The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-01-13

number OF prlsonere, on the 3lst of
October, 1863, was 974, and the num-
Der of convicts admitted during the
year ending on that day was BAT.
This is decrease, compared with the
preceding year, of II in the number
of convicts admitted. and of 81 in. the
number confined in the Penitentiary.
The earnings during the year ending
octoDer 81, We're 81 20 S-eo2 eo 20 S
Excess of earnings over expenditures S32 OF %
Last year the earnings were 81 q G31 03 % %
And the excess of earnings over eS- fC
penses was ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Ss9.242 5v
A large proportion of the convicts,
when admitted, are quite young.
The age of about one-third does not
exceed twenty-One years. More than
two-thirds of the inmates ofthe prison
are now under thirty years of age. 1t
will occur to any one who considers
these facts that, under our system of
prison discipline, too little effort has
heretofore been made to reform these
young men. A high authority has
said, No human being is SO debased
and wicked that he cannot be reclaim
ed" 1t is believed that, under wise
system, the young, at least, can be re-
formed and prepared for useful and
worthy citizenship. The present sys-
TEN has two capital defects-the min
Cling in intimate association of the
young with the hardened criminals,
and the failure to educate the conyicts
in habits of thrift and self-contro].
| The defects are in the system. The
| convict, when he leaves the Peniten1
tiary, is exposed to greater temptation
than ever before, and the result of his
prison life is that he has less power to
resist evil Influences, and, too often,
less disposition to resist them. l do
not enlarge upon the objections to the
present system; it is not claimed to be
| reformatory. In a recent report the
Directors said: ''The great mass of
convicts still leave the Penitentiary
apparently as hardened and as dam
gerous to the State as when they were
sentenced" The vital question is,
how to remove this reproach on our
penal legislation. In considering it, /
commend to you the remarks of the
Board of State Charities OH the Irish
convict system. The distinguishing
merit of that system is that sit enlists
the cooperation ofthe prisoner in his
own amendment, without withholding
from him the punishment due to his
crime" Ifthe adoption of that system
with such modification as our condi-
tion requires, is deemed an expert
ment which it is inexpedient for the
State to try until its advantages are
better understood, l submit that the
least that ought now to be attempted
is to provide for classification of
convicts, so as to separate beginners
in crime from hardened offenders.
Whether this can best be done by all
terations and an extension of the
preseut Penitentiary, or the erection
of a new. one, is for your wisdom to
determine. = l.>.g ri
In several other States voluntary
associations have been formed to pro-
vide for, encourage and furnish en-
ployment to discharged convicts, and
their efforts have been of incaIculable
benefit to this unfortunate class. If Il
similar association should be formed
by the benevolent citizens of Ohio,
they will reasonably expect to receive
proper assistance from the General
Assembly, and in that expectation i
trust they will not be disappointed.
The total number of persons of
school age in the State in 1869, was
officially reported at ], ,02S,675; an in
crease of Ii, los over the previous year,.
The Total number enrolled in the pub
lie schools in 1869 was TAO, ,3S2, an in
crease of S,6I0 over the year 1868.
The average daily attendance in the
public schools in 1869 was 434, $50, an
increase over 1868 of "a, LA. Tod
The total taxes for schools, school
buildings, and all other purposes, the,
present fiscal year, is S6,57S, 1876 SO, an
increase over the previous fiscal year
of $6l6, 795 6S. Of this increase nef
taxation, the sum of ST., 1888 f86ris in
the State taxation for school purposes
and the sum of $685. ,96l 80 is the in
crease of local school taxation. % '3Iti
The State Commissioner of Common
Schools, in his report, will recon-
mend the adoption of county super
ihtendency, the substitution oftowu-
ship and sub district boards, a modi-
fcatien of school laws and other i'm
pOrtant measures, to which your at
tention is respectfully called. le
Prior to the organization of the
Board of State Charities in 1867,
there was no provision for SYSTEM
attic examination of the benevolent
and correctional institutions under
the control of the State and local au-
thorities. The members of the Board
serve without pecuniary compensa-,l
ton. 1t is simple justice to them to |
say that they have faithfully perform
ed the thankless task of investigating
and reporting the defects of the sys- |
tenn and in the administration of our
charitable and penal laws, and have |
furnished in their reports information |
and suggestions of great value. IfitI
is true that an abuse exposed is half
corrected, it would be difficult to over,
estimate their work. They have, |
their reports show, discovered abuses
and eruelties practieed, under color Of |
law, in the midst ofcommunities noted |
for intelligence and virtue, which
would disgrace any age. Let the /
Board bo granted increased powers
and facilities for the discharge oftheir
duties, and it will afford security
perhaps the best attainable-to the |
people ofthe State, that the munificent |
provision which the laws make for
the poor and unfortunate, will not be
wasted or misapplied by the, officials
who are charged with its distribution.
During the last year more than nine
hundred persons, classed as incurably
insane, have been lodged in the coun-
ty infrmaries, and almost one hun
dred have been confined in the county |
jails. Besides these a large number |
of the same class of unfortunates have
been taken care of by relatives and /
friends. The State should no longer
postpone making suitable provision
for these unfortunate people. The !
treatment they receive in the inflrlna-
ries and jails is always, of necessitity.
unsuited to their condition, and is of.
ten atrocious. To provide for them, / |
would not recommend an increase of |
the number of asylums for the insane.
1t is believed, by those best acquaint-
ed with the subject, that both econo-
my and the welfare of the patients re-
quire that the chronic insane should
be provided for by additions to the |
asylums already built,or to thosewhich