The Penn's Grove record., 1914-01-23

widespread belief that none Is vast
cd through q multiplicity Of depart
ments, boards and commissions and
that by simplifcation in administers
ton and consolidation Of departments,
our revenues q be conserved and
expended to better advantage. / be-
Heve that much can be accomplished
In this direction. but 1t is not my in
t~ention to deal with the subject In
detail at this time, for the reason that
the Economy and Efficiency Commits
sion, appointed pursuant to a joint
resolution OF the session of 1912, has
had this matter under investigation,
and I am assured its final report will
be presented to you within a few
weeks. feel that this commission
has devoted much time to a searching
examination OF the functions OF and
the results accomplished by our State
departments and that its report will
contain information and recommends
lions of great value to you. With
this report SO near completion, it
would be unwise to attempt any cor
ganization scheme without the benefit
Of the conclusions Of the commission
and / therefore recommend that you
await its findings before proceeding.
| would refer you In the meantime. to
the preliminary report presented by
the commission to the session OF 1913.
The sentiment of these enlightened
times demands a change in the care
and treatment of prisoners in our Pc
nal institutions. The idea that offend
ers against our laws can be reformed
by confinement and punishment alone,
is obsolete. Confinement within prison
walls n harshness and severity new
er has and lever will check crime, and
the proper treatment of convicts must
receive more intelligent thought,
Criminal tendencies are very frequent
ly the result of mental or physical
defects and the lack of education, de-
cent surroundings and bodily nour-
ishment.N The State should be more
concerned In ascertaining and, If pos
sible, removing the cause for crime,
than in administering punishment.
With first offenders especially, the
State can hope for better results from
a more thoughtful and modern system
of treatment. A careful mental and
physical examination should be made
under the direction of the prison au-
thorities OF each person sent to a
penal institution, and a serious at
tempt made to cure or relieve the ills
that such an examination discloses.
Prisoners should be placed at some
occupation which they can continue
after the expiration Of their sentence,
for the benefit of their physical selves
and to help pay for their maintenance
while in confinement and to fit them
to earn their own livelihood after dis
charge. Prison labor contracts should
be terminated as speedilyNas possible
and the prisoners placed at work un-
der State direction and an effective
S~tate-use system installed. We have
taken a step ir. this direction with the
inmates of our States Prison, but suffi-
cient funds have not been made availa-
BILE by the Legislature to make much
more than a start. Placing men at
work upon the roads, the purchase of
a farm and a quarry (the latter not
yet actually acquired), will provide for
some of the prisoners, but more funds
are necessary for these purposes, as
well as for the industrial employment
in shops of those who cannot be placed
at labor outside the prison.
Intimately connected with this, is
the establishment of a b-usiness-like
plan for the management of prison
labor and the disposition of the prod
ucts thereof. There are too many
boards and officials connected with
this work and with prison control, and
this results In friction, a loss of eff
cheney and unnecessary expense. |
recommend that the Prison Labor
Commission and the Board of Inspec-
tors of the States Prison be abolished
and that a new board be created to
have entire charge and management
of the States Prison and of all places
at which convicts are put at work;
that the keeper of the prison be placed
under the authority Of this board, as
the superintendent of the prison, and
be relieved from responsibility for the
escape of those engaged at outside
work, and that this board have control
of the disposition of products of con
vict labor. Such a plan should lead
to better results in the performance
Of the States duty to its criminal class,
as well as to economy in operation.
/ have given some attention to our
charitable and correctional institu-
lions, and during my term Of office I
intend to secure a more intimate
knowledge of their operation and a
better understanding of their needs.
The members of legislative commit
tees on these institutions, too, will do
well to visit them andNacQuaint them
selves with their functions and man
agement, for l feel they have been
much neglected by the State Many
are overcrowded and some are caring
for those who should be transferred
elsewhere. The per capita cos of
maintenance OF some seems high and
it is not unlikely that money can be
saved by their boards of managers,
but all need State help and a fair OPP
portunity to show the maximum
amount of usefulness. The members
Of the boards of managers are for the
most part conscientious men and wom-
en- deyoting their time and thought un-
selfishly and i~ntelligently to the care
and relief of the poor ~unfortunates
committed to their charge. The Leg
islature should cooperate with these
managers and the Appropriation Com
mittee should give them all the finan-
cial assistance the States
will allew. Those members Of boards
who are not interested in their work,
or who cannot find time to devote to
it, should promptly resign SO that
their fellow-members can be given
the aid and assistance Of others, who
can and will share their burdens.
The matter of jury reform is still
1,ncoff1ad Xo, will roraH that fhfo