New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-02
PRISON MArTERS IN MASSACHUSETTS,


In the State Prison at Charlestown found the prison.
as usual, in good condition; the in the workshops
busy as bees in the season Of honeymaking and the
warden, the Hon. Gideon Haynes, courteous, genial,
attentive and ready communicate information as ever
The past year has been OF pecunary prosperity 10
the prison beyond any previous one The aggregate earn
ngs OF convict labor during the year have amounted to
tl3576 49, while the total expenditures have been only
slO4,O2O 81, leaving O net gain to the institution OF
ss556 o. These figures be 1t understood, have under
gone manipulation but represent cash. the balance OF
profit named having been actually paid into the State
Treasury in money and being actual surplus over all
that has been drawn from the Treasury for all the pur
poses OF the prison. Mr. Haynes stated the pecuniary
the labor of the convcts the last three years
follows Net profit 1867 22sIs 6; net profit in 1868.
49, net profit in 1862 s2s556 o5. Total In three
years, t7s,53s 70.
These results have been obtained with an average
number Of prisoners not much exceeding 500 How strk
ing and suggestive the contrast between these figures
ane those yielded by our NewYor prison management
EDUCATION.
In this department OF prison administration, Massa-
chusets taken long step in advance. Heretofore
secular instruction has been given to the iterate
among the cOnvics except that impaired In the prison
Sunday by outside volunteer workers. The State
has nothing in this direction. But this repr0ach-
n grieyOus One-has at length been wiped out, and
policy nauRurated much more In harmony with the IRA
donal and liberality OF the old Bay state
Last Winter the legislature passed BIZ ana
instruction In reading writing and such other
branches OF education as may pa deemed eXpeule 10
such Of the convcts may be benefited thereby ana are
DESTROYS OF receiving the same Ia accordance Win
this act school has been established In the prison dur
ing two evenings I'm the week which hitherto has been
mainly conducted by the Warden, assisted by some OF
HIS officers aud several OF the conyicts Zone OF them
graduate Of Harvard College,. No act relating TO the
prison. assured, mas been passed for years which
fact highly appreciated by the convics More than 60
desire on the part OF prisoners avail themselves OF
this privilege is said to be almost universal course OF
has been given for three successive Winters In this prison,
to the great delight and profit OF those to whom they
have been addressed
PRISON HOLIDAYS
For number Of years past-since 1864, thlnk-Mr
Haynes has been In the habit on all public holidays,
and occasionally at other times Of allowing the conviots
about two hours Of recreation and unrestraned inter
course with each other. SO beneficial regards the
Opportunities OF relaxation aud freedom been found that
d ac The Warden Of tho State Prison may at such
times and under such circumstances as he deems expe
vcs TO assemble together In the prison yard for recrea
ton and exercise" This act enables the warden not
only increase TO any reasonable extent the number OF
such periods recreation, but asO-whch Is more im
portanto apply them more directly and therefore more
already proved and in their increased frequency are
likely TO prove, moro and more an efficient agent IN TINS
Mr Haynes holds that there two ways OF maintain.
ing the scipne OF prsOnOne through fear, the other
through hope The FEAR OF the Idsh, shOWerDath anu
other Instruments OF physical torture he may deter
holds that the remedy worse than the disease Inc d
basing effects OF the LASH so he reasons II not confined
the blows and those compelled to witness the incuon,
hardened and demoralized thereby IT. on the other
there something for him to hope for, such sentiment
will only operate more constantly aud powerfully
but will be, at the time, fan more eeYang and re-
f0rmatory For the last fourteen years covering the In
cumbency OF tho present Warden moral agencies have
been the main reliance for discipline In the Charlestown
prison. the dark cell having been the only punishment
there ia all those These means have been
nd ubu
volt lately organized by OF the most desperate and
daring men I'M the prison into the details which do
not propose TO 90. t Is enough to that the revolt,
which time threatened 10 assume formidable pro-
porti0ns was within period OF three four days
pleely queed and the men forty IN number all quietly
at work again simply as the result Of solitary conine
they continued IN their refusal To yield.
PARTICIPATION OF TIE coNylcrs IN PRISON EARNINGS.
Mr. HAYNES expresses q decided conviction that the
men should interest in the profits OF the instu
ton He Is satisfied that II per centage OF the gains Of
the prison could be divided among the inmates re-
principle deducted from their sentences py the
Communication law, It would DO an important step IN the
right direction. The feeling now prevailing among
them and 1t has an evil tendency vs. that the state Is
on them suffering from want; this would be dlspeed
by allowing them TO participate IN their earnings hach
the institution and the tendency OF such an arrangement
would be to promote industry patience ana Peaseyer
upon them when discharged .
observed that story had been added 70 one OF the
ranges Of shoe shops giving additional room az feet
long and ~ wide But the great Improvement consists
I'm the erection OF block OF u new brick houses on the
prison grounds residences for the subordinate officers
They plain twostOry dwellings, which, though rather
plainly and cheaply built promise to be convenient ana
comfortable IL expected that they VIII Do ready Iof
occupancy by the first OF January. .
Tho Rev George j. Carleton has been the stated Chap
lain I'm this institution about eight years The Ord
nary religious appliances are preaching service on sun
dav morning sunday School, and tri-weekly service OF
npSyer To these have been added within the last few
months a weekly prison prayermeetlng. held for one
hour every Wednesday afternoon The sunday ScnOol
consss classes, containing six eonVics each Ihey
are taught by benevolent gentlemen who volunteer their
services the good work. many OF them having cOntn
ned i'm IL for long OF The convics prayer
meeting was organized In June with AZ members, ana
has increased above TO- The Chaplain assured me that
In was conducted with much spirit aud e1erting he
was satisfied, q happy and beneficial influence