The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-16
A BOARD OF State Charities,

The establishment of State Board for the
supervision Of charitable and correctional in-
stitutions is advocated not only on account of
the inadequsoy OF the existing provision for the
confinement Of criminals Of the higher grades,
and for the protection Of dependent classes, but
for various other important re asons. Many OF
the county prisons and the almshOuses of the
Commonwealth are in a deplorable condition,
and no effective means are provided for ex-
posing and preventing the manifold evils
which arise from the ignorance, the neglect,
or the parsimopy Of the local authorities.
The laws provide that for certain offenses ori-
minals shall be confined in prison, but the
real character Of the punishment thus in
ficted depends upon the varying action of
county commissioners and jailors. We hear
much of the "terrors of the law" but the
practical effect OF few sentences to confne-
ment in Moyamensing is usually to confirm the
depraved classes in their choice of criminal
or idle career, and 10 satisfy them that, in
stead Of the way Of the transgressor being
hard, it is, on the whole, easier and more
agreeable, TO their perverted tastes, than the
life Of q hard-woTking, honest man. 1t is a
maxim with those who have closely watched
the practical operation OF our laws through a
series of years, that after man serves few
terms in the County Prison of Philadelphia he
becomes q confirmed prisoner, pauper, or
hummer, never voluntarily residing north OF
South street, and never making an earnest
effort TO gain livelihood in a reputable
manner. While this city errB in one direc-
tiop, other localities DRIFT into systems or
defects OF a totally different description; and
the man who, for committing larceny, is too
well fed, clad, and housed in one county, may
be nearly starved, OF otherwise maltreated, in
another. Paupers and prisoners in different
portions of this Commonwealth are at this
moment subject to almost every kind of treat
ment, good, bad, and indifferent; and at few
places are they dealt with as carefully aud
! wisely as they would be under a comprehen-
! sive plan adjusted on basis which fully re-
| cOnciled humanity for the fallen with the
imperative claims Of society to seltprotection.
Since the State makes the laws, pays the
salaries Of the judges, and assumes the
general duty Of providing for the punishment
Of crime, il should also endeavor to secure at
least fair degree of approximation to uni
formity in the puuishments applied TO the
large class Of criminals who are not sent to
the peniteniaries; and the Commonwealth
should also abolish by stringent legislation
the abuses connected with some of the aims
houses Of the State, and especially the prac-
tice Of selling township paupers to the lowest
bidder.
Aside from these evils, the hsbitual legisla-
tion Of the Commonwealth in reference to
charitable institutions has been of the most
capricious character, and an intelligent Board
of State Charities could do much to secure an
effective distribution Of the sums appropriated
for the relief of deserving INDECENT and suffer
ing classes. Legislators do not, as a rule
vote for the support Of this or that hospital Oi
asylum as matter of principle, or from
sense Of duty, but chiefly on account of tn,
zeal and skill displayed in soliciting their ia
vOrable action. The most deserving institu
tiOn may be turned away empty handed il i