Of politics en-
tircly.
Mayor Reginald II. Sullivan
think the idea Is a good one. l
hadn't thought Of it before. but on
first impression u seems like a good
suggestion. and 10 seems that some
thing Of the sort ought TO be pre-
serted TO the next legislature.
Bishop Joseph VI. Francis (All
Saints Episcopal cathedral Some
thing must be done about the penal
system IN the state. The situation
is very serious. A study must be
made at once TO determine what Is
the best course of action. 1 am not
sure. without more mature delloer-
alton. that the idea proposed by
The Times is bests Nevertheless,
the study should be made and a
recommendation presented to the
Governor.
Jessie Levy (attorney)-For more
than fourteen years I have con-
tended that the penal system OF In
diana should be under a non
partisan central control system 1t
is the only solution 10 the dis
graceful conditions now prevailing
IN our state due TO the many re-
cent escapes of criminals. Appoint
ment Of such a commission as pro-
posed by The Times Is the first step
necessary to remedy this terrible
condition.
BY all means the deputy wardens
and other officials should be APP
pointed solely through merit Civil
service must take the place of the
political spoils system If We are to
remove this blemish from the fair
name of our state.
Otto De Luse CONFERENCE.-The
penal system of Indiana should be
studied Immediately. 1 think the
particular angle suggested by The
Times should be considered first TO
find some means of preventing these
wholesale Jail deliveries.
DIR. Charles Meyers Ccity hospital
superintendent - Anything that
could be done to remedy the pres
ent situation would be a distinct
advantage. I feel that a central
board. such as suggested, would be
a step in the right direction. State,
county and municipal penal sys-
TENS most certainly should be di-
vorced from politics.
Chief Mike MorrisScy-The way
things are happening in jails
throughout the state it seems to
me that something must be done.
I think The Times plan a good one
but I think the whole penal system
should be studied here before any
thing definite is adopted.
one of the real problems the
sherifS have to contend with is
that they are undermined. We
have been fortunate in the jails of
this city recently but our prisoners
are escaping from other jails in the
state.
Elmer F.. Tafiinger artist and
teaChcrl-It's a pretty good idea
especially since most Of the boys in
our jailS have taken to reading
Oscar Wilde and his memorable
lines iron bars do not
prison make ~. 1t seems as If
jail-breaking Is getting to be habit
and a man can't even cut curtain
rods in half with a hacksaw with
out being accused of practiCing up
for a personal delivery in case he's
caught. One thing your civil service
jaiI wardens could do would be to
put prisoners to ChOpping wood for
the poor instead of carving it out
for pistols.
Kenneth W. Collins manager
Apollo theatcrl-I think that The
Times proposal is a marvellous idea.
/ think that It would do lot TO
alleviate jail breaks. Conditions at
our Indiana institutions are bad and
something must be done IN a hurry.
Paul c. Wetter IattorneY-In
view Of the conditions in Indiana
we certainly need something. If
this idea proposed by The Times
Is the best solution let's have 1t by
all means.
Paul c. StetSOn schools super
fnteudenD-W not familiar with
the plan in detail and not desiring
to exclude other plans that might
better this plan in general I feel 1t
is a step in the right direction. II
seems that any plan that Will take
the corrective institutions out Of
politics and place them on a merit
system is decidedly superior TO our
present system.
John r. DarmOdy president J. F.
Darmody Candy Golf We put in
the proper legislators We viii get
the proper laws needed TO correct
the present situation. Too much
influence Is brought to bear now on
our public officials as well as legis-
lstors. Wardens under your pro-
posed plan for jails. placed under
civil service. would know that they
could stay on the JOB and would be