The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-05
FIRST EDITIO N
CHERRY HILL"

Fortieth Annual Report of the Inspectors of
the Eastern PenitcntiRry-ObservntiO on
the Discipline-OperntiOns during the year
1868.
We have received from the Hon Richard Vaux
COPY OF the Forteth Annual Report Of the Inspec-
tors of the Eastern Pententiary, and present the
following interesting and important eXtracts:-
iIIalf a century ago, when the Pennsylvania sys-
TEN of Penitentiary reform was established by the
Legislature the theory OF separate Imprisonment of
convicts was attacked by earnest men in Massachu-
setts, New York, and England, with series Of OBJ
jections, which in themselves were thought to be
fatal to its successful administration. Them penal
science as an element of social science, was almost
unknown. Thinkers and students had avoided il as
repulsve and incapable Of development. There were
no data, there was no knowledge, nor experience,
from which to deduce reasonable conclusionl as to
its results: Its opponents resisted IL on several
red out, destructive TO health, injurious TO the
mind, and useless in its influences on
set up the congregate plan, OF commingng cOnyicts
by day at work, in prison, separating them at night
The distinction between these systems was radical.
The separate system rested on the philosophy that
punishment was a separation OF the convict from
society," to be treated for his crime as his individual
character required; to produce that regret whlch
might cause an amended life; to aid or induce re-
formation to protect society prevent discharged
criminals from organizing into class In the cOmmu-
nifty TO prey on 1t with success and by acquaintance
with each other, made in prison, thus recruit the
number and prevent any from returning to honest
pursuits, or forming domestic ties. This was the
basis on which the separate confinement OF conycts
was placed. These were the reasons which induced
the founders to press il to a practical trial. The
theory OF the congregate system, the other hand
may be thus stated that as convicts were associated
with society, association conviction obedience
to social law and in prison, therefore, they should
work together; that each knew his degradation, and
that crime was its cause; yet legal punishment was
complete when thus inflicted, though measured alone
by the period of degradation and that its termna
uon the convict was either better man or worse
one society only requiring crime to be punished and
the criminal sentenced to prison. The effects on
the individual which, his punishment produced were
never considered, except far as that should not
injure his health his mind; and 1t not cruel
because these Convicts worked together all day. and
went TO separate cells at night Penitentiary as
place OF reformatory penance for crime may repre-
sent one system; factory as a place of primitive
manual labor may represent the other
fhis is plainly stating the opposite theories OF the
two systems at the time to which refer 1t cannot
be denied that since then changes have been made
in both systems, by which they have been improved.
In both, experience has done much. In both, reme-
dial and reformatory influences have been intro
duced.
''To test, then, the force of the objections orgi-
naly made against the PENNSYLVANIA discipline, and
negatively in support of the congregate cannot be
deemed unreasonable to rely on the information
which the past fifteen years cover, as convincing
each A comparison, now, cannot be refused as
proof; cannot be rejected as unsatisfactory; cannot
involved. Appealing, therefore, to past ex-
perience, we are justified in une-
quvocaliy asserting that the Pennsylvania sys-
TEN OF penitentiary discipline, understood and
properly applied is not injurious TO the health has
man nor cruel that it benefits the conyicts that it
protects society," that it tends to strengthen the dis
charged prisoner in determination to lead an
honest life, that il does not entail the prisoner
the known degradation OF his condition, that it pre-
vents the organization OF crime-class in communi
ties, and that, if properly administered it is now the
most phiosophic and effective system for the treat
ment OF crime actual condition OF persons in
all societies,
'"The Inspectors do not now propose to repeat the
various and able arguments which have heretofore
been made in favor of the Pennsylvania system. To
meet to-day the original objections to it, which now
reappear, it is deemed only necessary to give the
Legislature facts which have been proven by the eX
periencC Of past years These facts presented in
form which renders them easily comprehended. An
examination of them, with ordinary intelligence will
substantate the assertions here made. On these
facts the PENNSYLVANIA system rests for its sure ue
Tense In the range Of theories in science or III
morals, there is not one which has been so thor
Oughly tested by practical experience as the theory
of the advantages of the separate discipline OF con-
victs in penitentiary. Taking, then, the test OF
comparison of the results, OF separate and congre-
gate penentiary discipline, this institution and the
State Penitentiary at CharlestOwn, Massachusetts,,
are selected as the two pententares under the most
carefully arranged supervision.
'In order to show without difficulty the results OF
these systems taking them as administered in these
respective PRISONS the percentage mode is adopted
as plainly manifesting the purpose OF this COM
paTison.
"From a history OF the Massachusetts, State
Prison. by the warden of that institution we extract
the following data, and furnish the corresponding
data from the records of this penitentiary:-