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


tenth year. and Of four months on each remaining
year Of the term Of their sentence II has never
Penitentisry that long sentences to this
institution, or any penitentiary on the sepa.
productive Of dement's to the State or the convict
The certainty OF punishment s more to be regarded
crime punished by the example OF convictions OF
Offenders. Time is no true element In punishment
by Imprisonment. Long sentences do not reform the
INDIVIDUAL nor protect the public security nor pro-
duce that fear in the crime class which prevents
onender is punished for his crime has the eject
which is sought to be produced by penal laws
the year ending September 30. 1910, there was a
total population of ia convcts or these 90 we're
R,s9rdoned, par The sentences Of Of those were for
fe for 10 years. for 20 years, for 10 years. and
way to state viii be to say That Of 81 prisoners the
years, months, and ii days while the time served
when they were pardoned was years, months,
Pas Paent 0nys fsmedy o n2 Ssnoas Gsnses
that the convict is sentenced for long
where 1t is to be presumed the action OF the public
authorities is governed by integrity, wisdom, and
It is stated that the Executive of the State OF New
York, during the year 1870, issued s5 pardons, "a
were on account OF iii health insane 10 innocent
and for discovering plots among prisoners or the
for is Years: for 10 wears: for is years; for
life; and were sentenced to be hung. All but two
were sentenced since 1860.
No reference is here made 20 the communication"
for shorter periods OF Imprisonment than the sen.
tence.
During the year 1870 OF the 95s total population in
this PenitentiaIy, ID were pardOned. or these, 19
Were 6y sae stare @ n OF ana III 9V tne
The average term Of sentences was years,
months, and 20 days; and the average term served,
year, months, day.
TO prison on the separate system, the average
sentences for the lesser degrees OF crime, when
punishment promptly follows the offense might be
fixed at two years as the maximum, while five
years sentence in most cases might be sufficient for
those o1enses in the commission of which human
life was not put In peril. For young offenders, for
their first onense, 1t is very questionable If any ad
vantage results TO society or the Individual by
longer imprisonment than one year, unless for ex-
it is to be remarked that the primary object OF a
wise administration OF penal laws regulating the
punishment by mprson1ment OF lndividuals @ should
association OF convicts in communities after their
Imprisonment is terminated the consequences re-
sutng from such state of things are to be feared,
since, by this association, desperate men, each
known to the other to have been convict, conspire
TO commit crimes, and by this association they
easily escape arrest and defy conviction. The
separate system Of imprisonment, on this ground s
protection to the public while 1t presents the best
opportunity for introducing to the convct's atten-
ton those reformatory agencies which is the part
OF Christian benevolence ever to hold out to the Just
and the unjust.
The Inspectors feel justified 10 calling to the atten-
ton Of the Legislature the most gratifying fact that
in other States some OF the prominent features OF
the administration of the Pennsylvania system of
penitentiary discipline are receiving both recogni-
For many years past the Inspectors, in their an
nual reports to your honorable bodies, have given
the convictions of their judgment, from practical
experience, that the government OF penal institu-
tions should be intrusted to those whose capacity,
knowledge, experience, and integrity alone qualify
them for such responsible duties. 1t has been
found In this Penitentiary that honesty and capa-
city, with intelligent observation OF the practical
working of the system OF punishment on the part
the purposes OF penitentiary discipline Frequent
change in the executive oricers or their selection
! on any other recommendation than fitness and
| condemned iDiuriOug
to the interests entrusted to the inspectors to guard
Of tI%e It is now With great satisfaction the iG in
spectors learn that tho Prison Discipline Association
adopted a ''Memorial'' to the authorities of that
State which thus gives Testimony ia support OF the
! Pennsylvania practice In this respect-
''The remedy which the association proposes is
radical one, involving an entire change in tue or
eanization OF the government OF the prisons Their
the existence OF the present form OF that govern
sBy the Constitution all the State prisons are put
| wholly under the government OF three inspectors,
who hold ONCE for three years, and are elected one
and appoint all the Officers therein. They are
called Inspectors but are in fact governors OF the
such such as the Legislature may direct, and that Of
cation Every year one OF them is thrown into the
arena q party politics" .,o o.o.o ,ono.,..,.-
to be amended 30 that
"There shall be board OF managers OF prisons,
| Governor, with the advice and consent Of the Sem
ate, who shall hold ONCE for ten years.
"That board shall have the charge and superin-
tendepce OF the State prisons, and have such pow
and perform such duties in respect TO other pri
sons in the State the Legislature may prescribe.
''They shall appoint secretary, who shall be re-
movable at their pleasure, perform such duties as
Legislature or the board may direct and receive
a salary to be determined by law.
'The board shall appoint the warden, clerk, ply
slcan, and chaplain OF each State prison, and shall
| have power to remove tnem for cause only, after
opportunity to be heard on written charges.
"An other oficers OF each prison shall be appointed
by the warden thereof, and be removable at his
| pleasure.
Tor misconduct neglect of duty, after opportunity
to be heard Oh written charges
"The five managers first appointed shall, as the
Legislature may direct, be so classified that the
term OF shall expire at the end OF each two years
during the first ten years.
This amendment shall go ints effect on the
first Monday Of January next after its adoption by
If You, gentlemen of the Legislature, will refer to
the recent reports from the inspectors OF this State
PententiaTy, you will observe that the contract
system" of employing convict labor has been con-
demned as most injurious to society, unjust and
Under this plan OF working convicts, In congrega-
ton, by contact with employers, every consdera-
ton but the benefit OF the convict was absorbed in
pro1t-makipg out OF the criminals whom the State
punished for violating It's laws. Thls prent was the
claimed advantage OF this plan OF laoor so unworthy
OF people who thus justified the brutaliZing OF
those VIII O were young, convicted for a first OF.
tense, as well as those who had, IL might be, some
redeeming characteristics in one common ma IS lth
the atrocious and hardened veteran In life
OF cTime The inspectors, in these reports, were
the only protestants against this contract system.
The experience, however, OF this society alluded to
has, at last, enabled it, in the Memorial" TO which
reference has been made, thus to condemn this plan
OF prison labor.
Thus the Memorial" contnues:-
"On the other side OF the this tendency to
augmentation does not seem TO have prevailed to