The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-15
TUESDAY, MARCH Is, 1870.
TIE HOUSE OF OORRECTIO N-LBP
THE LEGISLATURB UNDO TRS
BHBEI, WORK

THE LhGISLATURE UNDO ITS
BABEL WORK
WHEN the future historian of Philadelphia
describes the action of the present generation
in reference to House of Correction, what
fearful picture of vacillation and incompe-
tenoy will he present Sixteen years ago an
act providing for the establishment of such
an institution was passed by the Legislature,
and the subject has been continually agitated
ever since, every day increasing the manifest
necessity for its construction. And yet the
muddle in which this project is involved
seems to grow deeper and deeper with each
new demonstration of the Importance of its
success. The underlying reason of these
difficulties is the question of location for the
contemplated structure. The trouble does
not arise from the paucity of proposed sites
but from their superabundance, and this
rouble is intensified by the anxiety of one
let of interested parties to prevent the House
of Correction from being erected in one
region, and the desire of another set
to have it built in some other
special locality. The city owns
an abundance of land, but its right to use its
own property has besn circumscribed by the
Legislature, with the apparent intent of
orcing it to become a real estate purchaser
for the special benefit of some one of dozen
knots of spectators. When the House of
Correction was first talked of the Almshouse
farm was fixed by law as the proper location.
But this project awakened the h ostility of
adjacent property owners, and it was (not
unwisely) defeated, first, by the recommend
IL L
the subject in charge, and, second, by legis-
lative enactment which forbids our citizens
from using any property in the ward in
which the Almshouse is located as House of
Correction. After some years the grounds
adjacent to Moyamensing Prison rose into
favor, and this is, above all others, the proper
site, or, indeed, the only economical and ap-
propriate one. Three acres of land are avail
able, affording ample room, with proper
architectural arrangements, for the confne-
ment and employment of all our prisoners,
vagrants, able-bodied paupers, drunkards,
and disorderly persons for years to come.
Thousands of men can be set and kept at
work in the space therein furnished, and
some of the largest and most thickly-popu-
lated institutions of a kindred character do
not possess more room than the city has at
her disposal on the grounds adjacent to the
County Prison. This is he only project that
ever received hearty and thorough endorse
nent, and the only one yet presented which
should be adopted. It is recommended in
the strongest terms by the Board of Prison
Inspectors, body of men who, above all
others, best understand this subject, and
act from enlightened and disinterestei
motives. 1t was also favored, a
few years ago, by every, member Of
a joint committee of Councils which had
thoroughly examined this whole subject. Nor
did the favorable and propitious action stop
here. Councils authorized loan of one hun
dred thousand dollars to erect the necessary
buildings on the site which had thus been
warmly approved; 80 that, as the city pos
sessed the land and the money to erect the
buildings was provided, the whole question
of House of Correction was on the point og
reaching a satisfactory solution. The only
thing needed was an act of the Legisature
authorizing our citizens to do what, after
mature consideration, competent officials had
decided to be the best thing that could be
done in the matter. But a superlatlvely stu
pid and iniquitous piece of Legislative
botchery was perpetrated at this moment.
Instead of conferring the privilege asked for
the Legislature passed law prohibiting the
people of Philadelphia from construct.
ing House of Correction and
Employment in the ward in which
the County Prison is located, and definite
action en- the whole subject was delayed ant
prevented by this outrageous proceeding. Il
our citizens had been represented at Harris
burg by men who possessed decent degree
of intelligence, honesty, and regard for the
welfare, such an infamous law could not pos
sibly have been adopted. Its passage hi
already cost Philadelphia hundreds of th)u
sands of dollars and it has stimulated an i'm
mense amount of crime and pauperism.
it is not repealed it will cost millions of dol
lars more, and multiply the race of hummer
until the whole city swarms with them; an
the burdens of taxpayers will be increase
to an incalculable extent by tn
damaging commission and omission o
dwelling legislators. Councils, deprive
of the power of doing what their better judg
ment favored, were naturally thrown bac
upon series of expedients none of whic
are satisfactory 1t is time, however, that th
farce of chasing up sites should cease. Le
the Legislature heed the request made in tn
last renort of the Prison Inspectors piy