Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-12-12

the increase of its earnings as | had
hoped, nor as | believe it wou q have
been, had the recommendation which I
have heretofore made been promptly
sanctioned by proper egislation 1t WAS
acharge upon the treasury during the
last fiscal year over and above a. re-
CENTS of sec, $50, rs; but when the
amount earned, but unpaid, ON the
lst Of October last for the hire of con
victs, the value Of the labor perform
ed by conyicts upon the Capitol and
and Peniteutiaiy Improvements, toeejh-
er with the amount expended in the
permanent Improvements Of the latter,
are taken into consideration, it will be
found that the actual cost Of this in
stitution to to the State was ess than
$500 %; and this, too, notwithstand-
ing the tact that the number Of plis-
oaers was about as arge as during
any preceding year.
Some changes have been made in the
system ct hiring cut convicts. Form
erly, the contractor bore all the expense
Of the care, custody, clothing, and main
tenance of the convicts employed by
him, ard paid to the State twenty-five
cents for each days labor performed.
TIE changes which have made are in
the price per day, which has been rails
cd to forty cents, and placing The medic
al care and superintendent OF the CON
victs entirely under the control cf the
surgeon CT the Penitentiary Thus the
state viii realize fully one-third more
for each days labor performed. and the
health and general condition Of the con-
ylets be more carefully and SATISFACTORY
a maintained and protected. There were
on the lst Of Octocer last 1923 conricts,
of..N HON 357 were hired out to labor
outside of the peniyentiary, in pursuance
Of the act Of April 23d, 1870.
| cordially commend the recon-
n:endation Of the Board If Directors az
to increased! accommodations within the
tenitenti.Iy, and desire to call especi-
al attention to the valuable suggestions
Of the surgeon. Aud in this connection
! desire again to call attention to the
necessity OF some provision for the
seperste care and custody of youthful
conyicts ard repeat here the lafiejiage Of
the message OF December It'll, 1917:
''Another change required in our prison
system. Now, the youth Of twelve or
fifteen years, sent to the Penitentiary
tor year, perhaps Tor larceny, may be
incarcerated in cell with wretch
hardened by twenty years Ct crime. At
the end OF twelve months the youth
graduates from prison a perfect master
OF al the arts and appliances of an &C
complished thief and burglar, ready and
eager perhaps to put in practice the
knowledge acquired during his years
association with the depraved compan-
ion Of his cell. This may be an extreme
case, but not at all an improbable one
There are many cases now in our Peni
Tertiary differing from this only in de
gree. Now, prisons should lie retor-
matory as Wei as punitive. While the
criminal is punished for a violation Of
law and for iti vindication, as We as
tur an example to others, no efforts
should be spared to reform and elevate
his mora nature. Particularly should
all Observation-Disclosures possible be used to
reform the young, impressible and in
experienced. They should be removed
from the ccntaminating influence and
association OF older, more experienced
and hardened criminals. W ought to
have refoimatory prison for youths
under eighteen years Of age; separate
aud distinct from the enitentiarv. to be
controlled and managed upon some
what different principles and under diff
ersrt ules and regulations; and trust
that, whether the present buildings be
r,n.oueied Or new Penitentiary con-
structed, this idea will be carried into
practical effect by the erection Of anoth
IL and separate prison. Or by a division
ii the enitentlary in such q manner
that youth under eighteen years Of age
My lie assigned to a section completely
isolated from the balance OF the prison
and prisoners
JUDICIARY.
Among the many reform looking to
the decrease OF the expenses and the
increase Of the revenues of the State
which | have had the honor to recon-
mend to the General Assembly, and
which | regret have not been fully car
rled into effect by proper legislation,
was that OF our judicial system. Two
plans We're suggested in my last annua
message for the accomplishment Of thus
Dject-either the enlargement Of the
number Of Circuit Courts and the reduc
ton of the jurisdiction Of the County
Counts, IT the enlargement Of the jur-
isdiction Of the County Courts and the
reduction Of the number and Jurisdiction
OF the Circuit Courts. Farther refec-
ton has convinced me that the former is
the more feasible plan. We need but
one court OF record Of original jurisdic-
ton, and undoubted y twenty, or at
most twt nty-tour, Circuit Courts could
readily and promptly attend to all legal
business, except probate, necessary to
be transacted in courts of record.
County Courts cannot be abolished
without an amendment of the Constitu
uon, nor should deem it advisable I'M
der any circumstances. The .jurisdic
ton ofthese courts, however, is within
the control of tina Legislature. Le,
their jurisdiction be limited to matters
OF PROBATE and such civil and criminal
jurisdiction and general supervision q
county matters as may be deemed adj
visable, but dispensing with jlries, ex-
cept at the option and expense Of lit
sants, and providing for a system OF
fees which shall detray the whole ex-
penses OF the court except asmail salary
to be paid from the State treasury in
a1,.ata, ,aait,. To tLo lauct:t.,ti1a,. nal