Massachusetts

EXHIBIT K.-Report of the warden of the United States penitentiary at Fort Leavenworth, Kans.

UNITED STATES PENITENTIARY,

Fort Leavenworth, Kans., June 30, 1900. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith the annual report of this penitentiary for the year ending June 30, 1900, and to call attention to the accompanying reports of the chaplain, surgeon, chief clerk, record clerk, superintendent of farm, and superintendent of construction of the new prison.

PRISON POPULATION.

The population at the close of last fiscal year was 779. The gain during the year was 497, loss 374, leaving a total of 902 present at this date. Average population for the year, 791.8, against 608 the previous year.

MAINTENANCE APPROPRIATION.

The appropriation for the fiscal year was: Regular, $149,912; deficiency, $10,000; total, $159,912. The amount expended under this appropriation was $159,124.59, leaving an unexpended, balance of $787.41. The items of expenditure are fully shown in the accompanying tables.

SUBSISTENCE.

The net cost of subsistence for the year was $33,890.57. A slight increase will be noticed in the average yearly cost of subsistence per man. This is due to the increased cost of supplies purchased during the last two quarters of the fiscal year. The average yearly cost of subsistence per prisoner was $42.80. The average daily cost per prisoner was 11.72 cents. A decrease is shown, however, in the gross cost of maintenance per prisoner. It amounts to $200.97 per man for the year, a fraction over 55 cents per man per day, Last year the gross cost per prisoner was $218 per year or 59 cents per day.

HEALTH.

The health of the prison has continued uniformly good throughout the year, as will be shown more fully by the surgeon's report. An outbreak of smallpox, which threatened to become epidemic, was promptly checked by organizing an isolation camp, in which the patients were treated; the entire prison popoulation was thoroughly vaccinated, and the ravages of the disease prevented.

CHAPLAIN'S REPORT.

The report of the chaplain shows that the work in his department has been prosecuted with commendable zeal, and the results have been very encouraging. It is a matter of regret that school work can not be carried on in this prison as it should be, for lack of room. A large number of prisoners who are listed as being able to read and write are

really very ignorant and in great need of primary instruction, such as will enable them to meet the ordinary responsibilities of citizenship after their release. Ample provision is made for this purpose in the plans of the new prison, and this fact alone constitutes a strong argument for early completion of the same.

RECORDS.

The report of the bookkeeper and record clerk shows that the measurements, descriptions, and records of the prisoners have been carefully made, properly tabulated, and corrected to date, so that reference to the same is rendered easy, and the identification of habitual and professional criminals thoroughly secured.

FARM AND GARDEN.

The work of the farm and garden has been successfully prosecuted, and a vast amount of transportation has been accomplished, as will appear more fully from the subjoined report of the superintendent of farm and transportation.

NEW PRISON.

Attention is called to the report of the superintendent of construction, showing amount of work performed in connection with the new prison. I can not emphasize too fully the importance of this work, nor recommend too strongly its completion to the point that the prisoners from the old may be removed to the new prison, at the earliest day possible. Over 50 per cent, on the average, of the working time of the prisoners is lost in marching back and forth. But this is not the most serious loss. The marching of such a mass of men together is, of itself, despite all precautions, a demoralizing influence that tells with fearful effect upon the morale of the prisoners. It is earnestly hoped by all who are familiar with the situation, that the continuance of this state of things may be made as short as possible, both for the interests of the prisoners and the honor of the Government. The foundations of the two interior cell houses will be completed by the 1st of January, 1901. If provision can be made for the completion of said cell houses during the year 1901, it will be possible to remove the prisoners to the new penitentiary by July 1, 1902, and continue the work of construction with their help alone until the entire institution is completed.

DISCIPLINE.

The discipline of the penitentiary has steadily improved during the year. No escapes have occurred since December last. Several escaped prisoners have been recaptured. The prisoners generally have performed their labors cheerfully, and manifested a willing obedience to the rules. Fewer punishments have been found necessary than might reasonably have been expected under the circumstances. My acknowledgments are due to the officers who constitute the staff of the penitentiary for their vigilance, industry, and cordial cooperation in the work of the past year. The guards, with few exceptions, have discharged their duties faithfully.

To yourself, sir, and the Department which you represent, I am under many obligations for support and assistance.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. W. MCCLAUGHRY, Warden.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

UNITED STATES PENITENTIARY, Fort Leavenworth, Kans., June 30, 1900. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith a statistical statement of the records of this penitentiary for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900. In addition, I would state that during said fiscal year original anthropometric measurements (according to the Bertillon system) were taken of 326 prisoners, and remeasurements were taken of 253 prisoners. The measurements and descriptions of all prisoners who have been inmates of this institution since July 1, 1895, including those above mentioned, have been properly recorded in an appropriate book, classified, and, filed in a cabinet constructed for the purpose, facilitating ready reference and the identification of criminals.

All prisoners received during the fiscal year have been photographed, the negatives properly marked by number, and filed for future use. Prints have been made in all cases from the negatives, and mounted on descriptive cards.

In addition, I have the honor to report that the descriptive cards, photographs, and corresponding negative plates of 1861 prisoners, who were inmates of this penitentiary prior to its transfer from the military to the civil authorities, have been classified, recorded, and properly filed for future reference.

Very respectfully,

The WARDEN.

M. W. McCLAUGHRY, Bookkeeper and Record Clerk.

TABLE 1.—Alterations in prison population since June 30, 1899, giving number of prisoners received, discharged, pardoned, escaped, died, transferred, or otherwise released, and number remaining in the penitentiary at close of fiscal year, June 30, 1900.