The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-01-24
5 Its A YEAR

The penitentiary las long been
deservedly regarded as the model prison
in which the separate or individual
treatment " system of Imprisonment is
applied, and the annual reports of It's
faithful Board of Inspectors, embracing
their observations and Investigations,
show that they have elevated the subject
of crime punishment almost 10 the dig
nifty of a science.
Among the circumstances that at
tracted my attention was the insulfici-
ent number of cells to carry out the
solitary confinement j." principle, and
the incarceration there of number of
boys and youths for first offences, and
Of females unframed in crime. Some
times two or more III one cell were thus
unavOidahly brought into associations
which could scarely fail TO produce con-
taminatiOn of character and morals.
would, therefore, recommend that the
Legislature enable the courts to sentence
minors and females to the county pris-
ons, where with proper teaching-train-
ing in some handi-crdft busineSS-and
with due attention given to discipline,
the Object would be more etfectually at
tanned and the penitentialy, thus re-
Heved, would have cells sufficient for all
ordinary purposes. Ii is a great mistake
in almost all cases of minors convicted
for their first and often trivial, offence,
10 send them tOa States prison; because
the punishment is less in its effect than
the idea of degrada ion in the after-life
Of tie prisoner. Such persons should
be punished in the locality where the
crime was committed, and the disgrace
would not be SO likely to permanently
affect the character after the discharge
of the prisoner.
From 1929 DISH, inclusive, only three
hundred and forty-siX females were re-
ceivCd IN tie Eastern penitcntiary, and
Of this number one hundred and twen-
ty-seVen Were minors. These facts would
fully justify the propriety of such action
by the Legislature as has been suggested.
The Western penitentiary contains
ample space for present demands. 1t is
conducted on the combined" system Of
solitary and cOngrcgate" imprison-
ment, the workings of which are giving
entire satisfaction to all concerned.
The commissioners from this State To
/ tie international Prison Congress, late
ly held in London, England, report that
twenty-onc governments We're represent
ed. principally by men who have made
criminal legislation and penal treatment
IA study. America sent seyenty-tlrce
delegates, representing penitchtiaies,
asylums and rtfOrmatOry institutions.
Among these were many experts in every
branch of penOlogy. The deliberations
OF the Congress occupied ten days. It's
results are difficult to estimate: Lut it is
hoped the great interests Of humanity
lnyolvedinth theprober tltatmentOf crime
vii be happily SubServed among all civil
lied nations.
Tie managers Of the " PENNSYLVANIA
Rcfolm School" llate the Western
House Of Refugee propose 10 change
their location from Allegheny City to a
farm, containing 5G3 acres, i'll Washing
ton county, seventeen miles from Pitts
burg, ne;T the CHARTERS Valley railroad,
and adopt for its government the best
features of what is known rs the family
system" of juvenile rcformatorses.
These will main ly consist III the aban-
confming the children; and in an ear
nest effort govern them through Sympa-
thy and kindness, aud prepare them for
useful occupations.
The Board viii ask an additional ap-
preparation TO pay for the land and i'm
pTOvcmentS.
SANITARY REGULATIONS.
OF all my official recommendations
deem those most important which relate
to the public health. Facilities for the
material development, and the accumu-
lation of wealth, estimated at their
highest value, are of but minor conse-
qutnce wAcn compared with the preser-
vation Of life itself. ''All that man
hath will he give for his life" At the
time OF presenting my last annual mes
sage, smallpox was fearfuliy prevalent
in Philadelphia and in many towns and
pOpulous districts f the State. / then
called attention to the subject, and in
the strongest terms at my command,
urged the imperative necessity of adopt
ing such measures as would arrest the
disease and prevent its re-&ppcaraGce.
My suggestions, however. were utterly
mheeded by the Legislature The
dreadful Scourge extended itself into
the first half Of the past year, and, III the
absence Of well known peyentivea, it
would he presumption not to expect its
annual return. Neither the extent OF
its ravageS, nor the fatal character of
the disease, last year, is generally known
TO the public, or, am confident, there
would have been such al outcry as
would have compelled immediate attcu-
tion and reiief. Among the unvaccin-
ted, the ordinary proportion Of deaths
has been thirty-tl.ree per cent; but the
recent dcath-rate in Philadelphia
amounted to nearly forty-seven per cent.