The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-12
THE DAILY EVENING GTELEGRAPH-TRIPLE SHEET
OUR GREAT PRISON.

Probably no system of prison government and
discipline has been SO little understood and so
much maligned as that In vogue in our Eastern
Penitentiary. The greatest Ignorance exists
even as to the arrangement of the building
itself, and the cause can easily be traced. While
passes o. admission are granted to all visitors
who may apply for them whether strangers to
the city or otherwise, yet visit to the institu-
tion In the capacity of general visitor does not
give any adequate idea of its arrangements.
Very little is shown to those who come from
curiosity only as little as can be, and much less
than is shown in other similar institutions. The
reason for this is obvious. In such policy lies
the greater safety and efficiency of our prison.
But to the special or official visitor the case is
different. He sees all the good points, and in
all their bearings. To him the horrors of the
so-called solitary, but more properly separate,
confinement system as pictured by many fade
away, and in place thereof he sees one of the
greatest blessings to the criminal and the CON-
munity at large.
The system in use is certainly not solitary.
That is the worst possible term that could have
been chosen to express the idea. But separate
it certainly lie. BY this it is meant that crimi-
mails are kept separated from each OTHER, so that
they may not, by their association with each
other make their depraved natures still worse,
and when they go out into the world may not
assist In the formation of crime class, the
members of which mutually help each other in
wrong doing. But they are not kept solitary and
alone, that is at all times, but are exposed to
every good influence and association. Those who
are on their good behavior, and are so fitted for
it, are even allowed to leave their cells during
certain hours of the day for the purpose of per-
forming work about the building with their fell
| lows. With such, the restriction Of silence is
not otimposed as it is where the congregate system
is used But they are under the eye of a super
| visor, who sees that no improper communication
takes place between the prisoners. Such COM
munication is not likely to happen, because
only the best are allowed this privilege, and
| then not until they have been in the prison for
| a while and have proved their fitness by good
| conduct. IL any become unruy while out, they
| are returned to their cells and not allowed the
privilege again. at least for time. Those who
work outside of their cells are carefully guarded
| from unnecessary communication with all out
side parties, and in hours of idleness, all sepa-
| rated from each other. But even those who
never go outside of their cell and little yard from
the time they enter to the time they leave are
not in close confinement They never see their
fellow prisoners, it is true, but various persons
see them and converse with them. The near
friends and relations of q prisoner are allowed
to see him at certain intervals under certain
conditions and converse with him through the
grating or inner cell door under the eye of
keeper. Others, to be mentioned, have free ae-
cess to all of the men, and many who have the
authority do visit each prisoner frequently.
Of course, prisoner restricted in liberty by
this separate system must suffer some disadvan-
tages, but this should be taken as matter of
course. 1t is a false humanitarian idea now
gaining gronnd that man convicted and sem
fenced for crime should suffer no Inconvenience
or punishment, but should be kept at the
expense of the State in the best manner until
the expiration of his sentence, when he shall
again 60 forth into the world with no fear of
punishment before his eyes, and caring little
whether he be sent back again or not. Punish
ment should be 80 inflicted to produce
wholesome dread upon those punished. 1t
should produce this dread by means which are
unpleasant, but not barbarous. But no one,
even with superficial knowledge of the facts,
can bring the charge of barbarism against the
separate system of imprisonment which owes its
origin and is peculiar to Pennsylvania. Astrictly
solitary confinement is nowhere enforced the
world over. Such system, by which the pri-
soner would not be allowed to see or speak to
any one at any time, would be perfectly horri-
BILE. No one even among the most urgent
friends of our system ever dreams of advoca-
ting such plan. Such course would put a
prisoner either in his grave or in the worst de-
partment of the mad-house in a very short
time Such is not our system, though many
believe that 1t is.
The official visitors to the prisoners embrace
several classes. First In order, the judges of
the courts may be mentioned.
These gentlemen, though possessing the right
of visitation, but seldom use il. But this can
readily be excused in many cases, because of
the numberless other duties with which our
| judges are already burdened. The members of
the State Legislature are also official visitors.
These, like the judges, seldom trouble the pri-
soners, but possibly from different reasons. In
this case it is probably from want of interest
more than from pressure of other business.
Perhaps it is as well so. 1t May be that these
gentlemen exert their best influence in their
absence.
The main bulk of the visiting is done by the
the members of the Prison Society," aud chiefly
by Its visiting committee. This society is a
voluntary organization and has now authority
from the State for its actions. It's committee
consists of some thirty members, and their
visits are so timed that each prisoner in the
large number in the penitentiary receives a
visit from one of the committee about once q
week.
Besides these, the officers of the prison, and
particularly the warden, are continually with
the men. Unruly persons are personally talked
to by the chief officer, who endeavors to con-
ciliate them by kind treatment before applying
Townsend, though he has been in office but q
q Il. N..l