Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-09

OF sCuOul purposes IOf nearly SIX hundred men. IL
is matter of vital importance that this large num-
Der of prisoners desiring instruction in various
ways should have ample accommodations for that
purpose, so far as they can be given TO them with
safety. 1t must be admitted that confinement In
ideness is not the best or most effective form of
punishment IL we seek to restore the criminal to
society a reformed man. we cannot withhold any
means of improvement compatible with his condi-
ton. In this work the school will occupy high
place in the future. 1t is an evidence of the adj
ynncing civilization of the age. 1t is not in har
mony with our history to leave these young men in
that state of Ignorance, which in many cases led
them to commit the crimes which sent them to the
prisons and the state should not continue to be re-
sponsible for this Ignorance while the criminal is
undcr her authority, These men should be enoour-
aged to prepare themselves for usefulness when they
shall leave the prison, and be better fitted to obtain
an honest livelihood than when they entered it, A
moderate sum will enable the authorities to provide
school-rOOm with suitable desks, blackboards and
other appurtenances necessary for the comfort and
instruction of scholars. Certainly men confined to
the walls of prison should have such common
cOnyeniences, especially when there is a surplus
paid into the state treasury yearly, above the ordi
nary expenses of the institution. An Increase in
the amount appropriated for the purposes Of nstruc
ton should be made, TO enable all who desire TO
avail themselves of the advantages of the school.
would also suggest the expediency of allowing the
prisoners compensation for extra labor The money
thus earned might be paid to their friends, who
often suffer greatly from the loss of their assisance
or it might be deposited in the savings banks for
their benefit when they leave the prison
The eXertions made by the authorities to improve
the moral and physical condition of the inmates
have been appreciated BY them; the number of
OHenceS against the rules OF D2eD les.
sened; there are fewer attempts to escape, and
there is more cheerful aspect o7er the whole insti
tuition than in former years. Nor do the privileges
which have beeI allowed the prisoners lessen their
fear of punishment. Nothing compensate a
human being for the loss of liberty or make i'm
prisonment for any length of time endurable The
quickened intellect feels even the more keenly the
dishonor which cngs to q felon's name, and still
more the deprivation of personal freedom. The
statistics of the prison show that not more than
one-sixth enter Its walls as criminals the Sec
ond time.
Though some are pardoned, and the public are
often led to believe that executive cemency is too
freely exercised still the chances of freedom in this
way too small in this state, to induce any one
to run the risk of long Incarceration. Not one
tenth of the whole number are pardOned annually.
Of the number of prisoners pardoned, many re-
leased when quite i'll that they may be cared for by
their relatives in their last days. and Others whose
crimes are not of an aggravated character. are set
free when showing incipent disease, and where
continued confinement will surely produce fatal re-
suits All who have had experience in the council
will testify to the caution exercised to prevent an
unwise use OF the pardoning power. Persons
taking seats at the council board with strong con-
victions against the policy of releasing prisoners
before the expiration Of sentence, have almost
invariably been led to modify their views, and often
become the readiest to listen to petitions for Glenn
e1cy.
1t may be mentioned in this connection, that it is
the custom to issue pardOns on condition that If the
person pardoned is again convicted of crime, during
the period of his first sentence, he shall serve out
the remainder OF the original sentence. rms most
sauary provision is rarely departed FROM and it is
very seldom that prisoner is again convicted
while this condition is in force however hardened
he may be in crime. consideration of this sub
ject may lead you to make further amendment to
the law and give greater power to the executive in
this direction.
THE PRISON COMMISSION.
The prison commission has had but a short time
to examine the important matters committed to it
by the law of the fast legislature establishing that
board. That our county system of prisons needs
radical changes in many respects cannot be doubted
by any one who examines the subject. The COM
mission in carrying out the will of the legislature
fa lie 1aON
doubtful eXpediency. That their action may be wise
and satisfactory is their earnest purpose; and they
have therefore, proceeded with great caution TO
make thorough examination of the jails and
houses of correction throughout the commonwealth.
Thus far they have been unable to mature system
under which they can make transfers of prisoners
as contemplated by the law. They will lay before
you, from time to time for your information, such
facts and recommendations as may seem to them
important and judcious The subject is one of
much interest and should receive careful attention
THE STATE CHARITIES.
The report of the board of state charities will show
their operations and the results which have been
attained during the year. 1t is the purpose of the
board TO bring all departments under their care into
harmonious action, with rigid accountability
for the large disbursements which are wholly OF
partially under their authority 1t is not their de-
sire nor that of the people of the commonwealth to
treat the unfortunate persons who are dependent
upon the public for support, in any parsimonious
spirit but rather that wise care and oversight
should be instituted upon all expenditures and Civ
ing at the same time to the recipients of the public
charity everything tnat will conduce to their well
fare consistent with their condition. 1t has been
the aim of the authorities to discourage persons in
needy circumstances from becoming chaTgeable to
the state to keep alive in them so far possible
the feeling of personal independence for when
man willingly becomes dependent, he is not only
an expense, but means of decentralization to the
community. Let the traditions of family be that
OF voluntary Paqperism and scarcely any effort in
their behalf will lift them from the degradation.
Acting on the principle that segregation is far
better than aggregation, especially for the young
the state has established the system of relieving the
SICK through the town authorities thus saving
large regular expenditure for their support and at
the same time permitting them to enjoy the COM
tort of their homes and the society of their relatives
and friends. visiting agency has also been es abb
lished which has partial supervision over every
child in the of the state, but particularly after
he leaves its institutions, to prevent the infringe
ment of his rights regards his physical wants or
moral and intellectual welfare. In addition to this
supervision, the agency performs most important
work in examining the real facts of the of the
children when they are brought before the magiS-
trates for it is the duty of the agent equally to de-
fend the rights of the children and of the common
wealth. Another duty of the agency is to provide
suitable places to ndenture the children fast as
they can be discharged with safety to the public,
from the institutions to which they have been
fenced The result of this work will appear in the
report have referred to, and also in the extended
report of the agent. The objects contemplated in |
the establishment of the agency must meet the APP
probation of every who seeks the welfare of the
children, and the best means of relieving the
mouwealth from the burden of the r support. As
the result OF its action the number of inmates in the
WestbOrough reform school has been largely re- 4
duced. The same is true also of the nautical school,
ard the trustees have been enabled to give up one
ship transferring the boys on board to the other
ship, and to the Westborough school The ship
thus relieved has been sold and the proceeds of the
sale have been paid into the treasury. There would
seem to be no doubt of the expediency of cOntnu-
ing system which has been of such signal benefit
to these children, and also means of reducing
largely the expense Of their maintenance. Instead
of curtang its action it would be better to extend
the powers of the agency, bringing every child
cused Of crime under its supervision, before
tence as well as after, that courts may be saved
without other defence than the humanity of the
courts, which in some instances have stopped the
proceeding directing the officer to open the prison.
er's box and let the child go free.
The workhouse at Bridgewater needs the atten-
ton of the Legislature. It was originally built for
an almshouse and Is still used as such to a limited
extent But now by far the larger part of the in
mates are held under sentence for two years and
ermainly to give them an opportunity to reform 1t
will be seen at once that building adapted to tho
purposes of charity is unsuitable for prison.
There should be thorough separation, that the peni-
tent desiring to reform may not be influenced by the
incorrigibly wicked Scarcely any such isolation is
possible and if the present system is to be
tinued an appropriation should be made to enable
the authorities to improve the buildings and adapt
them to the present uses of the institution.
THE MILITIA.
Very few changes have been made in the laws re-
lating TO the militia, for three years past The sys-
TEN established seems to be well adapted to our |
present circumstances and is generally satisfactory
to the officers and men, who retain their enthusiasm
for the service, evidenced by the number going
into camp each year, which remains about the |
same.
The number Of enrolled militia is........ ISL 719 |
Increase over 1863, $500
The number of men of the active militia
actually IN camp was. ....,t,,...,,......,, 6S90
After consultation with the major-geneTa and the |
higher officers concluded to order muster of the
whole division at Concord. The opinion seemed to
be general that an encampment Of the whole force |
would be of great benefit, by stimulating the differ
ent organizations to make the best appearance pos
sible, both in numbers and condition. There had |
been only one similar muster for twenty years. and
that was held before the war. A large gathering |
would bring out the veterans of the late war, and
encourage them to join the militia, which Is very |
desirable as they give greater efficiency to the drill
and infuse spirit OF discipline in the young |
who have never been in active service am happy |
to say that the militia received the proposition IA
vorably and showed every desire to make the mus |
ter and review useful well ereditabe to them
selves, and honorable to the commonwealth Under |
the wise and careful orders of the maor-genera of
the division, all of his admirable arrangements
carried out most successfully The police established
to prevent struggling from camp and other disor- |
ders was very efficient, and there were no disturb
ances, either In camp outside equal to those of
an ordinary brigade muster, The real objection |
raised to the general muster thus overcome, and
no complaint was then, has been since, made of |
Irregularities on the part of the soldiers
n wit NV ta TxiaY iaa tnn