New Series Number 40
THE JOURNAL
OF
PRISON DISCIPLINE
AND
PHILANTHROPY
PUBLISHED ANNUALLY
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF “THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY.”
INSTITUTED MAY 8th, 1787.

JANUARY, 1901.

OFFICE: STATE HOUSE ROW
S. W. Corner Fifth and Chestnut Streets
PHILADELPHIA, PA.

CONSTITUTION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY.

When we consider that the obligations of benevolence, which are founded on the precept and examples of the Author of Christianity, are not cancelled by the follies or crimes of our fellow-creatures, and when we reflect upon the miseries, which penury, hunger, cold, unnecessary severity, unwholesome apartments, and guilt (the usual attendants of prisons) involve with them, it becomes us to extend our compassion to that part of mankind who are the subjects of those miseries. By the aid of humanity their undue and illegal sufferings may be prevented; the link which should bind the whole family of mankind together, under all circumstances, be preserved unbroken; and such degree and modes of punishment may be discovered and suggested as may, instead of continuing habits of vice, become the means of restoring our fellow-creatures to virtue and happiness. From a conviction of the truth and obligations of these principles, the subscribers have associated themselves under the title of “The Pennsylvania Prison Society.”

For effecting these purposes they have adopted the following Constitution:

ARTICLE I.

The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, two Vice-Presidents, two Secretaries, a Treasurer, who may be an undoubted first-class Trust and Safe Deposit Company, regularly chartered by the State or national authorities; two Counsellors, and an Acting Committee; all of whom shall first be nominated as suitable by the “Committee on Membership in the Acting Committee,” a standing committee of that body. They shall be chosen by ballot at the annual meeting of the Society to be held on the fourth Thursday in the First month (January) of each year, and shall continue in office until their successors are elected.

No person shall be placed in nomination for officers of the Society, or as a member of the Acting Committee who shall not have been previously appointed by a standing committee of the Acting Committee called “The Committee on Membership in the Acting Committee.” A majority of the whole number of votes cast shall be required to elect any nominee.

In case an election for any cause shall not then be held, it shall be the duty of the President to call a special meeting of the Society, within thirty days, for the purpose of holding such election, of which at least three days’ notice shall be given.

ARTICLE II.

The President shall preside in all Meetings, and subscribe all public acts of the Society. He may call special meetings whenever he may deem it expedient, and shall do so when requested in writing by five members. In his absence one of the Vice-Presidents may act in his place.

ARTICLE III.

The Secretaries shall keep fair records of the proceedings of the Society, and shall conduct its correspondence.

ARTICLE IV.

The Treasurer shall keep the moneys and securities, and pay all orders of the Society, or of the Acting Committee signed by the presiding officer and the Secretary, and shall present a statement of the receipts and expenditures at each stated meeting of the Society, and an Annual Report at the annual meeting in the First month (January).

All investments and re-investments shall be made by the Treasurer only with the advice and consent of a majority of the members of the Finance Committee of the Acting Committee.

All bequests and life subscriptions shall be safely invested, only the income thereof to be applied to the current expenses of the Society.

[CONTINUED ON THIRD PAGE OF COVER.]

Office of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, Fifth and Chestnut Sts., Philadelphia.

New Series Number 40
THE JOURNAL
OF
PRISON DISCIPLINE
AND
PHILANTHROPY
PUBLISHED ANNUALLY
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF “THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY.”
INSTITUTED MAY 8TH, 1787.

JANUARY, 1901.

OFFICE: STATE HOUSE ROW
S. W. Corner Fifth and Chestnut Streets
PHILADELPHIA, PA.

THE
Pennsylvania Prison Society

(FORMERLY CALLED THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY FOR ALLEVIATING
THE MISERIES OF PUBLIC PRISONS.)
Place of Meeting, State House Row, Philadelphia.
S. W. Cor. Fifth and Chestnut Sts.

At the 114th Annual Meeting of “The Pennsylvania Prison Society,” held on the evening of the First month (January) 24th, 1901, the Editorial Board (appointed to take charge of the Journal and papers and the Annual Report), consisting of Rev. R. Heber Barnes, Charles M. Morton, John J. Lytle, Rev. H. Cresson McHenry and Rev. George A. Latimer, presented the draft of the Annual Report.

The Society directed the Editorial Board to print 5000 copies, and to make such alterations and additions as they thought proper.

The report to be signed by the President and Secretary.

JOHN J. LYTLE, Secretary.

Editorial Board for 1901: Rev. R. Heber Barnes, Chairman; Charles M. Morton, John J. Lytle, Rev. H. Cresson McHenry, Rev. George A. Latimer.

Persons receiving the Journal are invited to correspond with, and send any publications on Prison and Prison Discipline, and articles for the Journal, to the Chairman of the Editorial Board, 600 North Thirty-second Street, Philadelphia, Pa., or to the General Secretary, Philadelphia, S. W. cor. Fifth and Chestnut Streets.

👉 John J. Lytle, Office S. W. cor. Fifth and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, is the General Secretary of the Society, giving especial attention to the Eastern Penitentiary.

👉 J. J. Camp, Agent for County Prison, appointed by the Inspectors, acts under their direction, and aids the Prison Society.

👉 Frederick J. Pooley is Agent for the County Prison, appointed by the Prison Society.

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR 1901.

President:
CALEB J. MILNE.

Vice Presidents:

REV. HERMAN L. DUHRING, D.D., GEORGE W. HALL.

Treasurer:
CHARLES M. MORTON.

Secretaries:

JOHN J. LYTLE, FREDERICK J. POOLEY.

Counselors:

HON. WM. N. ASHMAN, HENRY S. CATTELL.

COMMITTEES OF THE SOCIETY FOR 1901.

Visiting Committee to Chester County Prison.
WILLIAM SCATTERGOOD.
Visiting Committee to Delaware County Prison, and the Counties of the
State at Large.
DEBORAH C. LEEDS.

Visiting Committee, the House of Correction. LINDLEY H. BEDELL,
MARY S. WHELEN,
WM. T. W. JESTER,
Rev. WM. S. NEILL,
DEBORAH C. LEEDS,
JOHN WOOLMAN,
Rev. JOHN MONCURE,
Rev. H. CRESSON McHENRY,
CATHARINE M. SHIPLEY,
LAYYAH A. BARAKAT.

STANDING COMMITTEES.

Library.

LINDLEY H. BEDELL, FREDERICK J. POOLEY, WILLIAM INGRAM.

Accounts.

JOSEPH C. NOBLIT, WILLIAM F. OVERMAN, THOMAS B. WATSON.

Membership in the Acting Committee.

JOHN J. LYTLE,
Dr. WM. C. STOKES,
GEORGE W. HALL,
J. HENRY BARTLETT,
Rev. H. CRESSON McHENRY.

Finance.

Rev. R. HEBER BARNES,
JOHN J. LYTLE,
CHARLES M. MORTON,
GEORGE W. HALL,
LINDLEY H. BEDELL.

Memorials of Deceased Members.

Rev. GEORGE A. LATIMER, Rev. JOHN MONCURE.

Aid and Employment of Discharged Prisoners.

ISAAC SLACK,
Rev. HERMAN L. DUHRING,
Rev. JOSEPH WELCH,
WILLIAM KOELLE,
CHARLES F. CRIPPS, F. J. POOLEY,
Mrs. P. W. LAWRENCE,
Mrs. HORACE FASSETT,
Rev. WM. S. NEILL,
MISS C. V. HODGES.

Police Matrons at Station Houses.

Dr. EMILY J. INGRAM, MARY S. WHELEN, Mrs. P. W. LAWRENCE.

Editorial, of the Journal.

Rev. R. HEBER BARNES,
JOHN J. LYTLE,
CHARLES M. MORTON,
Rev. H. CRESSON McHENRY, Rev.GEO. A. LATIMER.

Auditing Committee.

Rev. R. HEBER BARNES, LINDLEY H. BEDELL, GEORGE W. HALL.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

JOURNAL OF PRISON DISCIPLINE

ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEENTH
ANNUAL REPORT
1787. OF 1901. “THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY.”

In the beginning of this Twentieth Century the public mind seems to have given more thought to the reformation of the prisoner, and his care after he goes out, rather than to the security of bolts and bars to hold him for the limited time. The march of progress is to treat him more like a man capable of being partially educated and taught some craft that he may follow when the sentence is ended or when paroled.

To this end, the statute law of our Commonwealth allowing only a small per centage of convicts to be employed, has been a drawback to progress, until all the Boards of Inspectors and Wardens (influenced by public opinion) have had the courage to use their better judgment. Convicts in our penitentiaries should, if physically able, be required to labor, both on the grounds of health, and of sound public policy, and such labor should as far as practicable, be such as will aid in paying the entire cost of their keeping. Military discipline and prison discipline—and still more, prison science—are essentially unlike, for one deals with men in the mass, while the other individualizes to the finest possible point.

Thirty-five years ago there was almost a complete indifference in the public mind concerning the reformation of prisoners, but now, the progress of the times seems to be fast changing sentiment, and leading onward to the requirements of a stated law making our penitentiaries more of a reformatory nature; prisoners classified, merit of grades, and employment in manual work for health. No doubt many of our prisons and county jails would require inexpensive additional buildings for reformatory plans; this would give work for many of the convicts under proper direction. It may be said that at the Eastern Penitentiary there is no room for additional buildings; but where there is a will, a way is generally found, though the space might be a little cramped and exclude a part of the current of air over the roofs of the present plant.

The Eastern Penitentiary has at this date, January 1st, 1,115 prisoners in 750 cells, which cells are intended for one prisoner each. So we see how our long-cherished cellular or separate system of Pennsylvania (still on the statute book) is fast passing into the congregate, though all foreign countries are even now following our former plan as the best.

Our prison Wardens, Chaplains, and Official Visitors by their oft personal visitations in the cells, have done faithful work endeavoring to reform the morals of the men, but after all, only a small percentage can be determined as really reformed from crooked ways, for many return a second or more times. Much of the kindly suggestions and godly teachings are lost to the official visitor by having to address two or more in a cell at one time, at the Eastern Penitentiary. Therefore, the sooner we arrive at the introduction of the Reformatory System, (known as such) and applied to all our penal institutions, the more hopeful for all our charges and benefit to the community in general.

The Reformatory System has four main principles as established in Massachusetts. 1st. Classification and advancement by merit. 2nd. Education and Sloyd work. 3rd. Trades and manual training. 4th. Parole and care of those discharged.

This State has not yet introduced a Parole System, though such a law has twice been passed by the Legislature and vetoed by different Governors. At the beginning of this century, the bill appears for the third time, but it is not intended to affect those now in custody.

An Indeterminate sentence law is still a future possibility of the new century. At the last National Prison Congress of Wardens and State Delegates held at Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 1900, the Indeterminate Sentence System, was unanimously recommended.

The Official State delegates of this Prison Society present at that Congress were, Mrs. Deborah C. Leeds, John J. Lytle, and Rev. R. Heber Barnes, whose report will be found further on.

The matter of a House of Detention, for our first-class cities, juvenile prisoners between 8 and 16 years, has made but little progress, and it still awaits consent to appropriate one of our unused school-houses for that purpose.

The inequality of sentences often come to the knowledge of the Acting or Visiting Committee, both at the Penitentiary and the County Prison; and we often wonder that our Judges do not adopt some uniform length of sentences, especially for first imprisonments for minor offences.

The Acting Committee of 50 of this Society, and who are official visitors to the Eastern Penitentiary and County Prison and annex, have been untiring in their efforts to reform those whom they have visited in their cells. The monthly reports show that members of the Visiting Committee have made the past year 731 visits to prisoners at the Eastern Penitentiary on 15,616 prisoners, and at the County Prison and Convict Dept. Holmesburg, 848 visits to 6,191 prisoners.

Our female members visit the female prisoners in both institutions. Kind-hearted willing souls are found among the subscribers of our Society, who are willing to freely give and have spent their time and money for the recovery of those who have stumbled and fallen. What we need most is a classification of prisoners, that all may be employed in some work, and a merit system. The nearest approach to a merit system now is a shortened term or commutation for good behavior, and every man receives his pardon from the Governor which restores him to citizenship.

Eastern Penitentiary Board of Inspectors have done wisely in the sanitary improvements of the institution the past year, under the direction of our esteemed warden, D. W. Bussinger. The place once so cold and cheerless, has been brightened up and made scrupulously clean, and the foul draughts of air are no more. The fronts of out-buildings have been rebuilt and present an appearance of firmness and stability. The cells are kept neat and clean, and the food is much better, being in a larger variety, and by careful economy, at no greater cost. When you reach a man’s stomach with good things, it seems to brighten up his countenance; every visitor realizes this. The men have daily exercise in the yard, for health; and an instrumental band has been formed of those in the bakery department, and allowed in the rotunda two evenings in a month to entertain the entire population of the institution; they have become very creditable performers.

Our Prison Agent, John J. Lytle, is at the Penitentiary nearly every day of the year, and in advance of a man’s going out, provides through this Society what the State does not, a new suit of clothing when needed, and procures a railroad ticket if he is to go to some distant home, and then when the man has a place to work (if a trade), he provides tools and a suitable boarding-place until the man is able to do for himself. After a time he may have fallen, or met with misfortune, and again he comes for help that he may again be placed in position where he can earn a support; in all these cases the prisoner is identified by his prison number, which no man ever forgets. In order to carry on this work for the discharged prisoners, the income from the funds of the Society is but a third of what is needed; and as the Legislature and Governors have failed the past six years to grant the Society the accustomed $3000 annually, we have been compelled to solicit donations from benevolent donors for the discharged prisoners of the Eastern Penitentiary. The aid given for the discharged prisoners of the County Prison, is from the income of the Society.

It seems hardly just that we be compelled to solicit for discharged prisoners of the Eastern Penitentiary from Philadelphians, when many of the convicts are sent there from most of the eastern counties.

Philadelphia County Prison, Moyamensing.—A recent personal inspection of every nook and corner of this old prison (erected 1835) revealed the fact, that under the present Board of Inspectors, with generous modern ideas for alterations and improvements, it might truly be called an up-to-date city prison; scrupulously clean and in order everywhere, inside and out. Our highly esteemed Superintendent, Robert C. Motherwell, Jr., shows his especial adaptation to the work; for during the past year 45,688 persons passed in and out under his eye, about 3,800 per month; of these the received were white males, 17,788; white females, 1,889; black males, 2,508; black females 653. Total, 22,835; of these 532 were boys under sixteen years old. Total discharged, 22,853. This large number of juveniles, caused the remark of a keeper, that if he had to choose between the care of 12 boys or 500 men, he would prefer the latter. These boys are never placed in a felon’s cell, but in a portion especially assigned them, and are always apart from the other older prisoners.

All the repairs or alterations are done by the convicts, and many are employed in the shops. There is now a first-class steam-heating arrangement, and electric plant with sufficient voltage for an electrocution-chair in place of the gallows, if the State so directed. In connection with this, is a Kenyun steam disinfectant apparatus (the latest and most approved device) for the renovation of clothing, mattresses, and bedding from vermin, microbes, and possible contagion; treating it by high pressure of steam then by vacuum.

The officers of the Moyamensing prison are all well tried conscientious men, and have a very promiscuous lot of people to deal with. There is a very good library of 2,700 volumes, used by all the male departments, besides other reading matter is furnished. The cleanliness and hygienic atmosphere of all the corridors and cells could not pass unnoticed. Three religious services are held in this prison every Sunday, and excellent volunteer choirs contribute, which are greatly appreciated.

Philadelphia County Prison,
Moyamensing.

Rev. Joseph J. Camp, the highly-esteemed Prison Agent of the Inspectors for the past sixteen years, interviews many prisoners brought in, and often goes to court when the case comes up for trial.

Mr. Frederick J. Pooley, our meritorious Prison Agent of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, is doing good work and assists the Rev. Jos. J. Camp. He has to do principally with those minor cases which are discharged with short detention and without trial, by order of the magistrates.

The Acting or Visiting Committee of this Society appointed to the County Prison, have done good work in aiding reform of both men and women; often have helped to shed that ray of light into the heart of some suffering one, by kindly advice and good reading matter; some have even taken pains to look after many women on their discharge, keeping in touch with their better interests long after.

The Woman’s Ward, under the care of Miss Anna B. Harshaw, matron, impresses you as one whose genial disposition and good judgment, well prepares her for the care of her charges. During the past year there were received 1,889 white women and 653 black; average, 212 per month. On January 1st, there remained 62 convicts and 33 awaiting trial. The entire building is clean and neat, even the cells, the kitchen, storeroom, and laundry: here twenty women are daily at work, (do the work by hand) for the whole institution, a number are employed in making up and repair of clothing, for the men also. They have a good library and other reading matter, and are often visited by the ladies of the Acting Committee.

County Prison Convict Department, Holmesburg Junc., Under the efficient care of Capt. Charles A. Abel, Deputy Superintendent, a recently constructed plant, to which are sent all the convicts of the county’s charge, the number at present being about 450.

They have various kinds of trades work (limited of course). This institution is the same as all the penal institutions of the State, save one, lacks two things:—classification or grades, and manual work for all the convicts. There is a large choir of colored men, who, on Sunday afternoons, in the rotunda afford, pleasure for the rest of the institution, as part of the religious exercises. In all these departments of the County Prison, Sunday religious exercises are provided, and often good volunteer choirs, under the direction of the management.

The County Prison’s daily charge is little more than eleven hundred.

At the Annual Meeting, January, 1901, George W. Hall, our high esteemed Treasurer for the past ____ years, tendered his resignation, and was unwilling to be re-elected to that office on account of recent sorrow and apparent failing health, desiring to be relieved from some of the responsible active duties and cares of this life. We appreciate his good judgment, and a Trust Company was appointed until the annual meeting when Charles M. Morton was elected to fill this office; unwilling to part with our faithful officer, he was elected one of its Vice-Presidents.

House of Correction, at Holmesburg Junction, usually has about 800 inmates, and consists of those sent there for drunkenness or for minor offences committed through intoxication. Most of these are compelled to work; a large number in the stone quarry, facing stone, and breaking for road-dressing, different sizes are sifted by hand labor. On Sunday all are required to be at chapel service and they have many reasonable privileges. It is a very well conducted institution in which this Society takes an interest; but the majority, on being dismissed immediately return to their dissipated habits and are often recommitted. Heretofore these prisoners were taken from the lower part of the city, on police tugboats to the House of Correction wharf, but in consequence of the Act of Congress recently going into effect, some other plan is devised until the boats are modified. The new law requires that the boats shall carry a sufficient number of lifeboats in proportion to the number of prisoners, and as the tugboats are only equipped with one yawl they cannot be used for this work until the necessary changes are made.

Juvenile Offenders. Judge Audenried believes in a sound spanking, as a more beneficial punishment than imprisonment, when a lad first shows inclination towards evil, and many times rather than send a boy to the House of Refuge, he has allowed him to go upon the parents promising no longer to spare the rod.

Philadelphia County Prison,
Convict Department, Holmesburg Junction.

A matter of great importance to our Commonwealth, to cite a case—a girl of fourteen years was recently convicted of petty larceny, sentenced to prison for three months. Appeal for mercy, on the ground of first offence, did not avail. But to jail, to be influenced for a worse career, instead of a reformative effect. The courts could not be held accountable for this state of affairs. Indeed it would be hard to find anywhere a more conscientious and just judge than Judge Biddle, before whom the case came. Our Judges are not lawmakers, and must interpret the law as it exists, and follow the statutory provisions enacted by the Legislature, and there is no discretionary or limited powers. It is deplorable that offenders of tender years should not receive intelligent and discriminating treatment under the law. But the fault is in the inadequacy of the law. Pennsylvania seems to be far behind some other States in penal, and particularly in reformative legislation respecting children. In other States, notably Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, legislation has been provided for juvenile and adult offenders, which has already born much fruit and promises greater results for the future. The working of the probation system in Massachusetts—where it has been in operation nine years appears to have more than justified the hopes of those who introduced the reforms. In Massachusetts more than 5,000 are released annually on probation, and the relapses to criminal life are very few. The system seems specially adapted to minors. There is every reason why Pennsylvania should take some forward step in enacting laws relating to young offenders.

Where modern legislation of this character has been tried it has had very great beneficial influence in reforming offenders and saving them from a criminal life, and in addition has saved the State money.

Where we were clearly shown at the last National Prison Congress, that our actual cost of crime in Philadelphia was $3.50 per capita for the whole population of the country, equal to $3,250,000 for this city it seems appalling, and we need to use the best known methods of reform to lessen the exacting taxation.

The Police Matrons at our station-houses have all proved well chosen and competent helps to the distressed wife and children, and to many a young girl who has commenced a life of shame brought under their observation by the officers. The entire number of women reported by the sixteen matrons, during the fiscal year as under their charge was 4,233. Of these many were aged, demented and homeless; those lost or seeking shelter were 773. Many were young, some strangers in the city, and to city life, who were restored, by a little effort, to respectable homes; some victims of the crimes of others or shamed and discouraged by disgrace.

The entire number of children reported is 2,978. Brought by parents, 279. Brought on personal charges for offences, 756. Lost, 1,498. The monthly reports of these devoted Matrons, to the Associated Committees, are filled with special cases of interest, and stir all true devotion to earnestness to devise new plans to reach and help the sufferers.

Mrs. L. W. Fletcher of the 6th District and Mrs. J. Poole of the 19th District are the oldest matrons in the work, having held appointment since September, 1886. Mrs. Fletcher has to do with that known as the tenderloin section, Eleventh street above Race. Within this district dwells a larger portion of girls and women whose vocation makes them liable to arrest more than any of the other thirty districts. Mrs. Fletcher has proved well-fitted for the work, the combination of good common sense, sympathetic gentleness and determined spirit which is hers, is one that is needed in the Sixth District more than any other perhaps. Mrs. Fletcher speaks of the many unfortunate girls brought to her as “her girls.” “They are to be pitied as much as condemned. Force of circumstances, I have learned, drives the majority of them into the lives they lead. Contact with them has taught me that few of them are wholly bad. Many can be made to see the folly of vice and led to abandon it.” She speaks authoritatively, and keeps track of many reclaimed, who are happy in their several employments as wage-earners, and owe their present happiness to her timely advice and sympathy.

Chinatown is in this division, and it exerts its worst influence; but kindness wins. They are not locked up in cells, but the matron places them in an upper room or ward. The matron is very seldom used roughly, her appearance seems to command respect, even from the most abandoned. She often accompanies them to court trial, and it is a comfort to them, they never fail to appreciate.

All our seventeen police matrons seem to be well-fitted for their work. Some of our lieutenants who have heretofore opposed having matrons for the female portion at station-houses, are beginning to see the folly of their former judgment. Our statute law requires every station-house to have a matron. Why is it not obeyed in the other fourteen districts?

Woman’s Prison.—The women of the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., are urging the establishment there of a Woman’s Prison. How much better if it were a Reformatory. This is sadly needed in State of Pennsylvania, and especially in Philadelphia for the 350 women in our Penitentiary, County Prison and House of Correction; at the present time there is a movement to ask the Legislature to establish a Reformatory prison for women in the eastern part of Pennsylvania.

Mrs. L. W. Fletcher,
Police Matron, Sixth District, Philadelphia.

TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF JOHN J. LYTLE, GENERAL SECRETARY.

In presenting this, my Twelfth Annual Report, I feel more and more solemnly impressed with the magnitude of the work in which I have been for so many years engaged, the importance of which cannot be overestimated and I have faithfully endeavored to perform my duty, seeking for Divine guidance in all of my undertakings. The Pennsylvania Prison Society has its officers and an Acting Committee of fifty other members, who, by act of the Legislature, are made official visitors to the Penitentiary and County Prisons. They are particularly interested in visiting the Eastern Penitentiary and the two County Prisons in this city, and the House of Correction—though we have members who visit the County Prisons of the State and make reports to the General Committee. The members, after a careful visitation of the convicts in their cells, endeavor to gain their confidence, and thus become friends to them, which is kept up frequently long after their discharge. We encourage a correspondence with them after they leave the prison, so that we can retain an influence over them for good and continued good.

Many interesting letters have been received, showing that what has been done was warmly appreciated, and instances are not wanting where they are leading honest lives, and are willing to admit that the lives they had been leading were dragging them down in ruin and could thankfully say that their incarceration had been a blessing to them, and they had determined with the Lord’s help, to lead better lives.

We have earnest, faithful Christian women members of the committee who visit the women prisoners of the Penitentiary, the County Prisons, and the House of Correction. In this connection I desire to call attention to the efforts which are being made to establish a temporary Home for discharged women prisoners, an institution which has been much needed, where they can remain a short time until they can obtain situations, in the meantime being under Christian influences. There is also the Howard Institution for discharged women prisoners, situated on Popular street, near Sixteenth street, where they have a comfortable home and are taught house-work and laundry, and being expected to stay at least six months, there is hope for reformation for those who desire to lead better lives.

CORRESPONDENCE.

There continues to be an increasing interest in the subject of Penology, very much attributed to the publicity given through the meetings of the National Prison Congress held in various parts of the country. I receive very many letters asking for information and especially from libraries asking for complete files of our “Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy,” speaking of it as a very valuable publication. As our back numbers are now all disposed, and as requests continue to pour in upon us, I would be pleased if any to whom this Journal is sent, have back numbers previous to 1900 which they do not wish to keep, would send to the Secretary Fifth and Chestnut Sts., Phila.; it would enable us to fill orders from libraries.

WORK OF THE SOCIETY AND ITS ACTING COMMITTEE.

The Acting Committee meets monthly when reports are received from the Visiting Committee of the Eastern State Penitentiary, the two County Prisons, House of Correction, “Associated Committee of Women on Police Matrons,” General Secretary and from many of the County Prisons of the State.

It is much to be regretted that the press of our city gives so much publicity to the time when noted criminals are discharged. The impropriety of this is especially noticeable where the separate system prevails, for it undoes the secrecy which is so essential to reform. By it old crimes are recounted, and no matter how much a man desires to reform the way is closed for his obtaining employment, and he sees nothing else than to go back to his former criminal life. Every one should have an opportunity to reform, and his former career should not be published to the world. There have been cases where the press told in advance when a certain criminal was to be released, and I have seen crowds of men and boys waiting to see such a one come out.

THE EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY.

For the benefit of those who have not seen our former Journals it may be again well to state that the institution is visited by a sub-committee of the Acting Committee set apart for this service, to each of whom is assigned a particular division, which he under the Constitution and By-Laws is expected to visit “at least once in two weeks and oftener if convenient.” (Extract from the Constitution.) Rev. Joseph Welch and his able assistant, Rev. H. Cresson McHenry devote their whole time to visiting the prisoners, and are doing a noble work for their spiritual good. Their task is a great one for with a population of over 1,200 it taxes their time to the utmost—this then is where the members of the Acting Committee perform valuable service.

From monthly reports received from those members it appears that 731 visits have been made to the Penitentiary during the past year, and 15,616 visits have been made to prisoners either inside the cells or at the cell doors. As many of the members failed to send in reports, the number visited will much exceed this.

The total amount expended for the relief of discharged prisoners from the Eastern Penitentiary and County Prison during the year was $3,364.03.

As the Legislature has for many years failed to make any appropriation for furnishing clothes or tools to those discharged, the whole burden of doing this rests upon our Society. Our income is entirely inadequate to do even a tithe of this large expense. We could only accomplish it by the liberality of our donors, for which we thank them, and desire their continued aid.

As for my own especial work at the Eastern Penitentiary, I visit there daily in addition to the many other duties I have to perform in connection with my office as General Secretary. I feel as time rolls on solemnly impressed with the magnitude and importance of the work in which I have for many years been engaged. No person leaves that prison without my visiting him several times previous to discharge, ascertaining their needs, and providing them with suitable clothes, that they may make a respectable appearance in looking for work; pleading, too, with them to give up all their sinful ways, and give their hearts to the Lord—for there are no joys comparable to the “Joys of God’s Salvation.” As I visit from cell to cell, not only at the time of discharge, but long previous to that, a feeling of awe comes over me as I realize that here is a soul to be saved or lost, one who has had no thought or concern for his soul’s salvation, and the query arises, have I, have we as visitors, done our duty, our whole duty, in telling him there is the promise that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” and that Jesus Christ our Saviour and Redeemer, came into the world to seek and to save those that were lost, and in Him there is pardon and plenteous redemption. I have during the past year made 352 visits to the Penitentiary, and have seen and conversed with the convicts, either in the cells or at the cell doors, over 4000 times. I have procured 164 railroad tickets for discharged prisoners to take them to their homes outside of the city, and have taken many to the depots, providing them with a good breakfast before starting. The cost of these tickets was $377.50.

I have assisted many after their discharge with temporary help, starting them in business in a small way that they may become wage-earners, thus preventing re-commitment. Tools are furnished to discharged prisoners when needed. Many have been aided in this way to obtain situations. For some days before and after New Year’s I distributed the motto calendars to every prisoner, visiting every cell and giving a word of counsel and encouragement, and a hearty shake of the hand to most of the 1,200 prisoners. It has been gratifying to notice with what pleasure these New Year’s calls have been received, as they respond, “A Happy New Year to you and many of them.”

These Christian motto calendars are hung up in their cells and are read over and over many times a day—such as these:

O! the things WE call the LITTLE sins,
Are hateful in GOD’S SIGHT;
HE counts NO SIN a LITTLE sin,
Nor calls a WRONG DEED—Right!

And

BEGIN thou first with LITTLE THINGS,
The smallest SIN AVOID and HATE;
Obedience to LOVE adds wings,
And LITTLE faith will grow to GREAT.
The statutes of the LORD are RIGHT—!
REJOICING the HEART.
(Psalm xix: 8)

These silent messengers may be the means, under the blessing of our Heavenly Father, of reaching many souls and bringing them to Christ, their Saviour.

SOME CASES OF INTEREST WHICH HAVE COME TO OUR NOTICE.

A young man left the Eastern Penitentiary, perhaps three years ago, for one of the cities in Western Pennsylvania, determined to lead a new life. He gave assurance of having sought and found in our Lord Jesus Christ a full pardon for his old life and of his earnest purpose to walk in newness of life. He joined the Methodist Church, got good work, married, and has recently sent to his visitor, a member of our committee, a picture of their little baby. He writes a bright, happy letter.

A man who, while in the Penitentiary, seemed to feel the tremendous evil of his past life and an earnest desire for a better one, was led, as we believe, to pray and trust God’s spirit, we felt worked with him and not in vain. He went into a foreign country, and a few days ago we received a letter from him dated January 4, 1901, bright and happy, hoping soon to return.

About nine years ago a man left the Penitentiary and went to work for his brother-in-law, who was a baker, getting his board only. After some months he came to me saying he wanted to earn some money for himself, and asked me to get him work, even if it was as a laborer on the street. I dissuaded him from that, and encouraged him to remain, so that he might not only learn the business, but also to establish for himself a reputation. This advice was taken; he joined the Episcopal Church. I received a letter from his rector speaking in high terms of him. He afterwards went to another brother-in-law in one of the interior cities of our State. He remained there long enough to become thoroughly acquainted with that branch of business, saving up all his wages—to-day he has two establishments of his own, is married, and doing well.

Another is that of one who had a sentence of over twenty years for atrocious cruelty to an elderly couple in connection with a burglary—his second conviction. It seemed almost a hopeless case, but he was taken in hand by a faithful Christian member of our committee, joined the Episcopal Church, and is a sincere Christian, faithful, and trusted by his employer; has been out over ten years.

Another, to show how difficult it is for a discharged prisoner to obtain a situation. A man was discharged about whom there were strong doubts of his being guilty, not a crime against property. He was a skilled workman in an industry of which there are very few in this country, and such men are in demand. The foreman in the manufactory where he formerly worked agreed to take him the next morning. Calling the men together, he informed them that he was going to take —— back. They said if he did they would all strike—they would not work with an ex-convict. I boarded him for three weeks, getting odd jobs now and then, and finally sent him to New York, where he has employment in the same branch of business—have had a letter thanking me for what I did for him. Very many such cases could be mentioned. All these were aided on their leaving the prison.

THE OFFICERS.

The warden, D. W. Bussinger, who in the short time he has been in office has proved himself to be very efficient, and has instituted many important reforms. It is his aim to make it the model prison of the United States. He thoroughly understands what is needed, and is truly the right man in the right place.

George Dorward, called the “Principal Overseer,” is very faithful to his duties, and living in some of the apartments of the Penitentiary, is always at hand to render efficient services to the warden.

The Rev. Joseph Welch, the chaplain, officially called the “Moral Instructor,” and his able assistant, the Rev. H. Cresson McHenry, are earnestly desirous for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the prisoners, and are ever on the alert to instil into their minds the necessity for a change in their lives, to cease to do evil, and learn to do well. They devote their time to the good of the prisoner, and the result cannot fail to be beneficial. It is particularly gratifying that the Moral Instructor has such an able and valuable assistant. I have again to thank the warden and all of the overseers for the valuable assistance rendered me in the prosecution of my work, which requires much tact and judgment in determining what is best to be done in such cases.

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY PRISON AND ANNEX.

The Visiting Committee report 848 visits to the prison during the past year, and including the new convict prison at Holmesburg, 6,191 visits reported to prisoners either in the cells or at the cell doors.

The prisons are in good condition, and well kept, and are models for county prisons. It is much to be regretted that every one committed, especially those before trial, could not be kept in a separate cell. Many of those were in prison for the first time, and often associated with hardened criminals, thus rendering our county prisons the nurseries of crime.

Robert C. Motherwell makes a most valuable and faithful Superintendent.

Too much credit cannot be given to the faithful visits of the lady members of the committee, who have religious opportunities with the women, and many of whom have had situations obtained for them, and are known to be leading exemplary lives. Their mission does not cease with their release from prison, but a watchful care is extended to them after their discharge.

The Rev. Joseph J. Camp, the Prison Agent, appointed by the Inspectors, is also a member of the Acting Committee. He has seen many years of service there, and holds a position which is invaluable, and could not well be dispensed with. There are numberless cases of persons who should not be committed to the County Prison. Those cases he faithfully investigates, and secures from the magistrates their release as soon as possible. Very many boys run away from home, stealing rides on freight trains—they are arrested, and sent to prison. He looks up such cases, writes to the parents, who reply that it is their desire that they should be sent back. They are by that time very penitent, and are put on the cars for home. He acts, too, as a peacemaker between families. We honor him for the good work he is doing.

Frederick J. Pooley, the agent of the Society at the County Prison is displaying much zeal and energy in the performance of his arduous duties, and I can but repeat what I have heretofore said of him. He is in love with his work, and feels that God is blessing his services there. He says that while there are many clouds along his pathway, yet he sees more of the sunshine that leads him on to greater efforts in the work in which God has been pleased to call him. His earnest desire is that he may be a benefit both in spiritual and temporal things to those who have become inmates of a prison-cell. Services are held there every Sabbath in the morning for the men, in the afternoon for the women. Once a month he has charge of the latter, and is listened to with marked attention. The committee as well as the management of the County Prison is fortunate in securing the services of such a valuable assistant. He takes especial interest in looking after the many boys who get into trouble—often runaways from home, whom he sends back. Interesting letters have frequently been received from them.

Some of the cases are worthy of mention. One whom he sent to Atlantic City writes thus: “I take pleasure in letting you know I have got work, and to let you know what a little kindness and good advice will do for a poor fellow who is struggling to lead an honest life.” In reply, he advised him to attend some place of worship and to keep from drink. Again the boy writes: “I will try to live up to your advice; I attended church this A. M., the first time in years, and with the help of God, I cannot go wrong. I am working every day, but I am making an honest living—honest dollars are the best kind of dollars—I have fully made up my mind to that.”

A boy whom he sent home to his parents in Newark, N. J., writes: “I am going to work this P. M., and with God’s help, will try to make a man of myself.”

Another boy says, “I owe you a debt of gratitude that can never be paid;” and another writes, “I am going to night-school, to church and Sunday-school, and am trying to be a good boy.”

From a boy he sent home: “I arrived in Baltimore safe, and my mother met me at the depot. I thank you very much for your kindness to me.”

These are cases of boys who have ran away from home, steal rides on freight cars and are arrested when they are arrived and sent to the County Prison, often put in with those who are adepts in crime, their parents are written to, who request that they be sent home. If the money is not sent for the return fare, the Prison Society pays it. Much good is done in this way.

CHESTER COUNTY PRISON.

William Scattergood, President of the Board of Inspectors, and a member of the Acting Committee of our Society visits that prison weekly. He is much interested in the welfare of the prisoners. It is well managed, kept clean, and is in an admirable condition. A new wing has been erected for the women, of whom they have very few.

DELAWARE COUNTY PRISON.

This prison is faithfully visited by Deborah C. Leeds, who reports it to be in good condition and well managed. She holds services there very frequently, which are much appreciated, and her remarks are listened to with marked attention.

OTHER COUNTY PRISONS.

Deborah C. Leeds has been appointed “Visitor to the County Prisons of the State at Large.” In virtue of this appointment, she has visited many of the County Prisons, speaking to the inmates as way opens for it, encouraging them to give up their evil ways and lead new and better lives, looking unto the Lord for help in this respect, without which their efforts will be in vain.

POLICE MATRONS.

The Associated Committee of Women on Police Matrons hold meetings monthly, at which reports are received from the different station-houses where there are matrons in number. A number of interesting cases are reported monthly, of women missing trains, and shelter given them until next morning, feeble-minded women wandering from home—children lost, etc.—These are kindly cared for by the matrons.

It is sad to find such a large number who were arrested for being intoxicated.

Thankful to my Heavenly Father that He has, as I reverently believe, called me to this work and that through all these years He has given me health and strength to perform it, and that I may be more faithful in winning souls unto Christ, and invoking the Divine blessing upon my labor, and that ability may be given me to perform the service with increased zeal and earnestness, with a single eye to the glory of God, and to the advancement of the Redeemer’s kingdom on the earth, this report is respectfully submitted.

John J. Lytle,
General Secretary.

At a meeting of the Acting Committee, held 10th month, 18th, 1900, the Committee on Memorials for deceased members presented the following, in relation to our late fellow-member, Henry M. Laing.

In Memoriam.

Henry M. Laing, our late esteemed Treasurer, died at Colorado Springs, Colorado, August 1st, 1900, in his 80th year. Funeral ceremonies were held at Friends’ Meeting House, 15th and Race street, Monday, August 13, several members of our Acting Committee attending.

It seems fitting that there should be a minute of record of our esteemed brother, who for nearly 20 years—1873-1892—served the society so honorably and so well, as Treasurer, in the care of its funds, and who had been an active member for many years, beside also being a life member. We revere his memory, as one whom we desire to think of, whose manly disposition and straightforward conscientious dealings led us all to regard most favorably.

Full of years the Lord called him, and we hope to meet him beyond the river of death.

May this note be recorded, and a copy sent to the surviving children by our Secretary.

GATHERED FROM REPORTS AND OTHER SOURCES.

CHANGE OF TREATMENT URGED.

At the discussion on criminals, before the State Board of Charities and Correction, Albany, N. Y., last December, a change of treatment was urged, that “Reformation and not punishment should be the end sought.” Dr. Wm. P. Spratling, Medical Superintendent of Craig Colony for Epileptics, said in part: “I would recommend the following: First—Prevent insanity, epilepsy, imbecility, idiocy, and feeble-mindedness as far as possible by making it impossible for them to marry. Second—By building less expensive structures in which defective and dependent State charges shall live. Third—Maintain at less cost the cases that are chronic and incurable, and maintaining at even greater cost those that probably can be cured. Fourth—By giving those that ought to have it an education that they can use in the institution that cares for them, or that they may use in the outer world when they leave the institution.”

Thomas Sturgiss, of New York City, chairman of the Board of Managers of the Elmira Reformatory, read a paper on “The Treatment of the Criminal.” The object of the discussion was to devise some plan for the adoption of a true system of treatment in any and all penal institutions, and the plan determined was

“First—Centralization of prisons of every kind other than those of temporary detention only, under State control.

“Second—That all prisons shall be taken out of politics, and that they shall be administered by men who are making this profession a scientific study and a life work.

“Third—A classification of all criminals, and a division of them among institutions according to such analysis.

“Fourth—The specializing of such institutions to the end that each may receive only that class or classes to the treatment of which its situation, its staff, and its system are deliberately adapted.

“Fifth—Experience shows that such classification cannot be made by the courts, for lack of time and absence of expert testimony. Provision should be made for such analysis by the head of the institution to which the prisoner is first sent, and that subsequent transfer in accordance with such analysis should be legalized both as to the power of the transferring officer and of the prison to which the transfer is made.

“Sixth—The adoption of the principle that reformation (reformation of character) and not punishment is the end sought by imprisonment, with such application of the indeterminate sentence and the parole system as the class and condition of the prisoner and the character of the management may justify.

“The time has gone by when we seek to punish the criminal simply. Punishment as a deterrent has failed. We now seek to reform, if we can, and to seclude for the protection of society if we cannot. Education and training in self-control and in the ability to do useful wage-earning work, are the basis of reform.

“Whatever the system in any prison, it should contain, high above everything else, the element of hope. This should never be abandoned while life lasts, if the mental powers are normal. Omit this and you take away the strongest inspiration to reform and substitute despair. Include it and you give the guardian of the prisoner his strongest weapon; and to the prisoner himself, a gleam of light in the surrounding darkness, shining from the open door through which, if he wills it, he may once again pass to finish his life experience under the conditions of freedom.”

“Every prison from a jail up should be in some measure a reformatory, an institution where the inmates received instruction in industrial pursuits, in wage-earning labor, in letters, and moral precepts.”

Secretary McLaughlin of the N. Y. State Prison Commission, stated that the present prison population of the State in custody was 10,350 (being a decrease in five years of 2,311) of these 1,197 were women of which 342 were in the workhouse, Blackwell’s Island.

Among the State improvements suggested were:

1. In order to furnish the convicts with employment under the present Constitution, further legislative restriction should cease and officers and institutions should comply with the law in good faith.

2. The state should furnish the prisons with new and modern buildings, especially at Sing Sing and Auburn.

3. The hope to see the lock-step and the prison stripes suppressed among the prisoners of the higher grades in every prison.

4. When prisoners, whose education has been utterly neglected are received, there should be compulsory education in the common English branches.

5. An efficient parole law should be adopted applicable to the State’s prisons. Such a law is recommended by the Commission and by the Superintendent and wardens of prisons.

6. The State should watch over a man after his discharge from prison, aid him in finding employment, and in the meantime, render him assistance if necessary.

7. It has been wisely suggested that even life prisoners should be under some system of parole. Probably by special enactment. There are 177 life convicts, many are not habitual criminals, but convicted of murder in the second degree, while in heat of passion or under the influence of liquor. Some have already served 20 to 40 years.

STATE PRISON DILEMMA.

Some “prison reformers” so-called, seem to be laboring under the impression that it is possible to keep convicts profitably employed without subjecting free labor of some sort to competition. A moment’s reflection, however, shows that this impression is erroneous. The best that can be done is to distribute industries in the prisons so as to reduce competition to the minimum, and that it is the policy which the State is now pursuing. A sash and door factory has just been established at Sing Sing, the output of which is to be used in public buildings. This leaves the market for sashes and doors practically to the free labor employed in that industry, and yet the fact remains, that but for this prison factory the State would have to patronize the other ones. The Amended Constitution and recent legislation in conformity with it have rendered the task of keeping convicts at work a problem. Of course they might be employed piling and unpiling stones in the prison grounds for no other purpose than to prevent them from being idle. But experience has proved that fruitless work of this sort is bad for convicts, tending to demoralize them. Unless they are given something to do worth doing they grow morbid and ripe for further mischief. Road-making as an experiment may be worth trying. The Superintendent of prisons says he finds it exceedingly difficult to keep convicts employed without antagonizing the Constitution, until the Legislature makes the present law mandatory.

HOW TO DEAL WITH WICKED MEN.

The prevention and cure of crime, the best methods for this, says Frank B. Sanborn, the political economist of Massachusetts—why “Prison science is in its infancy, so far as the world at large is concerned.” Pathetic and humiliating is the tardy advance made in this direction. Very provoking to the enlightened are the dull indifferences and frequent hallucination of the community in regard to the treatment of criminals.

Gradually, however, there has grown up in regard to a large class of criminals, the so-called “first offenders,” most rapidly in these United States, and chiefly in the past thirty years, something that may justly be turned “prison science.”

Its best examples are in the men’s prison at Elmira, which is the outgrowth of Mr. Brockway’s half century of experience in controlling and instructing convicts, and in the woman’s prison at Sherborn, Mass., lately under the inspiring government of Mr. Johnson.

As yet the criminals of longer habituation in guilt have come but little under this new development of prison science, except that in some States they now receive an added sentence when proved to be an old offender. But the tendency is where crime is best understood, to establish a small class of “incorrigibles,” for whom perpetual imprisonment shall be the sentence.

This is on the theory that such can never be safely returned to the community, upon which they are found perpetually preying, with a reasonable hope that they can be cured of evil habits. From these, should be distinguished a much greater class of criminals, who are temporarily incorrigible, but will yield to the methods, somewhat prolonged.

WHERE DEATH PENALTY IS NEEDED.

Governor Dockery, of Missouri, in his message to the Legislature of that State, recommends a law prescribing the death penalty for kidnappers of children for ransom. Also recommends that it be enacted in every State. It should also apply to another crime, which our penal laws do not properly reach—railroad train wrecking, which is often attended with a wholesale slaughter of life, and those who commit it seldom receive their just punishment, though abhorred and dreaded more than the ordinary murderer.

THE LOCK-STEP.

At Sing Sing prison the lock-step has been abolished for first offenders; it ought to be given up everywhere. The men are often identified as having been to N. Y. State Prison by the shuffling habit; a military step has been substituted. Superintendent Collins has noticed that the lock-step has grown on a prisoner to such an extent, that he will fall in behind people on the street unconsciously in true lock-step fashion.

A gang of convicts belonging to Class A, all carpenters or masons, were sent to work on the new prison at Mapanoch, Ulster Co., N. Y., and 250 from Clinton and Auburn. The new prison will cost $700,000. It was first intended for a reformatory, but the plan was changed to a State prison with accommodation for 1,000 convicts.

GRADING AND CLASSIFYING OF PRISONERS.

From the Report of the Board of Control, Iowa.

This is carefully done in all our reformatories, but in the State penitentiaries and penal institutions very rarely. It seems fitting now, that the public desire is not only to hold the convict, but to encourage self help, by a system of regular graded or progressive classifications of prisoners, based on character, and operated on a system of marks. Hope should be made an ever present force in the minds of the prisoner, by a system of rewards for good conduct, that carries with it a promotion from a lower to a higher grade.

In connection with this system of classification, a well regulated parole and indeterminate sentence law will be enacted by the Legislature; thereby placing the destiny of the prisoner in his own hands, and by his own exertions to continually better his condition. The object of imprisonment and prison government is for the protection of society and for the reformation of the prisoner. It is plain the State does not discharge its obligation until one or both these objects have been clearly accomplished. If the prisoner cannot be reformed, he must be held indefinitely, yet the parole system in connection with established grades may be so administered as to secure these results. It is better than a definite sentence (that does not reform) without a provision of parole; but more effective when coupled with the reformatory or indeterminate sentence, because it makes a stronger appeal to the convict for his co-operation.

It is gratifying to know that this is to be introduced into all the State penal institutions of Iowa.

RECLAIMED CRIMINALS BY PAROLE LAWS.

It is only in recent years that the idea of making a good man out of a bad one has had any prominence in the penal system. The old idea was simply to punish the criminal and lock him away from honest people so he could do them no more harm. The actual result seemed to have proved that it made him more proficient in the school of crime. In many States this evil still exists. In New York State for example, seventy per cent. of the released convicts return to criminal lives. Several other States have tried the plan of releasing well-behaved convicts, with comparatively clean records, finding work for them, and keeping them under surveillance until assured of their reform. Here are the results:

The convicts themselves are enthusiastic in praise of the new plan, for many of them would prefer to lead honest lives if given a fair chance. “The Star of Hope,” a paper written and printed by the convicts of the N. Y. State Prisons, is full of articles in favor of the parole system, which the convicts hope to see adopted throughout the State. At present, it applies to the Elmira Reformatory only.

Indiana State Prison, at Michigan City, has had the parole system in force three years; 132 prisoners have been paroled, 6 have been returned for violation of their parole, 2 have failed to report, and we do not know where they are. We consider this a good showing for the management. We have now 80 men on parole, who make report promptly, earning all the way from $5 to $40 per month and their board, in many cases caring for their families, that would otherwise be a public charge upon the township where they live had the prisoner been kept in confinement.

PROPOSED MARRIAGE REFORM.

The Tri-State Medical Society of Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, in session at Chattanooga, have taken steps to secure medical Legislation in those three States, for the purpose of regulating or prohibiting the marriage of habitual criminals, or persons afflicted with incurable diseases, drunkards and victims of harmful drugs.

CONTRACT, PRICE-PIECE, STATE ACCOUNT.

Formerly the contract plan was followed in most penitentiaries, the labor of each convict being hired out in a certain industry at a fixed sum per day. This has been succeeded in many States by what is known as the price-piece plan, where the contractors pay for the convict labor at so much for each piece of work done; and in other States by manufacturing done on the account of the State.

The contract system, where it is possible to contract the labor at a fair price, is undoubtedly the best one for the State. In such case the State only furnishes the room, heat and labor, saves the great outlay for machinery and power.

If proper contract labor cannot be had for our penitentiaries, then the price-piece plan is the best, and if it is not possible to employ the convicts in any other way, then we should resort to proper industries to be carried on, by State account, like New York.

The convict should be employed, either by contract or price-piece plan before resorting to manufacture on State account. Many a warden at the National Prison Congress, has shown that they could have all the contract or price-piece work that they could do if the law permitted it, but it is the everlasting fear of antagonizing force labor.

When we find that the entire output of all the penitentiaries in the United States during 1899, for the five principal things manufactured in prison was only one-tenth of one per cent, it does seem strange that any Trades’ Union would be unwilling to have the State by employment care for the health and best interests of their sons and brothers detained!

CONVICT LABOR ON STATE FARMS.

Mississippi Penitentiary Board of Control find farming their best interest, have leased 9,350 acres of cleared land on which was worked 720 convicts, the net revenue past year estimated at $100,000. The State has purchased 3,000 acres on which 80 convicts will be employed, and they have set apart $80,000 to purchase not more than 12,000 acres.

ROAD MAKING FOR CONVICTS.

The most valuable contributions in some respects, is the report of the Industrial Commission on “Prison Labor,” Washington, D. C., in the brief part which deals with what is not prison labor at all, but the labor of convicts outside of prisons—building and repairing roads—an employment which meets the demands of intelligent and practical reasoners, and seems to solve the problem of prison labor from a humanitarian standpoint. Mention is here made to call attention to it.

INDUSTRIAL REFORMATORIES.

New York State Reformatory, Elmira, is one of the oldest institutions of the kind in the United States. Has about 1500 convicts. As the State does not permit the sale of their product in open market, the institution has become more than ever a great trades school. Thirty-six industries are taught, beside mental, physical, and industrial training, including education in the school of letters. Several of the literary schools are taught by convicts trained for that department.

The trade of the convict is determined by the Superintendent, according to the advice of his relatives, and the surroundings he is likely to return to. Of the 658 discharged in 1899, 82 per cent. went directly to the trade practiced in the Reformatory.

It is a very busy place, the convict plying his trade industriously, not to be sold or serve some useful purpose, but only to give him practice and skill; when completed it is destroyed, then done over again. The disposition to excel in skill and excellence has a tendency to make them better men. Almost every visitor is impressed with the conviction, that labor here so exquisitely performed, should be applied to some useful purpose and the articles sold.

The carefully prepared system of grading is admirable. A prisoner when he enters is placed in the second grade; he may work up to the highest grade, shorten his term, secure his liberty by good conduct, and proficiency in trades and school work. The lowest grade is cared for much like the prisoners in the penitentiary, the middle grade fare better, have a table-cloth and other privileges, the highest grade have better food and clothing, privileges to converse, and order their food and pay for it out of their own funds. The system seems to rest on three ideas—1st, indeterminate sentence. 2nd, parole provisions of the law. 3rd, the trades and marking system. Gross cost per capita in 1899, $153.85.

MASSACHUSETTS STATE REFORMATORY, CONCORD.

Receives men from 18 to 35; if guilty of crime more than three times, cannot be sent here. The training-school is very much like Elmira, N. Y. After they become proficient in these schools, they pass into the industrial department and are employed at various kinds of productive labor. Sloyd system work is very prominent, forenoons spent in the trades schools, and afternoons in the shops. Prisoners alternate, so that both shops and industrial training-schools are in full operation all of the day.

Products of the shops are furnished other State institutions. They manufacture cotton and woolen goods (having a $35,000 plant of machinery). All weaving is done by hand-looms, made in the institution. There are over twenty industries and the institution uses all the money it earns.

The average convict’s stay is fifteen months, yet it is possible he may work out in a year, and he may be kept two years if convicted for a felony. About half the prisoners remain full time for which they are committed. They have 300 acres of land, and twenty acres are inside the prison walls, 1022 cells; prisoners go out on good records made in school and shop.

ILLINOIS REFORMATORY, PONTIAC.

Has 1,379 inmates between 12 and 21 years. Boys under 16 go to school daily, over 16 years three-quarters of a day. Trades schools and productive labor, contracted out certain sum per hour. Eighty-five per cent. conduct themselves properly, and the authorities keep track of them for a year after they leave. The average stay is 19 months, a few go out in a year. First grade men eat in a dining-room, the rest in their cells. Cost per capita, $120.

THE JUVENILE COURT OF CHICAGO.

Has been in operation over one year, and it has rescued 1,250 children, three fourths of whom have been paroled and placed in charge of probation officers. It is against the law of Illinois to imprison, even in a police-station, any child under twelve years of age, before, during or after trial. In case of necessity the child is to be committed to some suitable institution. The purpose of the plan is to give a boy another chance in his own home under the oversight of a probation officer. The business of the officer is to establish relations of friendship with the boy’s parents, and with the boy himself, and to take pains to secure that the surroundings in which the boy is growing up shall be such as to minister to a decent life. This is another step in that probation system which has long succeeded so well in Massachusetts and which ought to be established in every State in the country. One interesting fact in connection with the workings of the Juvenile Court, is, that the Judge and the probation officers have learned that it is practically hopeless to expect satisfactory results where a boy is a confirmed cigarette-smoker.

SLOYD WORK.

This is not a trade, but a system of teaching, by draughting plans, used in manual training-schools and some of our reformatories. It ought to be introduced in all our reformatories, and would be extremely useful in the prisons among those of long terms with work, for it establishes practical thoughts as a foundation for a trade when dismissed.

NOVEL PUNISHMENT.

When Mayor James L. Schaadt, of Allentown, Pa., began his office a year ago, new ideas were inaugurated for evildoers, and generally with good effect. When but a few days in office, a party of boys were brought before him on some trivial charge of disorder. The offence needed some punishment, and the parents were too poor to pay even a small fine. The Mayor learned the family shingle was still in use in the boys’ homes, and as the boys were too young to send to the station-house for a day or two, the Mayor sent the boys home with instructions that they should be soundly spanked by their parents as a punishment, and to report at court the next day whether their sentence had been carried out. The scheme worked well until some of the fathers refused to do it, then the Mayor did it himself until he tired of it, and finally it was required to be done in the court-room by the police officer; the plan has worked well and the number has greatly decreased.

On many prisoners fines are imposed, and he trusts them to be paid on instalments, and they never fail to satisfy the obligation. It acts as a deterrent to committing a like crime. Squads of tramps are put to work on the city streets without guard, and they very soon skip out of town, fearing re-arrest and a long sentence.

THE WHIPPING-POST.

Judge S. C. Baldwin, of Philadelphia, is in favor of the lash, or whipping-post, for incorrigible boys, and especially for wife-beaters, as they are often the only support of the wife and children. The September Grand Jury made such a recommendation before Judge Pennypacker, and he considered it worthy of consideration. But most of our Judges considered it not in harmony with the twentieth century ideas, and were unwilling to express any decided opinion offhand, as the whipping-post was a radical change. Judge Michael Arnold thought it would shock the public mind too much, and that the reason why our present plans fail is because the prisoner has too easy a time in jail, not required to work. Judge Robert N. Wilson held that in detaining a husband it often caused more suffering to the wife and children to be deprived of support, and it was a serious question whether it would not be degrading and lower a man’s whole moral nature.

Judge Wm. W. Whitbank thought the matter too radical to be decided without a careful consideration.

Judge Abraham M. Beitler had very decided views, but the public does not realize the situation. If they would only sit one day in court and see the cases of brutality brought before us, they would very soon recommend more drastic punishment. What are you going to do with a man who beats his wife in a most brutal manner (while drunk, generally), but who is the sole support of that wife and children? If you put him in jail you inflict ten times more suffering on his family.

In regard to the opinion of the Grand Jurymen, that the House of Refuge is not operating for the good of society, because not all the boys are reformed and converted, all the Judges unanimously expressed themselves as not in sympathy with the view taken by the Grand Jury, for we all know of very many cases where the House of Refuge has done splendid work. One of the Judges said:

“You cannot hope to make a law-abiding citizen out of every criminally disposed boy, and you cannot say that, because a few cases have not been benefited apparently, that the House of Refuge is a failure. I believe, on the contrary, that it is doing a most excellent work in elevating the morals of the community.”

THE BERTILLON SYSTEM.

In the past year the Bertillon system has been introduced in several of the States (it ought to be in all). Iowa has just found it very desirable. New York State has had it several years, proved of great value, not only in identifying prisoners, but in the identification of several meeting with sudden deaths in railroad accidents. By this system identification becomes positive and certain, as often as the prisoner comes under the measuring instruments, it will be an easy task to lay bare a criminal’s history by referring to his card. If the Legislature would enact an indeterminate sentence or parole law, the effectiveness of the same would be wonderfully aided by this system of identification. There are some who contend that “the State has no right to use this system against the man”—then let us have something better—a law of the United States requiring every State to enthrone this system, and that a National Bertillon Bureau be established for all the convicts of our country. This would be of untold help, and many a time a man’s true character could be asserted before the Judge had pronounced an unjust or inadequate sentence. This present Congress will be implored to establish this National System, by the advice and recommendation of the National Prison Congress.

RESULTS OF TREATMENT OF THE INSANE.

Last fall the press often seemed to indicate a startling increase of insanity among the inmates of the New York State prisons, and it aroused scientific discussion. As the number was larger from those prisons where work was silent, it was held that the want of exercise was the cause. But when it was shown that from the Elmira Reformatory, where work is constant, 65 were transferred to the State Hospital at Matteawan, the State prison authorities cannot account for the sudden increase. Over 700 the past year were sent to this hospital from penal institutions.

Who can measure the value of services to those restored as producers, and who would lower the standard of care, if it would result in preventing a single recovery? Many live in hospitals surrounded with everything necessary to their comfort and who may never fully recover, but their burdens are lightened and lives sweetened so far as it is possible to do so.

Hospital treatment of the insane in this country has made great strides in the right direction past few years, by substituting proper and healthful employment in place of mechanical restraint, thus stimulating a return in the patient to normal conditions, and naturally improving the prospect of final recovery.

The hospital of to-day is not a prison. It is a place where those skilled in the treatment of mental and nervous diseases continually minister to those affected; where health-promoting vocations are encouraged; where books, magazines, music and entertainments contribute to the pleasure and restoration to health of patients.

It is a startling fact that of those who were discharged as recovered nearly one-half had been received at the hospitals within a month or two after the affliction, and most all of them were afflicted less than a year prior to their admission.

In view of this fact, it becomes the duty of friends and persons afflicted with insanity (whether in prison or out of it) to see to it that they are early placed in the hospitals, for the probabilities of recovery are greatly in their favor.

Music both vocal and instrumental, has been found to be exceedingly valuable to restoring unbalanced minds; even brass bands and orchestras have been an untold help.

The people of our State have a right to expect that its insane who are cared for at its hospitals, shall have the best medical skill and attention, and the best care that can be given them; pleasant surroundings and good dietary. To this end let us continually labor to always maintain the highest standard of care for those unfortunates.

HAVANA PRISONS, CUBA.

Urafall Muntalso, warden of Havana Prison, last fall made a tour of the most noted prisons of the United States, with a view to adopting the best points of our system in the big Government institution of Havana, of which he is the head. He spoke of Sing Sing as being so different in all its features that one would imagine the institution conducted for another purpose entirely, instead of having exactly the same object. He gave high praise to our Eastern Penitentiary as a model institution of its kind, and to Warden Bussinger as certainly conducting it in a model manner. Several times expressed that the men seemed happy and contented as possible, being detained. Cuba so many generations under Spanish rule, with ancient views for punishments of convicts—to introduce American reform would seem almost revolutionary, but it must be done.

The penal institutions heretofore embodied all the unfavorable features of solitary confinement, and with very few of the favorable features. Education and employment of convicts in prison was out of the question. The convicts simply served out their sentence, not contributing in any way to their own support. By means of the reforms contemplated this will be largely changed. The intention is to improve the sanitary condition of all the penal institutions in Cuba, to alter the buildings to modern details, the men to do the work; then as rapidly as possible the humane American features will be introduced. Since Spanish rule has been cast off, the number of criminals and of crimes committed have been lessened over one-third. The cause is attributed to its present prosperity, thousands being employed, who were long time idle, keeping them honest and out of the hands of the law.

AUSTRALIAN PRISON REFORM.

Sydney, New South Wales, and in fact all Australian prisons were of the congregate system, free association. The recently introduced system of restricted association among prisoners is being gradually extended, though distasteful to the habitual criminal. Those seeking to reform, rejoice to be cut off from the degrading companionship. Captain Neitensteen, the Controller of New South Wales Prison, says: “There is every reason to hope the new departure will improve the moral atmosphere of all the jails, and will lead to the reformation of many prisoners. Already the number committed has decreased over 600, and the more serious crimes have received a check. Female prisoners have decreased to 180 prisoners last December, the lowest number in twenty-five years. The prisoners make all the clothing, boots, etc., for the officers and inmates, beside last year they earned £20,000 in work for the various Government departments repairing buildings, etc., outside the value of labor employed in the domestic work of the various jails.

“At Bathurst a complete marble-cutting and polishing plant has been erected, occupation to a large body of men. The waste lands attached to jails are now being cultivated, giving healthy out-door work of reformatory character, and supplies the greater portion of the food.”

PRISONS IN OLD PARIS.

[FROM THE GENTLEMAN’S MAGAZINE.]

Of the five principal prisons of Paris during the Reign of Terror, the most hopeless of all the horrible places on earth was the Conciergerie, whence few escaped, except to ride in the fateful tumbril which conducted them to the guillotine. All the other prisons fed this one. As many as 80 prisoners a day were sent to the scaffold, and the feeling of terror outside the prisons was almost equal to the dungeon. No one knew when his turn would come. Men’s faces were calm, but hearts filled with fear. Detectives and spies bore false witness everywhere, even the garçon who served you with a petit verre might be an agent of the Republic, whose report might send you to the Conciergerie in the evening, and on the morrow to the guillotine. The fatal roll call was read out daily. Men rushed to hear if their names were included in the list of victims. If not they breathed more freely, at least they had another day to live. But now how changed! look at the——

MODEL FRENCH PRISON.

A SANITARIUM, RETREAT, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION WHERE CRIMINALS ARE HANDLED WITH KID GLOVES.

The new prison at Fresnes, eight miles from Paris, is the largest in the world. Takes the place of three old prisons, is situated in a healthy district, and covers with its main buildings, flower-gardens, and villa residences of officials, over half a square mile.

The prison is not built on the star plan, but consists of five rectangular blocks, one of which is the infirmary. The plan is the cellular, and the number of cells 1,824. Also accommodation provided on the association system for 400 privileged prisoners; total criminal capacity is 2,224. As a sanitarium for the criminal Fresnes is unique. As his or her present home, it boasts the proud record of being only half full, for crime or at least punishment by imprisonment for crime is diminishing in France. The system at Fresnes is interesting; the authorities believe in fresh air and sunshine, those foes of the microbe, and friends of health. Hence the prison is a model sanitarium. Otherwise the criminal is gently educated; he works at some trade, and can purchase from the proceeds of his work, extra food and personal requirements, with the exception of tobacco. When the prisoners go to worship, which is not compulsory, or to school which is, they wear hoods to prevent mutual recognition on release. In some of the workshops this rule does not obtain. The reason for this apparent inconsistency is not clear.

Even the officials receive instruction on such subjects as the prevention of crime and prison discipline, and as a result of this the excellent idea of the whole prison is admirably carried out. A final feature of Fresnes is the severe simplicity of its architecture.

SIBERIAN BANISHMENT.

The official messenger of the Czar of Russia at St. Petersburg, Oct. 1, 1900, published the Imperial ukase providing for the abolition of banishment at Siberia. The Czar commissioned the Minister of Justice to draw a law for abolishing such banishment. This was sanctioned by the Council of the Empire, and has been signed by the Czar, thus the law is now gazetted.

NORWAY PRISON.

A member of our Pennsylvania Prison Society, returning from the land of the midnight sun, reports his visit to the principal prison at Akerstuis, Christiania, Norway. When he made known that he was a member of the oldest Prison Society in the world he was shown the utmost attention by Director Peter Soelberg. He describes it as the congregate system, and being shown over the entire plant, the sleeping-cells, dining-room, baths, culinary departments, &c., describes it as exceedingly clean and neat with a purity of atmosphere. The chapel is very large and all the prisoners are required to attend service twice on Sundays and also on other days.

The workshops are many, and the trades pursued are carpentry, cabinet-work, blacksmithing, wheelwright, harness, boots and shoes, tinsmith, making all kinds of household utensils, and weaving by hand. If a prisoner has no trade, he is taught one before he goes out; their object is to turn out men reformed and able to make their own living. The prisoner receives part of the profits he made while in prison, to help him on his release, which is then paid to him. All the goods manufactured in prison are sold at a store outside, at a little less price, and the people go there to purchase, yet there is a fair profit made. The prisoners have outdoor exercise every day, they have a schoolmaster besides a moral instructor, and they are treated as erring brothers, called by their first name; the Director was horrified at the thought of our calling a man by a number, when the object was to reform him and make him appreciate his position as a citizen or subject of his country. Women prisoners were very few.

Rev. R. Heber Barnes,br /> Chairman Finance Committee and the Editorial Board.

THE NATIONAL PRISON CONGRESS.

CLEVELAND, OHIO, SEPTEMBER 22-26, 1900.

The meetings were held in the hall of the Young Men’s Christian Association, except on Sunday. There were 201 delegates present. Ohio had 40, and Pennsylvania next, with 25. The official delegates present from this Society were Mrs. Deborah C. Leeds, John J. Lytle, and Rev. R. Heber Barnes.

On the platform were Governor George K. Nash, Abraham Wiedner, Chairman of the local committee; Captain Edward S. Wright, President of the Association; Rev. D. Morgan Wood, of Plymouth Congregational Church; Hon. Frederick Howard Wines, LL. D., of Washington, D.C.; Rev. John L. Milligan, of Allegheny, Pa.; M. W. Beacom, who represented Mayor Farley, and others who had achieved national reputation for reform in prison work.

Director of Public Charities Abraham Wiedner, as Chairman of the local committee, presided, and made a brief speech of welcome. Rev. Dr. Morgan Wood made the opening prayer. Director Wiedner introduced Governor Nash.

GOV. GEORGE K. NASH, ADDRESS OF WELCOME.

To me has been assigned the pleasant duty to express to you, in behalf of the people of Ohio, a hearty welcome. We appreciate the honor of having you meet with us, and also the noble work in which you are engaged.