The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-10-25
Terms $500 per onnuns, in adrance.
whom they come. Let us take heed that that
WOO falls ot IInon our baad

| whom they come. Let us take heed that that
woe falls not upon our head.
| AAVL. The exercise of executive clem-
| ency in the pardon OF criminals viewed as a
practical question, is one of grave importance
and at the same time of great delicacy aud
difficulty. Taking the prisons of the whole
country, an annual average OF ten per cent.
received executive pardons. The effect of this
free use of the pardoning power is to demor-
aize the prisoners. The hopes OF all are
are thereby more or less excited; their minds
become unsettled; the discipline of the pris-
| on disturbed; the labor of the prisoners has
| iess heart, aud of course less profit in it; and
| .he,r reformation is mpeded, if not defeated,
| oy naVin? thelr thoughts directed to another
| and interior end.
| AAVlI. The proper duration of impris-
| onment for violation of the laws of society
is: one OF the most perplexing questions in
criminal Jurisprudence. The present ine-
quality of sentence tor the same or similar
crime is a source of constant irritation among
prisoners, and the discipline suffers in conse-
quence. The evil is one for which some rem
edy should be devised.
XXVlII. Prison statistics, gathered from
a wide field aud skilfully dgested, are essen
tal to an exhibition of the true character and
working of our prison systems. The collec-
ion, collation. and reduction to tabulated
forms OF such statistics can but be effected
through national prison discipline society,
with competent working committees in every
State or by the establishment of a national
tuted National Bnrean ot Edncation
xxx. Prison arcbitecture,s a matter of
grave Importance. Prisons of every class
should be substantial structures. affordino
qualification by their design and material to a
pure taste, but not costly or highly ornate.
We are Of the opinion that those of moder-
ate size are best, as regards both industrial
and reformatory ends.
xxx. The construction, organization and
management of all prisons should be by the
State, and they should form a graduated Sc
res of reformatory establishments, being ar
ranged with a view to the industrial emolov-
ment, intellectual education and moral train
lining of the inmates.
XXI. As a general rule. the maintenance
of penal institutions above the county Jail
ssoud be from the earnings of their inmates
and without cost to the State: nevertheless
the true standard of merit in their manage.
ment should be the capac;ty and thorou9b-
ness of reiormatorv effect ACCOMPLISHED there
by.
XXXI. A rinbt application of the princi-
ple of sanitary science in the CONSTRUCTION and
arrangement of prisons is another noint of
vital Importance. The apparatus for beatno
and ventilation should he the hest that ia
known; Sunlight, air and water sbould he af.
forded according to the abundance with which
nature has provided them; the rations and
clothing should be plain but wholesome. com.
Portable and in sufficient but not extrayaqant
quantity; the bedsteads. beds and beddino.
including sheets and pillow cases NOT costly
but decent, and kept clean. aired and free
from vermin: the hospital accommodations.
medical stores and surgical instruments sbould
be all that humanity reouires and science can