The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-01-13
STATE PENITENTIARY.

"
the penitentiary. Here, again, the faa-
ture of the report which will arrest most
|attcntion is the statement of the indebt-
|cdncss of this institution. Tho superin-
tendent states that the aggregate indebt-
Iedncss Of the institution on The 3Iss aay
|of October, 1873, was Sl02,238.4O He
further states that the present indebted
ness is $87 .918.39, of which $12, $50 has
arisen during that fiscal year. Another
statement Is, that there is due to the
guards and employees of the institution
SIS, ,850.3l. The appropriation for the
|penltentiary for the last fiscal year was
$5l,5O
These facts present a problem not easy
to solve. The remarks already made CON
ccrning the financial condition of the
lunatic asylum are applicable here. The
levy OF taxes for the present year will not
permit an increased appropriation. One
thing Is evident, namely, that the eXpend-
litures OF this institution must hereafter
be kept within the appropriations. 1t is
ldililcut to see how, without direct viola
ltlon of the law of March II, 1874. already
referred to, an Indebtedness of $l2, $50, in
excess of the appropriation, could have
been contracted during the last fiscal year.
strongly urge that the Immediate
attention of the general assembly be di-
rccted to the question of making the
labor of the penitentiary available for the
support in part of the institution. l call
attention to the remarks of the superin-
tendcnt on this point. If the labor of
the convicts can be utilized within the
walls OF the penitentiary, this would be the
wisest plan. Mechanical pursuits are con-
Quoted in similar institutions elsewhere
with profit to the State. Such labor is
advantageous In many ways-as means of
discipline during the imprisonment of the
convlcts; as means of encouraging habits
OF industry and the ability to earn an
honest living when they return to free
dom; and as means Of reducing the pub
lie burden of their support while in con-
lnement. If there are no opportunities
for the utilization of this labor ut present.
1 think the plan of letting out the con-
victs for hire, which is adopted in many
Iother States, is worthy Of immediate con
sideration. | am informed that such labor
in other States can be leased at net daily
profit OF at least twenty cents per day for
each laborer. Out Of an average number of
two hundred convlcts, at least one hundred
able-bodied laborers could be constantly
furnished, and from these laborers ON in
come of several thousand dollars, above
all expense for their maintenance, might
be realized: Motives of economy, as well
as the good OF the convicts themselves, in
my Judgment, require that all effort be
made to obtain employment Of some kind
Tor this class OF laboers, and earnestly
recommend that the attention Of the gen
|cral assembly be directed to this subject
without delay
/ NATIONAL. PRISON ASSOCIATION
transmit herewith letter addressed
to me officially by the secretary o! the Ma
tlonal Prison Association, and in this con-
nection | respectfully invite attention to
the truly noble work in which this asso-
citation is engaged. The association pro-
poses that the several State legislatures
shall. if so disposed, make small annual
appropriation, which will entitlc each
State to 500 or Coo volumes of the annual
! transactions of the National Prison
Congress. This would place the volume
IN the hands OF each member Of success
i've legislatures, officers Of penal and re-
ltormatory institutions, public Libraries and
schools.
! do not hesitate to say that such a
volume, so distributed. would arouse an
Interest among our people in one of the
most humane and successful efforts to re-
ducc tho number Of our criminal classes,
and to restore them to the walks Of use
linl industry.
The most distinguished statesmen,
scholars and philanthropists are officers
and active promoters Of the association,
and | recommend that the general assem-
Ihy, if possible, make the small appropri-
!ation Of $1,000, which will cntitle them
ito the benefit Of the annual publications
Iof this association.
STATE ORPHAN ASYLUM
The report of the trustees of the State
orphan asylum has already been trans
mittel to the general assembly.
This institution is entitled to adeuuate
support. and the report Of the trustees
Twill furnish, | think, the necessary in-
formation for the action Of the general as-
tscmbly.
EDUCATION OF THE DEAF, DUMB AND
BLIND. +.
The institution for the education of the
deaf, dumb and blind, formerly located at
Cedar Springs, near Spartanburg court
house, was closed in September 1873. I
regard the closing of this institution as a
misfortune and rcDroach to our State. 1t
was mn net Of nf,,cntionnl rotrooro,.;o,