The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-21
A uouse Of Correction.

A House OF Correction.
COUNCILS appear to be at last making serious
endeavor to establish House of Employment
and Correction for the criminally indolent aud
depraved classes of Philadelphia. The neoes-
sity for such an Institution has long been re-
oognized. Through a series of years it was
urgently recommended by every Grand Jury,
and earnestly advocated by the judges of the
Criminal Court. Under the present
system Philadelphia is not only vic
timized by her own depraved offspring,
but by the udolent refuse Of other SEQ ious of
the country, who flock hither to enjoy the de-
lights of bummer's paradise. Nowhere else
can they obtain, with equal certainty, paupsr
or prison subsistence without the slightest
danger of being called upon 20 work. Phila-
deli his taxpayers are preGmineptly dssin-
guished for their good nature in maintaining
au army of able.b men, boys, and women
in absolute idleness, and for their tolsration
of the neglect which has postponed
for go long period the applics-
tion of manifest remedy for this oppressive
and demoralzing abuse. The Phladelph
loafer, whose ruling idea of life is that useful
work must be avoided at all hazards CRATE
fully contemplates the pleasing prospect of
passing his days in idleness at the Almsho1se,
in the County Prison, or in sponging on The
general public. There is sufficient variety in
these modes of existence to satisfy all his
aspirations. When the Almshouse becol1es
monotonous he can mingle for a time with
r. of ,;.t
if the charities of the world prove
too cold, he can easily be committed to the
County Prison either as vagrant, or, if need
be, as the perpetrator of petty theft; for in
stances are by no means rare i'll which men
have stolen small articles for the express pur-
pose of securing winter quarters in Moyamsn-
sing. A crowded Almshouse, crowded
County Prison, heavy draft upon taxpayers
for the support of paupers AID prisoners,
and a certain and rapid increase OF crime and
criminal Incidence, are the nevitabl results OF
this miserable system. After seli-respsc
is once lost, confinement, solaced by comp any,
and neither embittered nor improved by use
full employment, ceases to be a punishment,
and the lazy prisoner has no dread of the
sentence which ensures him easy subsistence
In House of Correction and Euploy IA sal
many reforms could be made which are impOs
sible in the present institutions aud large
portion of the habitu6s OF the AlmshOuse and
prison could be advantageously furnished with
useful employment.
OF late years the necessity of a House o.
Correction has been so generally recognized
that its establishment is retarded only by the
difficulty Of deciding upon a proper location.
Various sites have been proposed, and finally
rejected, on account Of the adverse petitions
of citizens residing near the places selected.
The objections are not unreasonable. The
city is rapidly extending i'll every direction,
and it is natural that property owners should
view with decided aversion any attempt
to establish in their vicinity All obnox ious
institution. Sites supposed few years ago
to be very rural and remote are now sur.
rounded by compact squares OF new build
ipgs, and it is difficult TO set limit To the
extepeion of our increasing impro yemen ats.
1t seems but just and proper that Councils
should select comparatively remote site,
with such surroundings as will b. least in
jured in prospective value. We hope, how,
ever, that the apparent desire To decide the
vexed question promptly is not delnsive, ani
that Councils and their committees will no.
rest until they have determined upon the
location Of House OF Correction, and M ale
the necessary appropriations.
A large proportion of the able bodied pri
soners and paupers should be made the in
mates of such an institution, and there b,
compelled to work OF be punished Tor idleness
Society should no longer be burd7ned with tn,
maintenance of indoIent scAmps VINO eau b,
made TO maintain themselves. EXperien3,
has demonstrated that in proper buildings
and under appropriate regulations, there is NJ
serious difficulty in finding remuuerative em
ployment for large bodies OF criminals. fbiIa
delphia has too long encouraged idleuess il
her Almshouse and prison, aud year after yea,
the House of Correction becomes more and
more of necessity.
The End of The Corner.