Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-10-16

the act-a lot with building and machin-
ery-in their discretion, at an expense
not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars,
for the puspose OF the manufacture OF
chairs that before any purchase was
made, the building and machinery were
burned, and that appropriation of sl5,.
900 remains untouched in the treasury.
As to the question whether the purpose
contemplated in the act appropriating
that sum should still be carried out by
the purchase Of certain other property
of like description, refer you to the re-
port of the trustees, and also to the re-
port of the superintendent made to them.
The propriety of making such purchase
is urged by the superintendent upon
grounds of economy and profit to the
state, by enabling the institution, by the
labor of the boys, the inmates, to manu-
sacture chairs entire, instead of simply
weaving in the cane and also upon the
ground of making the school more eff
cient in its reformatory character, by
teaching the inmates trade that will
afford them means of obtaining employ
ment and gaining a livelihood, at the
critical period of their lives when they
leave the institution. lam not sufficient
ly informed to warrant the expression of
an opinion on tle subject, further than
to recommend that it receive your con-
sideration and such action as your wis-
dom shall dictate.
The biennial report of the directors
and superintendent Of the State Prison,
as to its condition and management,
show the financial affairs of the prison in
good condition; and in this respect there
seems to be a great improvement over
that of former years. AT the last ses-
sion of the legislature, on recommends
ton of the officers of the prison, an act
was passed directing the directors TO con-
struct chapel in one of the buildings,
and to make such alterations and re.
pairs of the old prison as were necessary
for the better accommodation of the fe-
male convicts therein confined and for
these purposes they were authorized to
appropriate so much of the surplus earn
ings of the prison as was necessary not
exceeding $4,000. The reports show
that the chapel has been constructed ac-
cordingly, and that the other repairs
have not been made on account of the
insufieiency of the appropriation, and
those repairs are again represented as
, being much needed for the convenience
and comfort of the female prisoners con-
fined there. recommend that the nee
essary appropriation be made for that
, purpose. | call your attention to the
remarks of the directors in their repor
in relation to the improperly of sen
: fencing culprits for short terms on small
offenses to such an institution as this.
J The main purpose of punishment is tc
prevent crime and reform the criminal
In order to accomplish this purpose
: criminal laws must be punitory, but al
the same time they ought to be reforma
tory as far as practicable. There ar,
minor offenses for which the punishment
prescribed is in the alternative,-fne,o Of
e imprisonment in the county jail, or il
r the state prison, in the discretion of th,
: court, depending on the circumstances o
2 the particular case. In of some thes
: cases, the mi der punishment of fine o
! imprisonmentin county Jail, proper fo
r the purpose, would be sufficient and an
swer all the purposes of punishment anc
: be much more likely to reform the of
! fender than the fixing ON him the infa
: my that attaches to a state prison con
: vict,
t But our jails are places of detention
!. of criminals of all grades and classe
awaiting trial, and usually afording n
= means of separation of prisoners th
); most abandoned and hardened criminal
e being turned in with those whose offens
!. is of the lowest grade-committed, per
J. haps, more from weakness than depravi
e ty-thus exposing the latter to the dc
J. praving influences of such associations
e Such is generally the condition of on
IS iails that sentence to imprisonment i
it them is, practically, sentence to idle
e ness in a school of vice. If fine
a imposed, the consequence is often, fror
is from the poverty of the offender, th
r same, as it results in imprisonment I'll
e. released by pardon. This same mischit
re also extends to cases of offenders in
is prisoned in the county jail for the moi
At trifing offences. Our jails are defectiv
i, as place of punishment, in not afforC
n ing any means of employment to th
s, prisoners. The very idleness to whic
as they are condemned tends to vice an
D. crime, while labor would be reformator
v in its influence. 1t probably would n,
I'd be practicable, at least not within Il
to limit of reasonable expense. to conye