Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-01-12

1AlS earnings during Lno year
! ending Oct. 81 were. ,663 O6
The expenses were.-...-............ las, ,635 50
Excess of earnings over expen-
81 or %
Last year the earnings were. $17l ,037 As
Ihe expenses were................. IA, ,T94 95
And the excess of earnings
over expenses were.-............ SIS, ,242 so
REFORMATION OF CoNvICTs.
A large proportion of the conyicts,
when admitted, are quite young
The age of about one-third does not
exceed twenty-one years. More than
two-thirds of the inmates of the pris-
on are now under thirty years of age.
1t will occur to any 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, mo human being is so debased
and wicked that he cannot be re-
claimed" 1t is believed that, under
a wise system, the young, at least, can
be reformed and prepared for useful
and worthy citizenship. The present
system has two capital defects-the
mingling in intimate association of
the young with the hardened crimi-
mails, and the failure to educate the
convicts in habits of thrift and self
control. The defects are in the sys-
tenn. The convict, when he leaves
the Penitentiary, is exposed to greater
temptations 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. I do not enlarge upon the OBJ
jections to the present system; it is
not claimed to be reformatory. In a
recent report the Directors said -
1.-THE great mass of convicts still leave
the Penitentiary apparently as har-
dened and as dangerous to the State
rs they were when they were senten-
ced." The vital question is, how to
remove this reprOach on our penal
legislation. In considering it, COM
mend to you the remarks of the Board
of State Charities on the Irish con-
Wet system. The distinguishing mer-
it of that system is that 'it enlists the
cooperation of the prisoner in his
own amendment, without withhold
ing from him the punishment due to
system, with such notifications as
our system requires, is deemed an ex-
pertinent which it is inexpedient for
the State to try until its advantages
are better understood, submit that
the least that ought now to be attempt
ed is to provide for a classification of
cOnvicts, so as to separate beginners
in crime from hardened Offenders
Whether this can best be done by at
tentions and an extension of the pres
ent penitentiary or by the erection of
a new one, is for your wisdom to de-
termine.
In several other States revolution
ary associations have been formed to
provide for, encourage, and furnish
to discharged convicts,
and their efforts have been of incal-
cuable benefit to this unfortunate class.
If similar association should be FORM
ed by the benevolent citizens of Ohio,
they will reasonably expect to receive |
proper assistance from the General
and in that expectation
trust they will not be disappointed.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The total number of persons of
school age in the State in 1859 was /
officially reported at l ,02S, ,675 an in
crease of IL Jos over the previous year.
The total number enrolled in the pub |
lie schools in 1869 was 740, 1892, an in
crease of S,610 over the year 1868. The
average daily attendance in the pub
lie schools in 1859 was 4S4 1855, an in
crease over 1868 of "a, IA.
The total taxes for schools, school
buildings, and all other purposes, the
present fiscal year is Sc, ,57S, l96 SO, an
increase over the taxation of the pre-
vious fiscal year of S6l6, ,795 IS. OF
this increase of taxation, the sum of
S17, ,S33 Sc is in the State taxation for
school purposes, and the sum of $685.
961 50 is the increase of local school
taxation.
The State Commissioned of Common
Schools in his report, will recon-
mend the adoption of county superin-
the substitution of town.
ship boards of education for the pres
ent system of township and sub-dis-
5rict boards, a codification of school
avs and other important measures, to
which your attention is respectfully
called.
6OAhO OE SlAlE 4
Prior to the organization of the
Board of State Charities in 1867, there
was no provision for a systematic eX-
animation of the benevolent and cor
-ectional institutions under the con-
-rol of the State and local authorities.
The members of the Board serve with
)ut pecuniary compensation. 1t is
iimple Justice to them to say that they
nave faithfully performed the thank
ess task of investigating and report
ng the defects in the system and in
he administration of our charitable
md penal laws, and have furnished in
heir reports information and suggest
ions of great value. If it is true that !
IN abuse exposed is half corrected, it
would be difficult to over estimate
heir work. They have, their report |
how, discovered abuses and eruelties
,racticed, under color of law, in the |
midst of communities noted for intel (
igence and virtue, which would dis ;
race any age. Let the Board be ]
.ranted increased powers and facili- I
les for the discharge of their duties, j
nd it will afford security-perhaps &
he best attainable-to the people of I
he State, that munificent provision
which the laws make for the poor and
will not be wasted or
by the officials who are
harged with its distribution.
THE CHRONIC INSANE. :
During the last year more than nine {
undred persons, classed as incurably {
lsane, have been lodged in the coun- 9
Y infirmaries, and almost one hun 7
red have been confined in the county
ills. Besides these a large number of
ne same class of unfortunates have
cen taken care of by relatives or i
-iends. The State should no longer y
ostpone making suitable provision a
" these unfortunate people. The |
-eatment they receive in the infirma- U
les and jails is always of necessity :
nsuited to their condition, and is v
ften atrocious. To provide for them, S
would not recommend an increase Il
the number of asylums for the in 4
me. 1t is believed by those best ac- o
TAINTED with the subject, that both t
;onomy and the welfare of the pa t
ents require that the chronic insane V
lould be provided for by additions to 4
he asylums already built, or to those S
hich are now building. 1t is proba- q
le that in this way such patients can a
: supported atless expense to the peo- C
le of the State, than in infirmaries n
nd jails. However this may be, their n
resent condition imperatively de- o
ands, and, trust, will receive, the n
rious consideration of the General A
Although commonly class Il