The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-11

that Gov. Paul Y. McNutt, ObN
of the bill, would not veto it to
Meanwhile, practically all
recognized authorities on
prison reform heaped upon
the legislators their condem-
nations of the law, thus add
ing to the storm Of state and local
protests that bOmbarded the legis-
lstors over the weekend.
From Washington came the pro-
tst of the Department of Justice
Bureau of Prisons. headed by San
ford Bates. leading penologist, and
his assistants, including DR.. F.
Lowell Bixby, author OF a standard
work Of prisons. There are IS Fed
eral prisoners n the Marion County
Jail here.
They united in condemning the
Zee system. but the statements must
be made in the name Of the prison
bureau itself under Department of
Justice rules.
System Entirely Wrong
Informed by The indianapolis
Times of the Indiana situation, the
bureau spokesman said.
The fee for food system is en-
tirely wrong. II means bad govern I
ment. but il isn't as bad for the
government as 1t is for the prison.
ers themselves. II puts the sheriff
on a sort OF piece work factory
system where. the more prisoners
he can catch and feed for the set
fee. the greater becomes his in
come. For. he can cut the cost a
ration and make a profit if he con-
ducts the business on a wholesale
scale. The less food he gives the
prisoners the more money he makes
for himself.
when We board Federal prisoners
in county jails. We pay for what we
get. Under the state law see sys-
tenn. we would have to pay the fee.
Ii might mean a Accent fee and the
prisoner would be getting 10 cents
worth Of food.
plorable way for financing Iails. The
decent way is TO abolish the county
tails as obsolete ard have state con-
troIled institutions operated on a
merit system under civil service.
Regular Budget Urged
Eff the county unit system is kept,
the sheriff. criminal catcher.
shouldn't be the jailor. That job
should be done bv an administra-
tor. capable of running the inStitu-
ton at a decent salary with no
money coming to him from the
prisoners food. Food should be
bought out Of 4 regular accounting
ONCE Of the auditor of the county"
The fee-fr-fcod system was round
II scored here recently at the Ma
tional Crime Conference. called by
Atty. Gen Howard Cummings. Fed
ersl Judge Joseph c. Hutchinson.
Houston. Tex. cited the fee system
as one Of the factors making local
jails "the grammar schools of
crime. where pupils and teachers
are ever changing. but school always
keeping"
In New York City. Commissioner
Of Corrections Austin H. MscCor-
mack said.
The feet system Of feeding pris-
oner sis decidedly bad sd has led TO
serious abuses in prisons in various
parts Of the country wherever il has
been prscticed"
1t is one Of the blacklist spots
IN the whole national picture of
penologv. said z. r. Cas-. general
secretary Of the American Prison
Association IN New York.
other Experts Critical
New York abandoned this obso-
iete system IS years ago" Mr.. Cas-
continued. 1T was a system in
which the sheriffs. the constables
and even the judges participated.
These officials. in some cases. made
raids 10 keep the Jails filed so they
could add 70 their income.
Some Of those so arrested were
released az once. but their names
were kept on the fee roles. In one
small county alone the take was
$4,000 a year. May God help any
county that persists in retaining
this inhumsne. archaic system"
when We board Federal pris-
oners n county jails we pay for
what We get" said Sanford Bates,
head OF the United States Prison
Bureau in a TRADE against the pro-
posed plan"
There are IS Federal prisoners in
the Marion County JAN at present.
according 70 jail records.
other experts who have repeated
" cried out against the fee-for-food
plan are the late Hastings Hart of
the Russell Sage Foundation. VIII
liam 3. Cox Of the Osborne Society
Of New York and Federal Judge
Joseph c. Hutchinson Houston,