The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-01-12
COMPULSORY yAcctNATIoN.


acter, and its ravages still CO. tirue.
During the last six months, in Phila-
delphia alone, over eight thousand
cases were reported, of which eighteen
hundred and seventy.nine proved fatal 1.
On this point the Port Physician and
the Health Officer of that city, in their
report of December 11th, say " il is a
deplorable shame that ten hundred
and eighteen lives (the number report
ed up to that date) have been sacrificed
this year, which could and should have
been preserved by the known means
of prevention" From this statement it
appears that more than one per cent. of
the population of that city was smitten
with the Infection, and that the mortal
ity exceeded tweuty.three per cent. of
the cases reported. The epidemic has
spread widely over the State, and many
neighborhoods haye greatly suffered.
The cause evidently exists among
ourselves, and Ii becomes our duty to
devise means to arrest its progress, and
TO enact such legislation as will protect
our people against its recurrence. This
is a delicate subject, but il is one which
so deeply affects the welfare of our citi-
zens, and the general interests of the
State, that ii is my duty to speak frank
ly and to the point. And ii Is also one
in which every member of the General
Assembly IL equally concerned. Emf
nent medical men unhesitatingly de.
clare that thousands of lives have been
sacrificed for want of proper sanitary
laws. There are none such in the State;
and if they are not speedily enacted
weighty responsibility will rest upon
whom the duty devolves.
quote from recent work by DIR. p.
III. Chavasse, an eminent English sur
geon, and DR.. +. H. Getchell, lecturer,
jefferson Medical College, the follow
ing paragraph
Smallpox is a pest. 1t is worse
than the plague; for if not kept in sub
lection it is more general-sparing nei-
ther young nor old, rich nor poor, and
commits greater ravages than the plague
ever did. Smallpox is a disgrace to
any civilized land. as there is no neces-
sity for its presence. If vaccination
were frequently and properly perform
ed, small -poX would be unknown. Cow
pox is weapon to conquer small. pox,
and drive it ANONYMOUSLY from the
field. My firm belief, then, is that IL
every person were, every seven years,
duly and properly vaccinated, small
poX might be utterly eXterminated.
But as long as there are such lax no.
tions on the subject, and such gross
negligence, the disease will always be
rampant; for the poison of small pox
never slumbers nor sleeps, but requires
the utmost diligence to eradicate it.
The great DR.. Jenner, the discoverer of
cow-poX es preventive for small
pox, strongly advocated the absolute
necessity OF every person being vaccln-
ated once every seven years or oftener,
if there was an epidemic of small pox
in the neighborhood." These eminent
physicians also aver that very few fatal
cases are recorded as occurring after
vaccination, and these may considered
as only exceptions to the general rule,
and some of them might be traced to
the vaccination not having taken effect.
They moreover say that persons who
take smallpox after vaccination are
seldom pitted, and the disease assumes
q comparatively mild form. The neceS-
city, .i.s.onJre, Ior a compulsory vac
cination law and its utility, is also de-
monstrated by unanswerabe statistics,
contained in the report of the Port
Physician, herewith submitted, and to
which you are most respectfully re-
ferred.
PARDoNs.
Among the most embarrassing and
responsible duties of the Executive is
the exercise of the pardoning power.
There is scarcely petition for pardon
made, upon which strong conflicting
interests and opinions are not brought
to bear, all of which must receive close
and unprejudiced scrutiny in order that
mercy and justice may alike be salts
fed. This demands much time and no
small amount of patience. The plead
ings of relatives, friends and humanita-
rians must be heard and duly considered
on the one hand, and on the other the
action and decision of the courts, and
in many cases the earnest protests of
either sincere or malicious prosecutors.
And after his decision is fairly given in
favor of an unfortunate convict, the
Executive must, in almost every case,
be pi epared TO encounter acrimonious
criticism from parties who have never
given the subject one moments con-
sideration.
During the past year the applications
for pardons numbered one thousand
and twenty. three. OF these, sixty were
granted, less than six per cent. of the
entire number, being about one to every
sixty thousand inhabitants of the State,
and far below the average in any State,
in proportion to the population, in
which committees are appointed to ex-
ercise this power.
Accompanying this mes age will be
found a pardon report, in conformity
with a plan adopted the first year OF
my administration. These reports are
made for the purpose of showing that
no secrecy adheres to the exercise OF the
prerogative in question, and TO inform
the Legislature and the people, every
one of whom has an interest in the sub
ject, what reasons have been adduct d
for the liberation of persons convicted
of crime, and what personal intluerces
have been employed for the acco M
plishment Of that object.
COMPUTATIONS OF IMPRIsoNMENT
The act approved May 81, 1862 au
thorizing communications upon the terms
of prisoners convicted of crime, has
| produced decidedly salutary eff CT
| The discipline of the prisons is reported
as being greatly improved by the vol
untary good conduct of all desiroUs O.
availing themselves Of the mt rcifu
provisions of the law and refolmattr.
| influences have been manifest In man!
cases by the good behavior OF those VIII
have been the fortunate recipients o
its benefits. The improved habits o
prisoners during theircOntnementh haV'
gone with them into private life, an'
. | the MlSuOIu VI tlIp III
ing the law has thus been signally con
frmed. In accordance with the &C
referred to, CONNIE ndable conduct o.
the part of a prisoner, such as will meri
and receive favorable certificate froI
the warden of prison, with the az
proval of its board of inspectors, ST cure
the following deductions from the tern
Of sentence, viz;
"One month on each of the first tN'
years two months on each succeeding
year to the fifth year three months O
each following year to the tenth al
four months on each remaining year {
the term of sentence"
The number Of convicts directed
be discharged, under this act, hefoi
their terms of sentence had expire
from the State penitentiaries and coul
ty prisons, during the past yea
amounts 10 five hundred and fit.
three, and it is gratifying fact III
thus far / have not heard of any one
them returning to habits Of crime.
i conclude with sincere and earne
desire that your session may be cbara