Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-08-23

Mr.. Frank d. Sanborn contributes to the
last number of the New York Independent
very interesting and instructive article upon
crime and criminals in the United States,
from which we learn that all the reports from
different States show that during the past six
years the number of convicts in the higher
prisons has constantly increased, until at the
present time the number is nearly twice as
great as in 1872. In the last-named year the
number did not much exceed &c, 600; now it
is at least 30, 200, and may reach 81, 600 or
80, 900. In some States the increase has been
less and in some greater than this dual aver
age, but there has been nowhere any de.
crease and North and South East and West,
among whites and blacks, natives and foreign
born, the statistics show this fearful increase
OF the higher offences against property and
life. Thus in Georgia, where in 1871 there
were less than 800 State prisoners, there were
more than 1900 in 1877. In Nevada, where
there were less than 30 in 1872, there are
now nearly thrice that number In Tenncs-
see the number in the different prisons of the
! State has doubled during the same time, and
there were in Minnesota State prison Jan 1,
1873, only five less than three times the num-
Der of conyicts that were there in May, 1873.
At the present time the whole number of per-
sons in United States prisons exceeds 60, 900,
On whom less than one-siXth are women. OF
these 1000 are in the prisons of New York
and 1900 are in Massachusetts,, where the pro-
| portion of convicted criminals is greater than
in any other State. OF the whole number of
| Massachusetts cOnvicts, about one-fourth are
women and the fact is noticed that while
the number Of this sex is hardly greater than
| 1t was some years ago, the number of males
has constantly increased. In Massachusetts
more than half the convicts are of recent for
eign extraction, though not more than 30 per
| cent. were probably born in foreign countries
| The same general fact in regard to nationality
| applies to most of the Northern States. The
| colorod race also furnishes more than its due
| quota of criminals both in the North and
! South. In the former slave States the color
! ed convicts greatly outnumber the whites and
in some the excess is very Marked MS in
| Georgia, where, ont of 1925 convicts, gi2 are
colored; in Mississippi, where the conyicts
last January were 91G colored to 1lG whites
and in North Carolina, 1904 colored to 80
| whites. In the States which formerly held
slaves, with few exceptions the convicts are
employed in outdoor occupations, and most
| of them maintain their higher prisons entire
| ly from the labor of convicts, who are leased
to contractors for employment in mining
farming and railroad building The general
result of the labor in 81 States. for Delaware
has no central prison, fell far short of the
earnings requisite to support the 20, 600 con-
victs in their State prisons last year. The re-
turns show an actual deficit of 81 200. 600 ;
but Mr.. Sanborn thinks the sum is too small,
and that 81 100000 would be more exact,
and that if to this sum is added what is paid
for the support of short-sentencod prisoners,
in iails aud houses of correction, the total
cost of their support would exceed 81, coo 600
year, or something more than $50 a year
per head, which the honest men of the coun-
try are taxed to pay. And yet, in view of
these facts, there is political party already
organized which has plank in its platform
that these convicts shall not be permitted to
earn their daily bread by their daily toll, but
shall be supported in idleness at the expense
of the honest taxpayers who never get into
| prison.