Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-01-03


of the convicts by the sum of $l8. 239S6
This is owing to the fact that the existing
contracts for the labor of the prisoners
were, under the law, nearly all made when
the value of labor was much lower than ii
now Is, and. therefore, while the Peniten-
.tiary has the increased cost of food and
clothing to meet, it has not the balancing
advantage of the increased price of labor.
Several improvements are urged by the
Directors and Warden as being of manifest
necessity. Among these are steam en-
gine, for the purpose of grinding bread
stuffs, throwing water in case of fire,
pumping water for use in the corridors and
cells, washing clothes, &c. This appears TO
be a real necessity, aud in the end would
prove real economy. The removal of the
old and nearly useless engine house, and
the substitution of a larger and somewhat
diiferent building, is also recommended.
Under existing laws the Chaplain is re-
quired, in addition to his other duties, to
Keep records and furnish statistics concern
ing the prison. This kind of labor requires
an office, which the construction of the
building has not provided, and no disposal
bic room is at his command. The change
recommended in reference to the engine
house might be made to include provision
Tor the CHAPLAIN.
The report of the last named officer shows
that more than three-fourths of the con-
victs are under thirty years old, and, in
fact, large majority of them are young
men who have very recently come Ofage.
The number of youthful ''first-offense"
convicts is unusually large, and strongly
suggests the inquiry whetbera separation Of
those who have not become hardened in
crime may not be possible, and modiilea-
tion of our system of punishment adopted
which shall have more decided and direct
view to the possibility of reformation in
such cases. One of the natural results OF
such war as we have lately had, Is to
break down the respect for life and prop
erty among the worst traiuedland least
educated classes of young men, md thOus-
ands have given themselves to tie demOr-
alizing life of camp-followers, bringing
home habits which are now carrying them
into the jails and prisons of the country.
/ cannot doubt thatMany such young men
might be reclaimed bya proper system OF
prison discipline; but have as little doubt
that association with old and hardened
offenders in the same prson-shops, fixes
the habit of crime and the hate of legal
restraint, and they are discharged at the
end of their term only to commit fresh
wickedness.
Other States and countries have made ex-
periments on this subject which are worthy
of attention. In some OF the prisons OF
Great Britain, what is known as the Irish
Convict System is reported to have pro-,
duced really satisfactory results. Its char
acteristic feature is continuous instruction
OF the prisoner in regard to his moral rela-
tions to society, accompanied by gradual
nfh;s ,a1ta ahilitKr md fNrpnOrt u ata
relaxation of the rigidity of discipline and
punishment, as he proves himself trust
worthy, The punishment under this sys-
tenn Is more severe than in ours on the first
, ntry of the convict into the prison, but i
so graduated that continued evidence OF
Improvement reduces the confinement at
last to merely nominal restraint. 1t is
said by very respectable authority that eX-
perence has proven the reformation of
convicts under this system, to be so
thorough that a certificate of discharge
with a clear record, is sufficient to secure
the released prisoner employment and con-
tidence without difficulty.
Without fully vouching for this or any
other system which is only known to me
printed reports and books, feel
Justified in saying, that, inasmuch as the in
crease of convicts with the growth of the
State, and the other reasons given by the Di-
rectors and Officers of our Penitentiary for
a revision of the laws as to its management
force the subject upon our attention, 1t is in
MY Judgment advisable to take some i'm
mediate steps to separate the younger con-
victs and those convicted of the less helm
ous classes of crime, from the other inmates
of the State Prison, and try upon them the
effect of reformatory system of treat
ment. ..U
REFORM SCHOOL.
NV confidence in the success OF such an
is not based upon the results OF
foreign systems alone. Our State has tried
such system with convicts under the age
of sixteen, and with them it is no longer an
experiment., but decided and demon
strated success. The State Reform Farm
was organized eleven years ago upon the
''family system" adopted in some Reforma-
tories for youthin Continental Europe, and
was the irst attempt to introduce the plan
into this country. A large proportion of
the youth sent there have been convicted
of penitentiary crimes, some of them of the
character. The great aim of the
in charge, and OF the Elder
Brothers (as the officers and teachers are
called), has been to revive in these boys
respect lOT bu6 TlSub anu u lONC lOl JluJl
and virtue. all the discipline and inStruc-
ton has been directed to this end. While
the fact of their deserving punishment has
not been ignored, they have been made to
feel that their crimes have made the dis
ctpline of the schools necessity to them for
theirown good, and necessity for the COM
munitys protection. Records have been
kept Of the youth discharged and theirhis-
tory traced as far as it has been possible to
do so, aud the results have been such as to
Justify the assertion that hundreds of boys
have been made useful and honest members
of society, who would otherwise have filed
the prisons of the land and telonged to the
class of professional, criminals.
The success of this system in our own
State has caused its adoption in several of
the other States of the Union, and may be
said to have changed the Treatments of
youthful convicts In the country. rens,a
Holding this opinion as to the value of
this Institution, you will not wonder at nv
urging that it should be tostered and i'm
proved. The original family buildings
were of the rudest description, intended
only for temporary use they are now need
ed for workshops or other buildings used
ID the Industrial pursuits of the Farm, and
should be replaced by houses similar to
those erected during the past year. which,
while rigidly plain aud simple in construc.
lion, are well l'adapted for the uses required.
The Farm is In a hilly country, the soll is
very light aud suitable only forfruit aud
horticulture. There are both advantages
and disadvantages in this; but my own
opinion after visiting the School is that
greater variety of labor is needed and that
since it is reasonably certain that a portion
Of the boys,will live in cities or towns after,
their discharge, mechanical trades should
be taught to those who have natural apt
ness for them. ih tta SAY b68a
A similar Institution for girlssfs a neeess
sitV and hone will ha aastahlishad q q aarlv