The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-16
"CHERRY HILL"
Annual Report Of the Inspectors of
the Eastern Penitentiary
Of Pennsylvania.
Hon. Richard Vaux as a Social
Scientist Facts, Figures,
Theories, and Results.

OF the State Penltentiary, OF which body The
Hon. Richard Vaux is President has just been
issued. The most important portions OF ii are
as follows
The Penitentiary is a State institution. It was
established after the most earnest consideration had
been given by competent minds to the subject OF
convict discipline and penal jurisprudence. Then,
for the first time In the history OF civilization in the
United States, those citizens other persons who
punished for crimes or offenses against society,
were made the subject OF Penitentiary discipline
during their conviction to Imprisonment The sys-
tens of Imprisonment before existing, If they
could be denominated systems, were regarded as
most injurious to the convict and to society, and
were but an incarceration OF criminals In prison,
there to be kept from all association but that OF their
own class. Prisons or jails were then moral pest
moral epidemic, contagious as TO all who were in
association. The congregation Of convicts was a
principle which tended to make all as bad as the
worst. BY this incarceration crime-class is orga-
niZed. This crime-class, on regaining its lib
while engaged in new depredations on So
cety. The effect of association In prison is
nails after they are discharged from custody, and
thus contribute to the existence OF crimeclass
ishing for crime increases both crime and criminals
This was the system then in operation, only
because no effort had ever been made success
fully to establish a wiser, more philosophic, or
more common-sense treatment Of convicts. 1t was
the result Of close scrutiny into the vast abuses OF
this indscriminate mixing together of all ages of
offenders punished for different crimes, that the dis
interested and able men who took up the
subject OF penal jurisprudence were forced to
abandon the congregate system-as it was in
itself a crime-and seek for one which radi-
cally remedied all its evils. The theory was
self-evdent, that II the congregation OF convlcts
was direct positive injury to each convict, and
exercised dangerous influence on the community,
then the opposite mode OF treatment would, neces-
sarily, prevent these consequences The separation
Of each convict from others under sentence for
into that philosophic system which, throughout the
world, to-day, is known as the separate or Pennsy-
vania system Of penitentary discipline:
1t is believed and hoped, by those who have had
oltcial connection with this penetentiary (the only
penitentiary now established in which the separate
system is administered, as test OF that system(:
that the law-making power Of Pennsylvania will
not destroy this system, without the fullest invest
CATION. Its the belief Of the Inspectors that the
evidence which is before your Honorable Bodies,
and which has been publicly proclaimed for nearly
aby % prsves That te pennsylvana system of PenI
tentiary punishment as administered in the Eastern
State Penitentiary, is as WISE as beneficial as eec
tive, as any now established by law. The proof Of
this assertion is to be found in the facts statements
deductions, and experience which this Penitentiary
presents to the mind of the unprejudiced and
disinterested student Of penal science. For the
past thirty years the inspectors have annually
They have been accompanied with such Information
and exhibits as are essential to full understanding
OF the questions involved in any discussion OF penal
systems AS yet one, by reason OF his ability and
opportunity to study and examine these questions,
has successfully denied these opinions and views OF
the Board OF Inspectors, sustained, as they have
been by the facts adduced in their support.
1t here and now asserted that on compari-
son with any other system OF convict treatment
IN which the profit made from convict labor is
not the test the separate system has for many years
shown itself superior IN all m that t. relates TO dls;
mental condition of convcts their reformation, and
the protecting of society against the organized
crme-cass which is becoming so ungovernable.
1t is now further asserted that under proper limta
tlons as to the extent OF the comparison the sepa-
rate system is not more costly than other systems,
especially in States containing large cities, and
where, consequently, populations are more liable to
personal and public security. Again, 1t is asserted
that under SYSTEM the convict is better enabled
to correct his fe change his habits strengthen his
resolves for amendment, is more directly and posi-
lively subjected to improving influences more
readily enabled to understand the object of his pun
ishment and avail himself OF its purposes, and more
effectively protected against temptation on regain
ing his liberty, and secured against the force OF con-
taminaton by iutermingling with the crime-cass in
populations than under any other now in operation
either In the United States or Europe.
From these remarks it is easily TO be understood
that the knowledge and Information necessary pro-
perly TO Judge and decide on issues OF such import
ance to the convict and to society not obtained
careful study almost daily observation, and the
examination OF facts as they relate TO principles,
and OF principles as they are sustained by facts,
in order to reach wise and safe conclusion.
1t is a science are discussing. 1t Is neither a
whim, caprice, an experiment, notion, JOB, nor
speculation. 1t is science, consequently 1t is to
be considered and investigated only as such subjects
can be examined. For the past fifteen years the
District of Pennsylvania have presented statistical
tables which thoroughly exhibit crime crime cause,
the individuality Of conylcts, their moral mental,
and relations, from which are established
the principles on which their punishment
by Imprisonment can be best applied. These concur
in showing that the separate system is the safest,
the best, the most scientific or philosophic sys-
TEN to which they can be subjected, for their
advantage and the substantial benefit OF society.
This has never been successfully refuted. True
it is that some excellent men have brought
themselves to believe that system wnca
treatment. There the belief ends. No reason has
ever been presented to prove 1t best as against each
particular reason, OF all that are SUBMITTED 10 prove
1t not 10 be SO. IL is here asserted, from the eXpe
rlence of past years, after full, and careful, anC
thorough investigation, that the separate system
cannot be successfully assaed In respect OF tnos'
particulars as to which 1t has been called upon tC
justify Itself. To collect In one place gWel
number OF persons convicted OF crime, associate
them for work, instruction. or for so-called reli
gious teaching, and assert that thereby they ar
individually and collectively benefited, TO create
degree, than by separating them for ike pur
poses, and that such separation fails TO benen
them to the same extent Is to assert ina
10 class collectively than 10 each individual sepa
ratey. II would be as true TO maintain that larg
number breathing an atmosphere In eommon ar
more healthful than each OF that number inhalin
pure air separately. 1t would be as true to conen
that large number Of sick, In association, could
as properly treated by one general remedy as eac
individually treated, in separation, or non'asst
citation.
To prove that large number OF convicts assoc
ated together for punishment are better enabled
rise above their degradation, ever reminded as the
are OF its cause and character by this associatio
than II they were each separated from the other al
unknown to each other, would prove that the be
society for self-improvement was society OF co
TO seek to establish the fact tina. there are no co
taminating influences In convict association, und
the best system regulating It, is to attempt to pro-
the non-ex'stence OF u law OF our nature which Is
cid as man.
religious teachings, II they can be better attained
large congregation than in isolated self-comm