The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-01-10
PENITENTIARIEs.

proval.
PENITENTIARIEs.
There are two penitentiaries in the
State-one in Allegheny and one in
Philadelphia. The Western Pehi-
Tertiary has been in process of re.
building for several years, at cost
of several hundred thousand dol
lars. The course of treatment pur-
sued there is that known as the con-
gregate system. Its official direction
is complete and satisfactory, and
upon its entire reorganization in its
new buildings, it may safely be COM
mitted to the continued supervision
of its present management.
The Eastern Penitentiary has
reached about its limit of cell capac-
ity 1t is conducted on the separate
confinement or individual treatment
S, stem. 1t hes not met with the
uniform approval of those who claim
to he specialists in this branch of
political economy, and social sci
enee congresses occasionally assume
to condemn its mode of dealing. with
its inmates. 1t has, for more than
fifty years, held consistently to the
statute creating it Much as the
system has been controverttd, |
deem it just, as one who has given
some attention to this subject, To say
that for convicts who have deliber-
ately joined the criminal class for
thuse whose age or repeated convic
ton render them amenable to puni
tive rather than reformatory meth
ods-aEd for those against whose
violent passions or confirmed habits
society can find no protection but In
Incarceration, the separate system
affords the most complete opportu-
mites of treatment, and Yields the
best attainable results. There is no
occasion to enter into the controver-
sy which has long been carried on
between the advocates of the congre-
gate and the separate systems of
prison dis, ipline. But to the Hon.
Richard Vaux, who for forty years
has continuously exercised the Of
flee of inspector, and to his assocl-
ates, is due the credit of demonstra-
ting that the system of solitary
confinement" as practiced in the
Eastern PeEitentiary, is not only not
a reproach to the civilization of
Pennsylvania, but that as "a peniten-
hory, and for certain classes of GRIM
inals, it is as wise. as humane, and
as effective as any yet devised.
In neither OF the peDitentiaries
in this State has there ever been an
attempt yet made to administer them
on the vulgar, wicked, unworthy
OF making them self
In neither of them has
it been forgotten that even the con-
vict is human being, and that his
body and soul are not so the proper
ty of the State that both may be
out In the effort TO relm-
burse the State the cost of his scan
ty food; and at the end of his term,
what then is left, be dismissed, an
enemy of human society.
REFORM SCHOOLS.
There are two institutions in the
State for the reform of juvenile Of
Ienders-the State Reform School at
Washington county, and
the House of Refuge at Philadelphia.
The latter is private corporation 10
which the State gives financial aid
and official inspection, but in which
it has No administrative control. II
IS fulfilling the purpose of i:s cree
lion with substantial success.
The Beform School at Morganza
was originally local institution, but
ts property and its control are now
~ the hands of the State The prop 1
.rty consists of valuable farm of
several hundred acres, in high +.
,tatt. of cultivation. well constructed
brick buildings, containing family /