The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-12

OF the large buildings and seriously dam
aging two others, In addition to the dis
tressing Inconvenience caused, a large num-
Der of prisoners were thrown out Of en-
ployment to join the many that We're pre-
viously idle. With commcndable activity,
the warden and officials repaired the loss
and erected two new buildings OF brick and
stone. But for this fire 1t is probable this
prison would also have been sslf-sustain,
shows that with all bills paid the excess
of expenses over earnings will be s7,s40. All
things considered, this Is a fair showing.
rhe prisoners at the present time number
40, an increase over previous years OF fully
10 per cent. As IN the northern prison, the
upon a smaller prison population and must
needs be increased to meet the demands of
a larger number of conyicts. For detailed
information reference is made to the report
of the warden and officials.
The twenty-eighth annual report OF tie
Indiana Reform School for Boys comes be-
fore you. relating the success and progress
for the past two years. Az the end OF the
in the school, receiving an education end
being instructed In some useful trade. with
the hope that when dismissed they may
become good and valued citizens. / refer
you to the very interesting and compre-
hensive report of the board of trustees and
superintendent for a history of this school
and its work for the past two years.
The twenty-third annual report of the
Reform School for Girls and Woman's
Prison contains nothing new nor eventful.
Matters have progressed smoothly. and the
management has been satisfactory and eco
nOmical.
There have been fewer commitments in
both departments OF this institution than
for many years pasta condition truly graf
ifying. IL 1t Is owing to the fact that wom-
en- are not growing worse. There were 152
girls in the reformatory department Nov.
]. 1884,. and forty-six In the woman's prison.
The improvements made have been neces-
sary and beneficial
/ would especially direct your attention
to the demand for new boilers and a new
boiler house as stated in the report. The
appeals of boards of trustees of institu-
tons for remedying defects that endanger
health and life should not be SO lightly con-
sidered. / believe you should make neces-
sary appropriations to meet this demand
PRISON ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
IT is the law of the State that prisoners
shall be employed upon contract labor. A
natural complaint arises from free labor as
to the reduced prices upon similar manufac-
tured articles by convict labor. So long as
the present law exists the prison officials
have no discretion in the matter, and must
comply with the law as they find 1t.
The instincts of humanity dictate that
prisoners should not be kept in idleness, for
it is the fruitful source of sickness, insanity
and disgusting practices, demoralizing in
the extreme. On the one hand there is an
Injustice to free labor, on the other an out
ragged feeling of humanity. 1t is a subject
worthy of your serious Investigation. / am
free TO confess that 1 am unapie to offer a
solution to the problem that is satisfactory
The steadily increasing number of crimi-
mails sent to overflow our prisons will soon
confront us with the necessity .: enlarging
the prisons or providing some other means
for their custody. 1t has occurred 10 me
that 1T would be wise to SO revise the penal
lenses, or first offenders. should be extend
ed SO as to cover a large number of cases.
sssm Il i; Snsfiai Sc. s soo offen, I TO avo ID
expense to the county, criminals are sent
to the penitentiary.
present State prisons might be avoided by
establishing intermediate prisons, or indus
trial schools. for youthful offenders. In
such prisons or schools a large number
could be sent to learn useful trades, reliev-
ing the two prisons we now have and Civ
ing greater hope OF ms to the
youthful criminal.
Another crying need in the way of prison
reform is in the treatment Of the insane
tence or becoming SO during Imprisonment.
Proper treatment and care cannot be af-
forded these unfortunates as our prisons
are at present constructed and managed.
Either the laws must be such that would
authorlFs the transfer OF insane conyicts
made for their separate confinement and
treatment at the prisons. It Il not credita.
BILE to our civilization nor humanity that
they be kept as at present.
a fyll report Of all cases of pardon, re-
PsIslxs snd d cI anss ana 9ol sTansss; . ana the Z
have granted, will be furnished to you, as
required by the Constitution.
During the two years of my administra-
tion, ending Jan. ]. 1896, ] have granted 63
pardons. AZ paroles and 68 remissions Of
fines and fOrfeitures. / have also m
the sentences OF tWenty-one prisoners, near
ly all of which were in the cases of youth
full prisoners, sending them to the Reform
School for Boys.
OF these no less than twenty-four of the
pardons were to prisoners in the last stages
of disease. and affording qualification to
their friends to have them die outside pris-
on walls and within the sacred precincts of
home. Many of the other pardons were to
young ~convicts. from two to four months
before the expiration OF their term of sent
ence, punished for first offenses, hoping it
might have a good effect upon their future
life.
In no case have / granted a pardon or
parole without full and careful investiga-
tion. that would warrant me in the exercise
of clemency. So far have no cause for re-
Eret. having the satisfaction of knowing
that none have abused the clemency ex-
tended. but all have, SO far as
has come to me, resumed the life of useful
citizens.
Our prisons now contain a larger number
of convicts than at any time in the history
OF the State. AS we grow in population
crime seems to increase in greater proper
tion. The applications for pardons have
been died in my office to that extent that it
has become burdensome in the extreme
consuming much of the time that should
Justly be devoted to other business of equal
or greater Importance.