Items of Interest December 19, 1914 Issue

Items of Interest

Thomas Mott Osborne, the new warden of Sing Sing prison, New York state, on Dec. 8 granted thirteen of fifteen requests made by the prisoners for special privileges and changes in rules and regulations which the men asked as "reforms." Throughout the day not one of the prisoners violated a rule of the prison, for the first time, perhaps, in the history of the institution. The men have been put practically on their honor. A trial court of convicts will be allowed to pass on cases of insubordination and infraction of the rules, and will be under supervision of the prison officials only. So far as the men make it possible, they are to be allowed to govern themselves.

Mr. Osborne, in return for the privileges granted, asked for better general discipline in the prison; better order in the cell block, as a mark of consideration to those desiring to read or study; more cleanliness and less waste, for the reason that a "very small amount of bread wasted by each inmate means in the aggregate the cost of many barrels of flour, the money for which might just as well be put into a greater quantity and better quality of food;" better work, "as one of the concrete tests of the new systems;" longer hours of work on Saturday, since the entertainments of that afternoon are shifted to Sunday, and "the worst thing a man can learn in prison is to do inefficient work."

Nine cardinal causes of industrial unrest most generally agreed upon by employers and employees alike, have been presented to Congress by the commission on industrial relations in its preliminary report as follows:—

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