The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-16

the officers and teachers seem to be well
adapted to the work of their several depart
ments. A number of industries are being
taught, and it is with pleasure that 1 ex press
my approval of the present management OF the
institution.
Benevolent Institutions.
The hospital for the insane has !, $50 inmates,
which is an increase of thirteen over the num-
Der remaining at the close of the preceding
fiscal year. The average for the year has been
1.524, and the per capita cost of maintenance
$40 OF the whole number treated, Sl2 were
discharged recovered, and liz improved. The
board OF trustees asks for appropriations Tor
the construction of laundry, green house,
electric light plant, and improvements OF the
steam heating apparatus.
The institution for the education of the
deaf and dumb mas an enrolled attendance OF
SIS, which number would be largely increased
if the present capacity were not limited to 800.
The trustees earnestly recommend many I'M
provements for enlarging the institution, in
order that its efficiency may be improved and
ample provision made for all the children
who are deaf and dumb, and thereby denied
the advantages of the common schools.
The institution for the education of the blind
has enrolled la pupils, of which II are males
and 81 females.
The board of trustees urge the necessity of
additions to the present building, which was
insufficient to accommodate all who should
have the advantages of the institution.
| would ask your special attention to the
reports of the several institutions. and recon-
gestions and recommendations therein con-
tanned.
Penal and Keformatory Institutions.
The reform school for boys has demonstrated
its usefulness and fully proven itself worthy of
the fostering care of the state. Its wise, pru-
dent and efficient management has secured the
best results attainable in an institution of that
character and deseryedly placed it foremost
among the reformatory institutions OF the
country.
There have been admitted to the institution
since the opening, on Jan. !, 1865, 2,l95
boys, of which number 462 remain.
The reformatOry institution for women and
girls is in excellent condition and under good
management The number in the penal de-
partment is ffty-five and in the reformatory
department 1873, q small increase in each de-
partment over the number at the close of the
preceding fiscal year.
The officers of the respective institutions, in
their reports make urgent requests for appro-
prationS for needed improvements, and submit
many valuable suggestions relating to their
work.
commend them to your attention for an
early consideration.
Penal Institutions.
The number of prisoners at the Southern
prison is $780, and in the Northern prison 7O2
The general health in each prison is good, and
the same may be said of their respective sani-
tary conditions. The Southern prison has been
well managed. many needed repairs made, and
for the first time since its establishment has
been self-sustaining.
The Northern prison is in excellent condi-
ton, and makes its usual show of good man
agement and an excess OF receipts over the ex-
penditures for maintenance.
1t is respectfully submitted that il would be
proper 70 investigate the prOpricty of allowing
an increase in the salary of the wardens. Their
duties are many and OF great responsibility,
and 1T has now been over thirty years since the
present limit was fixed.
Prison Reform.
Under this head can but substantially say
what | said two years ago: "The constitution of
the state provides that the penal code shall be
founded on the principles of reformation and
not of vindictive justice; that cruel and I'M
usual punishments shall not be inflicted; that
all penalties shall be proportional TO the ma
tuTe OF the Otfense, yet our penal system and
penal code, and especially the manner in which
the latter is administered, could hardly be fur
Their from a compliance with those wise and
nulnduc PROVISIONS OF our CONSTITUTION. Nearly
every day our courts are sentencing to the peni-
Tertiary young men under twenty-one years of
age, in many instances their first OiienSe, and
in many eases the offense technical one.
Hundreds are sent 10 the penitentiary by courts
and jurieS merely for the purpose OF saving the
county from the expense of a jail sentence,
which would have been ample punishment for
the crime committed, thereby blasting their
characters forever, and increasing the number
of the criminal class, as well as inficting pun
ishment in violation of the above provisions
of our constitution. Two-thirds of the prison
ers in our state prisons are under thirty years
of age. To expect to reform this class of pris-
onerS by a forced association with hardened
and confirmed criminals, murderers, thieves and
cOunterfeters would be to reason that evil assoc
iatiOns do not cOntaminate and corrupt. Those
who have had experience in the management
of prisons, and also those who have given care
full attention to the impress made upon the
character OF the young convict, testify to the
huTtful influence OF the aggregate prison sys-
TEN, and the almost impOsSibility of etiecting q
reformation; for however excellent the charac-
ter OF the young convict may have been prior
To his conviction. or however real his inten-
tons may be to reform while a prisoner, yet
when discharged, he finds that the world does
not look kindly upon an ex-penitentlary con-
vict. Ii Is with great difficulty he obtains hon.
Orable employment and finds still greater diff
hculty in gaining admission 10 good society.
The ignominy of the ex-penitentiary convict
follows him like destroying angel, wherever he
may co. An administration of criminal justice
that visits on the young and first
offender such n terrible punishment
for such slight ofiense, a punishment that
ends only with death and deprives him
from obtaining honorable employment and the
association of reputable persons, is a disgrace
to Christian civilization, mockery of the adj
ministratiOn OF Justice and said commentary
upon craftsmanship During my term have
committed the prison sentences of forty boys
to commitment to the reform school The
board of control, in their report say that only
four of said boys have shown themselves un-
worthy of executive clemency. If the state
was not, at this time, so burdened with the ex-
pense of the construction of so many new
buildings, / would earnestly recommend the
establishment of an institution to be called by
some such name as an industrial school, for
the confinement OF young cOnvicts and those
guilty of their first ofense whose former char
acter had been good. in order that they might
have at least one chance to return to the path
of rectitudc and to the favorable recognition OF
their fellow-men."
Executive CIemency.
The number OF pardons, paroles, commuta-
tions and remissions granted will be submitted
in a separate report, at en- early day in the
sion. Applications for executive clemency
have been so numerous that have not found
it possible and consistent with my other duties
to give attention and consideration to as many
cases as are, perhaps. entitled to some action.
have granted but few pardons. Nearly all
the prisoners released from confinement by me
L Il 10 20,