Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March l, 1926.
PENITEN7IaRY FOR THE DISTRICT
MR.. rHoMsox's SPEECH CONCLUDED.

In the State of Virginia the PeDitentiary has
been conducted, more with view TO ITS mora
than its pecuniary results. tits charged the las
wear. with a balance Of about $4,000. lhls
sum is made up Of items, some Of which ought
not to be charged to peHitentiary, In any shape
and of others, which little more experience
will enable its officers to remove from Its &C
counts One of these items is the transporta-
ton of prisoners, amounting 10 the sum oil
$4,000, another Of interest upon the stock en-
ployed, amounting TO Ssl2, and third OF S4,-
Isl, expense incurred in disposing OF its ma
nufactures. The two first OF these items are
not properly chargeable TO the institution, and
some arrangement will, no doubt, soon be made
to prevent so great an expense from being IN
Cured i'm the sale Of It's manufactures. When
these items are deducted from the charges
against this institution, its accounts will about
balance. But the small pecuniary cost which
Virginia has incurred, in supporting this peHi-
tentiary, has been money expended to the best
purpose. Its moral effect has made her rich
recompense
The State prison in the city of New York,
has ALWAYS labored under the same disadvantage
with the Pennsylvania Feni,entiary, as to room
for its convicts; and, until within few years,
the system Of discipline and government in that
institution were exceedingly defective. These
causes interfered both with its moral effect and
pecuniary profit. In both these states, an i'm
preston began to prevail, that this humane sys-
tenn had entirely failed. This, so far from in
ducing its friends to give il up in despair, only
slimulaIed them to higher efforts. They lnvcs
tigated the cause which had given rise to this
impression Oh The public mind. They found
them in the plans which the prisons were
constructed; in the circumstance that the prl-
soners were permitted to sleep in numbers to-
pether in the same room at night, and hold free
conversation with one another during the day;
and in the want of an energetic and efficient
system of government. They candidly laid the
state of the prisons before the public This
produced the effect which truth must always
nr,duce on the public mind OF ali enlightened
people. They saw the defects did not exist IN
the system, but in the manner 1t had been car
ried into execution. And so firmly are those
two great States now convinced, not only OF the
humanity, but Of the superior efficacy OF the
system, that the State Of New York is building
a new Penitentiary on the banks oil the hudson;
and Pennsylvania is building two-one al 'hl'
ladelphia, the other at Pittsbnrg.
In the State Of New York, there has been
neni,entiary constructed on the best principles,
and under the best discipline, at the village OF
Auburn. In 1924, as appears by the report OF
a very able committee, appointed by the Legls-
ture 10 investigate the concerns OF the State
Prisons, there were $40 convicts conhned al the
prison of Auburn. Part OF these were employed
on the buildings of the prison, part were SEN
fenced TO solitary confinement, without labor,
and part were in the hospital. The remainder
were employed in manufactures for the profit
-. flo,,, yhn IN
ing the accounts Of the prison, and ascertaining
Moved for profit found that if but $50 of
these conyicts were constantly employed at the
same rate of profit, they would be able to sup
norr the institution, and earn for the State S3,-
$50. In the calculations of those gentlemen the
highest confidence may be reposed. They are
men devoted TO practical views.
In the state of Kentucky, for some years, the
Peniten,iary was a charge upon the Iresury OF
the state. Last year, however, an enterprislns
gentleman. of the name Of Scott, proposed 10
the LEGISLATURE to take the institution into his
hands: TO conduct it under such regulations that
the nublit authorities should be satisfied its
government was well administered, and the
convicts well taken care of; 10 secure the State
against its becoming charge TO the Treasury;
and 10 ask no emolument but the one halt oil
the profit Of the labor Of the institution, after
paying for allits expenses, The Legislature &C
coded to the proposition. MIR. Scott has had 1t
one year under his care, and, am informed, his
share of the profits has amounted TO $1,000.
In Vermont, the State Prison has, for the
last six years, supported itself, and paid small
revenue to the State; last year it paid into the
Treasury, of profit, Slloo.
In New Hampshire, the State Prison paid
into the Treasury last year, profit OF $4,000;
an honorable member near me, says $1,000.
In Massachusetts, the profits TO the Treasu-
nv arising last year, from the labors of the con-
y;c,s in the State Prison, was Slo,o5l 50.
Thus have shewn, not by speculative rea.
soning, but by plain exhibition Of matters OF
fact. that Penitentiary can be made MOI only
20 SUPPORT itself, but to produce small reve-
nue. 10 the State 1 have proved, also, that in
the cases which had come to my knowledge, Ill
which Penitentiaries had not supported them
selves, twas owing either to some defect IN the