A deplorable evil was the constant changes in prison management for political reasons, it was an evil which had to be eliminated. Mentioned several instances, where prisons were entirely under civil service rule with very satisfactory results.
Recreation and privileges as aid to prison discipline was freely and favorably discussed.
The food problem in prisons was discussed. This being a wardens’ meeting, the wardens of almost every penitentiary in the country (including our warden of the Eastern Penitentiary) told briefly what food was given to the inmates of their prison. The cost ranged from 7-1/2 cents to 10 cents for each prisoner, average was 9 cents.
It was also agreed that a prison orchestra could do much good in a prison. A music hour was also advocated, during which every prisoner should be allowed to play whatever instrument he chose in his cell.
George Scheidler, warden of Northern Indiana State Prison, said he had found that the improvement of prison food had done much to establish confidence between prisoners and officials. He said Indiana supplied food baked, roasted, stewed, etc., and that the menu is changed every day.
MONDAY AFTERNOON.
THE CHAPLAIN’S MEETING, 2 P. M.
A meeting which at times waxed warm. One of the subjects for discussion was Dr. McKim’s recent book, “Heredity and Human Progress.” The consensus of opinion among the chaplains was that the cause of crime is not psychological, as Dr. McKim tries to prove, but sociological, and it behooves the churches especially to try not only to improve the environments of the prisoners and ex-convicts, but to study more closely the cause of crime.