The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-16

1853. ..2l9l 3sl,2l65s 22s,s3OI4 6s,ss5 Ts
1865 . 1885 4l4Tis 80 POP, ,SO657 Qi9,SOs Ss
1866. ..... .236s 463,995 46 229 4lSS3 2s4 5S1 SO
1s67....2920 779,5196l 6OO,01343 1886 10
1s6s. ....2ss1 s44,s13 93 GOl, ,63OO5 242, ,734 SS
lS6s.....9sSo sIs,9ls26 654,1b76s 225,Oe1'6s
Making aggregate in 20 years Of 81 ,997, ,Os4,45
"The foregoing statements, though they show
result sufficiently disastrous to convince the asso-
ure, do not show the full extent OF the disaster"
These quotations from the Memorial" are
made with satisfaction, because they are most
important testimony in themselves and unwil-
lngy sustain the inspectors OF this Penitentiary In
their expressed opinions on the subject, and show
that the time is coming when the broader and more
philosophic views OF penitentiary discipline which
scientific examination OF so increasingly important
subject will produce, may vet become triumphant
the ignorance of bigotry or the baser ignobe,
and narrow motives which have SO long controlled
for convicted feons 1t would have
6eea WORTHY hyve OF who tho tas
against which they invoke rebuke aud remedy, IL
they had, at least, given to Pennsylvania some
Geoit for consistent opposition to them 1t would
have been simple justice to our State to have
pointed to her as an example for the reforms which
Gates in the penitentiaries Of New York.
The following extract from the 'Memorial" is so
the separate system" ITSELF contrastsd with TIT the
"congregate plaD," now adopted In New York,
and heretofore claimed to be the best system OF
prison government that 1t needs no COMMENT
"BioRAL ADMINIsTRATIoN.-It is now about 25
years since change was introduced into the moral
government OF our prisons. Prior 30 that time the
prominent ideas had been punishments and earnings
This change was the Introduction OF rewards as
well as punshments, and keeping the reformation
Of the prisoners in view as the main object
Appended is q brief enumeration OF the mea-
sues EN- poyed OF their defective execution, and OF
the b enents that may result from them:-
'Tho Msde of Enforcing Obedience.-Formerly it
was by means OF the whip, but with occasional re-
the whip abolished among the females, and in
is4e among the males except in cases OF insurrec-
tOn, revolt, and self-contdence. The Substi-
tute pravded for it by law was solitary con
flnement; and in the aatter year the law directed
prisons. Those cells have not yet been built, and
during the succeeding twenty years other means
Of force were resorted . to, until, In 1859, such
''shower.b bath, crucifX, yoke and buck" were for
hidden. This was done without providing any sub
stiutes, and the consequences disastrous. AS
soon as the passage OF the law was KNOWN general
uneasness in all the prisons was shown. This was
followed by individual acts Of violence. At Auburn
keeper was assaulted by convict, struck down
by hammer and his life saved only by the inter-
was stabbed, and disabled for life; and at Sing Sing
keeper was struck down by bar OF iron, and the
officers fired upon by a convict Then ensued more
| general movements. AT Auburn whole shops re-
fused to work. at Sing Sing $50 convicts on one
day. and some 800 or 600 the next day, refused to
work and at Clinton there was general conspiracy
TO escape, which was fortunately discovered In time
at Clinton 10 OF the ringeadefs were Kept in irons
and chained to their cells for several months and it
disposed among the prisoners prevented more gene
raj outbreaks, and perhaps an emptying OF our
prisons Of the great body OF their inmates The use
only In our State prisons. In all the local
pententaries, to which many OF our State
prisoners have been removed, 1t is still allowed and
In the State Prisons it to be left the discre-
uon of the oGicer imme diatey In charge to deter
self-defense which Will justify resort to whip
general system of discipline to prevail alike in all
mediatey affected by disorder from acting as CON-
plainant, Judge, and eXecutioner, and which will
cultivate the habit of self-government How so pre-
dominant among the great number of the prisoners,
is a measure greatly to be desired.
"The Introduction Of LfbTdTies.-This was begun
before the adoption OF our present Constitution.
So thoroughly wsI this sanctioned by the Legisa-
ture that during he past twenty four years. appro-
| priatiOns for this purpose have been made to the
amount OF about e2O 200, and the agents were di-
rected TO append to their annual reports catalogue
of the prison libraries. This duty has never been
| performed.
attaching the Prisoners.-The law has provided,
in this respect that the chapain5 besides religious
services in chapes, shall visit conVcts lin their cells
and devote one hour eachwork day and the afternoon
OF each Sunday to giving them religious aud moral
Instruction so the law has provided for ten teach
ers In the prisons at an annual expense of $780, TO
instruct the unlearned in the first rudiments OF edu-
OF the wise beneyolsnce OF the law, owing to the
absence OF well-digested plan OF instruction; for
at present the system OF instruction is so conducted
"Oreytoork and ts 10 Discharged c1noicts.-The
| original allowance TO conVicts on their discharge
was So to eachfrom the prison funds. 1t is now In
creased TO tlO and practice has grown up, not yet
| sanctioned or organized by law, OF allowing The
and above their allotted stents. This
also demands an organized system 20 prevent
prisoners and contractors, TO guard against unjust
pariaity by the officers in charge, and TO accord il
| impartially to all.
'COma.;ttutione Of Sentence There is now prevail,
ing In all our State prisons out no9 in all local ones
measure OF enabling the convicts, by their OWL
| good conduct, TO shorten their terms OF imprison
ment In 1885, out OF 1923 prisoners who left during
the year, only 81 left by expiration OF sentence
In this there is great DANGER well as the actual
existence OF partially and injustice, which nothing
can prevent so well as the creation Of an intelligent
and judcious tribunal
Notwithstanding this is the 42d yearly report o.
the inspectors 10 the Legislature Of this State the
practical results OF the Pennsylvania system OF sepa
rate treatment OF prisoners yet even now there are
many, processing TO be possessed OF general informa
ton on penal science as applied to prison popula
tons ana systems Of convict punishment, who en-
trely mistake the principles and are ignorant OF the
practical results which these reports exhibit OF thu
Pennsylyania system OF penitentiary convict Siscl
| pline.
IT s not possible, in this report to condense tn,
statements made IN the fOrty-One which have pre-
ceded It, But justice TO this Penitentiary, at least
requires that fort past year. 1870, a comparison
should be made Of the results OF one Penitentiarl
on each system OF convict treatment. The Charles
town Penltentlary OF Massachusetts is taken Oes
managed on the conRregate, and this Penitentiary
on the separate system, for this purpose.
In the Massachusetts PenitehSiary the total popu
lation for 1870 Is given as TIA. Out OF this number
there were l3 deaths, or Isl per cent.
In this Penitentiary the total population for lSTt
was s53. Out OF this number there were ~ deaths
or 26 per cent. The difference in population is al
IA Is 70 953, or lT9 excess In this Penitentiary.
OF the IA in Massachusetts, SO cORycts were par
doned.