Year: 1874

In the able and comprensive report of the
inspectors of the Eastern Penitentiary
for 1877, among other details of value is
found this significant statement that of
the 240 convicts admitted to the prison
during the year 1871, 80 per cent had
never been apprenticed and 56 per cent.
had never attended school These figures
are eloquently aud painfully suggestive
OF the relations incidence and ignorance
bear to crime.


SOLDIERS ORPHANS.


No act OF the State ever secured her
moro honor .han that which pledged her
people to the care and education of the
orphans of the soldiers who fell in her
service, and no part of her policy has
reflected so much credit upon her people
as the fidelity with which they have been
redeeming that promise The generosity
which former Legislatures have Displayed
IN providing for the maintenance and
instruction OF these orphans will now, !
am persuaded, bespcak for them like con
sideration and favor. | feel constrained
also to renew my proposition that some
measure sholl be taken to furnish these
children with trades


BOARD OF PUBLIC CHARITIES


During the past year the gentlemen
! composing the Board of Public Charities
have fulfilled the important trust commit
ted to their care with their wonted fidelity
and zeal, The results of their labors
clearly demonstrate that true philanthro-
! ply, well guarded aud directed, can be of
great practical service to the State


The numbers of the criminal, pauper,
insane and other defective classes that are
in some degree dependent on public
support, must always be large, and the
problem OF caring for these multiudes in
way to decrease their number, and SO
add to the productive force of the com
munity is one which addresses itself
with great force to the attention Of the
Legislature.


In the light OF the reports of the Board
of Public Charities and Prison Inspectors,
and of my own investigation, [ am firmly
of the belief that the system of commuta-
tion whereby the term of prisoner is
shortened by reason of his good conduct,
has been productive of refornatory re-
suits. BY examination, also, | am pos
ssssed of this other conviction, that for
the purpose of awakening the self respect
| of prisoner, and to provide him with
some incitemeut to good behavior and
industrious habits, every inmate of
prison should be instructed in trade
When competent 10 do the work belong
ing to his particular trade the convict
should then receive while in prison as
compensation for his labor, portion of
his earnings, to be given to his family if
necesstous, or if he has no family, to be
reserved for his own uses when released
Accustomed iu this way to toll tor those
dependent upon his support, the prisoner,
when liberated, will be apt to carry into
life the skill and habits of industry thus
acquired, and make Of hiHseIf useful
citizen. Society is as much interested in
the reformation as in the punishment Of
the criminal, and experience shows that
teaching him trade contributes to that
end.


INSANE HOSPITALS.


The hospitals for the insane, under
the control of the State, are steadily
accomplishing the benefcent work for
which they are intended. The hospital
at Harrisburg has been full during
the whole year, and atRhe time OF the
last report the inmates were considerably
in excess Of the numher that eau be
properly cared for in this institution.
The building will have to undergo a
series of repairs aud improvements to
make it q safe and comfortable home for
those placed there for treatment


| The hospital at Danville has been in
operation about year, aud at the latest
report had l60 patients, and at the rate
at which patients have been admitted, will
have more than its complement before
another year has elapsed. 1t is desirable
that the additional wings to this hospital
should be pushed forward to completion
at the earliest possible day to provide for
those greatly in need of accommodation.


To insure the delicate and peculiar
treatment required for the insane, too
much care cannot be exercised to pre-
vent these hospitals from being crowded.


The commissioners appointed under
the act approved Aug Is, 1873, to select
a site and build hos Etal for the insane
Of the ten north western counties of tho
State, liked upon property at Warren
{ as the most eligible lor the purpose, and
their selection has been approved This
property contains $50 acres of land, 500
acres oi which are arabic land aud cost
S33 600. The numbers OF the insane in
the north western section of the State,
who imperatively require the aecommoda
tions to be furnished at this hospital, aci :
monish US of the necessity for the imme-
diate construction of the buildings
TIE CRIMINAL INSANE.
The suggestions of the committee of