The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-01-17

- l1rge number Of
peaceful citizens called awav from
Their usual avocations. entails Ike
wise, an enormous cost upon the tov-
payers OF the State. Aud there I,
always moro danger Of bloodshed in
employing troops than 10 The use Of
eivi power. For these reasops
which have acquired additional
prominence in the light of the usual
military expenses Of 1875, | am con.
strained to press upon you what
seems 70 be an adequate remedy
tne sheriff is the representative
aad instrument Of executive author
ity 10 the county. In the discharrs
Of his responsibility, the Executive
has large, well disciplined bsdv Of
militia al his command, while the
sheriff Is left with one or two con-
stabl,s aud the rude machinery Of the
posse cOnlifatis 1t is true, he can
call upon the Executive for assistance
Bot tor the reasons set forth above.
1t Is advisable that the neces, a-v SUD-
port should be Of a civil rather than
Of military character. and prompt
ness Is always essential when deaL
ing with lswless meu. The pro9osi.
tioc have to submit to your hooor-
able bodies, is the passage Of law
which will enable the sheriff in
troublesome times, TO organize a force
commensurate Win the opposition to
De overcome A force that nav be
called into being at the beginning of
al exigcncy continued while it lasts.
and disbanded AZ It's close. If when
the sheriff calls for aid TO suppress
riots aud unlawful assemblies, OF to
protect the people from systematic
murder, arson and Intimidation. the
proper authority could empower him
10 enroll a e01stabulsry sworn into
the service Of, and paid oy. the
county, many disturbances which
now demand the Intervention of the
military could be settled By civil pro-
cess. Troops wOald then be ueces-
sary only on the gravest occasions.
But sach crisis would Only occur
after an FOnest effort had been made
TO suppress the outbreak tv the local
authorities, and not, as now, after a
ieE SpasmJdIc efforts which are sup
posed 10 exhaust a power which is in
fact scarcely seen and never felt.
IL IS the more important that your
attention shall be given to this be-
cause Of the growth Of lawlessaess
IN our national life We rejoice in
the fact that we are law-abiding
people, and We have, in truth, a sub
stantial basis for our pride But
there is 10 every civilized society a
iawless element, snd courts and po-
lice are az once the guards and meas
ure Of It's force During the past
decade these Ia 8less characters have
been receiving a dangerous educa-
tiOn. They hare seen. throughout
large section Of the country, system
auC intimidation in which the perpe-
traitors Of murder, arson and innu-
merable crimes against persons and
property, have escaped with impuni-
~, aud, in too many instances, ac-
compllshed their ends They are in
cited by the probability Of like immu-
nity and the hopes Of like success 20
pursue the same method A eoun-
terpoise to the dangerous education
Of the times, | earnestly advise the
formation Of civil system which
viii convince the lawless Of the futil-
ity Of al such attempts. A power
thar will be prompt aud effective,
that eau be directed at Once 10 the
threatened locality and crush insur-
rectiOn before 10 gains standing and
momentum.
PENITESTIARIEs AND PRISONS
A. ine last 7ession of the Legisla-
cure your attention was called TO the
oyercrONded condition Of the East
err PeuIeuuary. at Philadelphia.
Nc actlen vas taken thereon, and
during The year the inspectors we're
seriously embarrassed to provide tor
the criminals consigned thereto The
institution has $50 cells, and there
are now In confinement 94i c1nvicts.
Oi this number 23j are confined on
seHteices under two years, and TO9
Tor two Years and over The law
requires that each prisoner shall be
kept siDgly and separately 81 labor
IN the cells or workshops Of said
prison. The Constitution prevents
The inspectors from contracting for
additional buildings without previous
authority Of Law. They are there
fore placed under the necessity Of
violating the statute in one respect,
by refusing 20 receive prisoners. ex-
cept a. vacancies occur, OF diiregard
The law a. % the mode Of cOHhne-
ment, 10 order 10 receive those sent
there by the courts. | respectfully
urge upon you that it is time to re-
lieye these gentlemen, whose Admira-
bic management of the peniientiary
i a matter Of notice ct home and
abroad, from this unpleasant dilemma,
and enable them 70 carry out the law
in It's letter aud spirit, and thereby
secure the advantages Of the system
Of discipline. which are now in a
great measure iCss. The remedy is
10 be found, either 10 building an
other peniieBtiary, OF in extending
The accommodations Of those already
ID existence, and perhaps in reducing
the number Uf eOnvicrs authorized %
be sent 70 the State institutions. 10
the course Of time other State prisons
will be required, since il Is generaiY
agreed thar there is "a limit in size and
numbers beyond which penienuaTy
ought not to % IL is not advisable,
nor is i. necessary, at the presen.
time 20 incur that expense. ], there
fore. recommend that authority be
given 20 the inspectors Of the last
eru Penilentiary, and faOds be ap-
appropriated, 10 enlarge the accom-
q. .darions Of that institution 70 $50
cells. ! also recommend that the
law authorizing the courts 70 send TO
the penitentiary persons sentenced to
imprisopment az labor, by separate
aod solitary confinement, for any
peri9d not less than one year, be mod
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