OFFICIAL VISITORS.

No person who is not an official visitor of the prison, or who has not a written permission, according to such rules as the Inspector may adopt as aforesaid, shall be allowed to visit the same; the official visitors are: the Governor, the Speaker and members of the Senate; the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives; the Secretary of the Commonwealth; the Judges of the Supreme Court; the Attorney-General and his Deputies; the President and Associate Judges of all the Courts in the State; the Mayor and Recorders of the cities of Philadelphia, Lancaster and Pittsburgh; Commissioners and Sheriffs of the several Counties; and the “Acting Committee of the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Persons.” (Note: Now named “The Pennsylvania Prison Society.”)—Section 7, Act of April 23, 1829.

The above was supplemented by the following Act, approved March 20, 1903:

AN ACT

To make active or visiting committees of Societies incorporated for the purpose of visiting and instructing prisoners official visitors of penal and reformatory institutions.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That the active or visiting committee of any society heretofore incorporated and now existing in the Commonwealth for the purpose of visiting and instructing prisoners, or persons confined in any penal or reformatory institution, and alleviating their miseries, shall be and are hereby made official visitors of any jail, penitentiary, or other penal or reformatory institution in this Commonwealth, maintained at the public expense, with the same powers, privileges and functions as are vested in the official visitors of prisons and penitentiaries as now prescribed by law: Provided, That no active or visiting committee of any such society shall be entitled to visit such jails or penal institutions, under this act unless notice of the names of the members of such committee, and the terms of their appointment, is given by such society in writing, under its corporate seal, to the warden, superintendent or other officer in charge of such jail or other officer in charge of any such jail or other penal institution.

Approved—The 20th day of March, A. D. 1903.

NEW SERIES

No. 57

THE JOURNAL
OF
PRISON DISCIPLINE
AND
PHILANTHROPY

REPORT OF ACTING COMMITTEE
PENAL LEGISLATION OF 1917
THE WARDENS’ MEETING
PRISON DIETARY
AMERICAN PRISON ASSOCIATION, 1917
THE COUNTY PRISONS
ETC.

MARCH, 1918

THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY

FORREST BUILDING

119 South Fourth Street : Philadelphia, Pa.

FORM OF BEQUEST FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY.

I give and bequeath to “The Pennsylvania Prison Society” the sum of .... Dollars.

FORM OF DEVISE OF REAL ESTATE.

I give and bequeath to “The Pennsylvania Prison Society” all that certain piece and parcel of land. (Here enter the description.)

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR 1918

President

EDWARD M. WISTAR, Provident Building, Philadelphia.

Vice-Presidents

NORRIS J. SCOTT, Moylan, Pa.
JOSEPH C. NOBLIT, 1521 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia.

Secretary

ALBERT H. VOTAW, 119 S. Fourth Street, Philadelphia.

Assistant Secretary

CHARLES P. HASTINGS, 119 S. Fourth Street, Philadelphia.

Treasurer

JOHN WAY, 409 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

Counsellors

FRANKLIN SPENCER EDMONDS (Absent 1918 in Europe).
FREDERIC L. CLARK, West End Trust Building, Philadelphia.

General Agent

FREDERICK J. POOLEY, 119 S. Fourth Street, Philadelphia.

Acting Committee

FOR ONE YEAR

Dr. John Frazer
Fred J. Pooley
William Roser
William Koelle
George W. Wilkins
Mrs. Horace Fassitt
Mrs. Deborah C. Leeds
Mrs. Clara Hodges Allen
Miss R. P. Latimer
Mrs. Mary Ella de Long
Miss Annie McFedries
Joseph P. Byers
Franklin S. Edmonds
Leon J. Obermayer
Dr. J. Treichler Butz

FOR TWO YEARS

Charles P. Hastings
Isaac P. Miller
John Smallzell
John A. Duncan
Charles McDole
Rev. F. H. Senft
Mrs. Mary S. Grigg
Mrs. E. L. Thompson
Rev. Thomas Latimer
Dr. B. Frank Kehler
Fred Swarts Brink
Harrison Walton
William Morris
Robert B. Haines, Jr.
Dr. J. J. Mullowney

FOR THREE YEARS

Rev. J. F. Ohl
Harry Kennedy
Henry C. Cassel
Frank H. Longshore
Rev. M. Reed Minnich
Mrs. Layyah Barakat
Miss Emily Whelen
Mary S. Wetherell
George S. Wetherell
W. Graham Tyler
Dr. Charles Williams
C. Wilfred Conard
Chas. C. Simmington
Mrs. Eliza M. Cope
Mrs. Anabel Wallace

Members of the Acting Committee for the State-at-Large

FOR ONE YEAR

ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Rev. F. W. Beiswenger
CENTRE COUNTY
Hon. J. Linn Harris

FOR TWO YEARS

BUCKS COUNTY
Mrs. Anna K. Garges
CHESTER COUNTY
Mrs. B. K. C. Marshall
YORK COUNTY
Mrs. M. G. Spangler

FOR THREE YEARS

ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Paul T. Beiswenger
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Capt. Nicholas Baggs

STANDING COMMITTEES FOR 1918

Visiting Committee—Eastern Penitentiary:

MEN

Joseph C. Noblit
Rev. J. F. Ohl
Rev. F. H. Senft
Harry Kennedy
William Koelle
George S. Wetherell
Henry C. Cassel
Harrison Walton
Frank H. Longshore
Charles P. Hastings
Charles McDole
John A. Duncan
John Smallzell
Albert H. Votaw
Rev. Thomas Latimer
Rev. M. Reed Minnich
Isaac P. Miller
Dr. Chas. Williams
W. Graham Tyler
William Morris
Leon J. Obermayer
Fred Swarts Brink
William Roser
George W. Wilkins
Chas. C. Simmington
Dr. B. F. Kehler
Edw. M. Wistar

WOMEN

Mrs. Horace Fassitt
Mrs. Layyah Barakat
Mrs. Mary S. Grigg
Deborah C. Leeds
Mary S. Wetherell
Miss R. P. Latimer
Miss Emily Whelen
Mrs. Mary Ella de Long

Visiting Committee—Philadelphia County Prison—Moyamensing:

Joseph C. Noblit
John A. Duncan
Rev. J. F. Ohl
Horace Fassitt
Mrs. Clara H. Allen
Miss R. P. Latimer
Deborah C. Leeds
Norris J. Scott
Albert H. Votaw

Visiting Committee—Philadelphia County Prison—Holmesburg:

Frederick J. Pooley
William Koelle
John A. Duncan

Committee to Visit House of Correction:

William Koelle
Robt. B. Haines, Jr.
Mrs. Layyah Barakat
Fred Swarts Brink

Committee to Visit Prisons in Chester and Delaware Counties:

Norris J. Scott
Deborah C. Leeds
Mrs. B. K. C. Marshall
John Way

On Discharged Prisoners:

Joseph C. Noblit
Dr. Chas. Williams
Mrs. Horace Fassitt
Charles P. Hastings
George W. Wilkins

On Legislation:

Rev. J. F. Ohl
C. Wilfred Conard
Mrs. Eliza M. Cope
Hon. J. Linn Harris
Joseph P. Byers

On Membership:

Isaac P. Miller
John A. Duncan
George W. Wilkins
George S. Wetherell
Robert B. Haines, Jr.

On Police Matrons:

Mrs. Mary S. Grigg
Miss Emily Whelen
Mrs. Mary Ella de Long

Editorial Committee:

Rev. F. H. Senft
Joseph P. Byers
Dr. John Frazer
Albert H. Votaw
Rev. J. F. Ohl

Finance Committee:

W. Graham Tyler
Robert B. Haines, Jr.
Joseph C. Noblit
George S. Wetherell
John A. Duncan

Auditors:

John A. Duncan
Isaac P. Miller
Fred Swarts Brink

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY

The 131st Annual Meeting of THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY was held at the office of the Society in the Forrest Building, 119 South Fourth Street, Philadelphia, on the afternoon of January 11, 1918, President Edw. M. Wistar in the Chair.

Twenty-two members were present.

The minutes of the 130th Meeting were read and approved.

The Report of the Acting Committee for the year 1917 was read by the Secretary. It was approved and directed to be printed in the Journal. (See pages 6-12.)

The Treasurer, John Way, presented a detailed statement of the receipts and payments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1917, accompanied by a schedule of the securities held for the Society by the fiscal agent, The Provident Life and Trust Company. The report has been duly audited and was accepted. (See page 13.)

On behalf of the Committee on Nominations, the Secretary presented a list of nominations for the Officers of the Society, and for members of the Acting Committee to succeed those whose terms expire on February 1. The election being duly held, the persons nominated were elected to the offices designated in the report of the Committee. (See page 3.)

The Secretary informed the meeting that a number of county prisons were profiting by an Act, introduced to the attention of the Assembly by the State Board of Charities and which was promptly passed, making it possible for prisoners confined in the county jails to be released to work on land owned by the county. Eight counties report that some of their inmates have been working on farms and that the results have been very satisfactory. Fifteen counties have the subject under consideration with a view of trying the experiment next season. The law was approved in July, 1917, hence there was little time to organize for the growing season of last year. Independently of this law, the Court in a few counties had granted special parole to some selected prisoners so that they might be employed on farms either on land owned by the county or on land belonging to parties who assumed the responsibility of caring for the paroled prisoners.

Regret was expressed that a bill designed to amend the law providing for the Indeterminate Sentence, so that its provisions would correspond more nearly to its title, failed to secure executive sanction.

To nominate the Officers at the next Annual Meeting, the President appointed Rev. J. F. Ohl, Austin C. Leeds, Marriott C. Morris, Mrs. Mary S. Grigg and Mrs. Eliza M. Cope.

Albert H. Votaw,
Secretary.

REPORT OF ACTING COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1917

All the stated meetings of the Acting Committee for the year 1917 have been regularly held with an average attendance of about 16 members. We are gratified to report this apparent increase of interest, indicated by a larger attendance than for several years past. We are entirely aware that several of our very efficient members have business engagements which make frequent attendance impossible. It must also be remembered that some of our members reside at a distance from the city. The presence of 10 members have constituted a quorum, and no meeting has been held without the number required for the legal transaction of business.

LEGISLATION.

The General Assembly of 1917 was notable for activity and interest in reformatory legislation. The Acting Committee favored and urged the passage of several measures, some of which have become law in this Commonwealth.

An Act providing that any person held for costs or fines may, at the discretion of the Court, be released, on agreeing to pay the said charges by instalments, was passed by the Assembly and received the sanction of the Governor.

An Act providing for the establishment of six industrial farms, to which persons sentenced for the shorter sentences in the county jails may be sent, amended by the substitution of nine instead of six, was passed and received executive sanction.

An Act, urged by the Prison Reform League, and which received our hearty sanction, providing for the appointment of a commission of five persons to investigate prison systems in this commonwealth and elsewhere, and to recommend such revision of the existing prison system as may be deemed wise, for adoption by the next General Assembly, was passed and approved by the Governor.

An Act, proposed by the State Board of Charities, providing that prisoners may be released from county prisons to work on farms belonging to the State or county was passed and received the approval of the Governor. This Act shall remain in force during the continuance of the present war. Already several counties have taken advantage of this Act to the satisfaction of all parties concerned.

An Act, designed to render the present law more effective with regard to the employment of prisoners in the manufacture of articles for State use, we regret to report, perished in the Committee room.

An Act to abolish Capital Punishment passed in the Senate but failed of passage in the House.

An Act amending the present law in regard to the Indeterminate Sentence, so that its provisions may more nearly harmonize with its title, was approved by both Houses of the Assembly, but was vetoed by the Governor.

While we are deeply gratified to report progress, we shall continue our efforts to secure from the next Assembly favorable action in regard to the measures which failed to become statutory in 1917. Public sentiment is a plant of slow growth. Possibly our propositions may have been defective in some particulars. With some slight modification or embellishment, we believe all the measures we have endorsed will soon have place among the statutes of the Commonwealth.

A synopsis of these measures with some explanation and comment will be found elsewhere in the Journal of which this report forms a part.

We desire to acknowledge the valuable services of the Prison Reform League in preparing bills and in conducting hearings before the Committee of the Assembly.

DISCHARGED PRISONERS.

The majority of the prisoners who are released from the State Penal Institutions are dismissed on parole. They are under supervision by the Parole Officers from a few months to some years. Most of these paroled persons have some definite place of employment in view. It may be supposed that the operation of the law of parole has to a considerable extent relieved this Society from former obligations in behalf of the released prisoner. Admitting the value of this work of Parole, we still have a mission for the discharged prisoners.

1. Quite a number are discharged on their own recognizance. We often assist these in securing employment and provide them with room and board until they have landed a job.
2. Many of them who secure employment in large establishments must wait a fortnight or more before they receive wages. We endeavor to care for them till the welcome pay day has arrived. They are often destitute and also their families, so that they find this assistance very acceptable in time of deepest need.
3. In many employments, the workmen are required to furnish their own tools. Here we have a constant service.
4. Quite frequently they leave the prison with no funds to pay their transportation to their homes or to their places of employment. We care for these necessities.
5. There is a service for those who are discharged at the expiration of their sentence. If they desire aid, we are pleased when they come directly to us from the prison, instead of waiting till they are entirely destitute after spending their gate money. It has been our purpose to ascertain in advance what they may need and to be ready to offer a temporary home and satisfactory employment.
6. Sometimes those who secure employment need for some time the service of a physician. They are directed to a hospital, and meanwhile they must have subsistence.
7. We are not able to escape some sense of responsibility on behalf of the human derelicts who come to us with their piteous story, whether true or false. They are feeble in mind, in health, in will. They may have “wasted their substance in riotous living.” We do not wish to believe they are wholly irreclaimable, entirely past any hope of redemption. It is little we do, or can do, for them. One of them died the other day at the Philadelphia Hospital. Off and on for years he had tried our patience. He would run well for a brief season, then a tremendous fall from grace. Without a murmur or an apology, he meekly endured the ebullition of our righteous wrath, and left us professing good intentions fortified by the medicine of our wholesome counsel. He said we were the only friends he had in the days of his downfall. When in funds his friends showed their appreciation of his generosity by aiding him in the distribution of his pitifully small earnings. Did he recall in those last days of asthmatic suffering our solemn warnings, our endeavors to point the true way to happiness? While we do not know, we however are unable to regret our poor efforts to restore him to some sense of responsibility.

There is great need of a farm with some simple industry attached to which these unfortunates may be consigned in order to earn their own maintenance.

VISITATION.

The Committees under appointment to visit the Eastern Penitentiary and the County Prison of Philadelphia have presented reports at each of our meetings. The summary of these reports reveals much faithful labor on behalf of those who are behind the bars.

These figures indicate activity, interest, sympathy, encouragement, and yet they are inconclusive. That some hearts have been touched, that some men and women have been reclaimed, we do not doubt. The seed has been sown, and often it seems like casting seed upon the waters. The men are here today and they are gone tomorrow. Many of the interviews are brief and are confined to a word of cheer or the ordinary greetings of the day; at other times way opens to point to a better way of life. Every year the efforts of some of the bearers of good tidings result in accessions to the Church.

Members of our Committee have also visited the prisons in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Doylestown, West Chester, Bellefonte, Media, Allentown and York. Some of these prisons receive regular visits and the reported results are gratifying.

Several Members of the Committee hold religious services at our prisons.

POLICE MATRONS.

Over thirty years ago, our Acting Committee began to urge that matrons should be employed at the Police Stations in order to care for the women and children who might be arrested or who might ask for assistance. A few matrons were at first appointed in some of the districts where there seemed to be especial need of such help, but at this time nearly every Station House in the city has secured the services of such an official.

Our Committee on Police Matrons constitute our delegation to the Associated Committee of Women on Police Matrons, an organization which meets in the offices of the Society on the second Wednesday of each month. The members of this Association make regular visits to the Matrons, and co-operate with them in their work. They endeavor to secure improved accommodations in the Stations and also to supply the immediate needs of the unfortunate ones who are brought to these Stations either for shelter or for trial. The following associations each send three delegates to compose this body.

The Women’s Christian Temperance Union.
The Young Women’s Christian Association.
The Mother’s Club.
The Philomusean Club.
St. Paul’s Aid Society.
Married Women’s Sodality of Gesu Church.
Hathaway Shakespeare Club.
The Pennsylvania Prison Society.

MEETING OF WARDENS.

At the meeting of the Acting Committee, held September 20, 1917, the Secretary was authorized to issue invitations in co-operation with The Prison Reform League to the wardens and prison officials of the Eastern and Central counties of the Commonwealth to hold a conference on the Glen Mills Farms on the fourth and fifth of October. The consent of Supt. Nibecker, of the Boys’ Department, and of Martha P. Falconer, Superintendent of the Girls’ Department, had been previously obtained. The co-operation of these two officials contributed largely to the success of this meeting, which was the first of the kind held in the State. It was attended by forty persons, a number which exceeded our expectations. It was concluded to form a permanent organization to meet annually and to discuss and formulate methods of penal administration. A full account will be found in the Annual Journal. (See pages 26-37.)

EMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERS.

Your Acting Committee is favorable to every sane effort to provide employment for prisoners. We have long contended that idleness was the most conspicuous fault in the prisons of this Commonwealth.

We believe in these times of stress that it is a flagrant fault to waste an ounce of muscular effort. The conservation of all our resources implies that the 400,000 now confined in the prisons of the United States should be compelled not only to earn their own maintenance but to contribute their fair share for the urgent needs of the nation. They may be employed in the preparation of surgical supplies, in canning fruit and vegetables, and in a great variety of manufacturing industries. To this end we give hearty support to a bill now pending in Congress providing that the resources of all our penal institutions be utilized in such a way that the country may derive the maximum benefit from the labor of those behind the bars. Let them “do their bit.” It will help both them and the general public. The executive order of 1904 forbidding the use by the government of prison-made goods or articles should at once be abrogated. Whatever reason may have been advanced at that time for such an order, surely the present emergency demands every available resource should be conserved.

AMERICAN PRISON ASSOCIATION.

The meetings of this Association were held this year November 19-23 at New Orleans. There was a good attendance, most of the States being represented by delegates or otherwise. The Secretary of this Society was present as a delegate from Pennsylvania appointed by the Governor and also as a member of the Commission appointed to investigate methods of prison administration. The meetings were both interesting and profitable, and a summary of the proceedings prepared by the Secretary will be appended to this Report. (See pages 93-102.)

COUNTY PRISONS.

The Secretary has continued his inspection of the county prisons with especial reference to improvements made and needed. Several counties have employed their inmates in farming and with uniformly great success. Details of this work will be given in the special report of the Secretary. The effects of our agitation for better conditions in the county prisons are apparent. It will be recalled that one year ago some attempt was made to grade the larger counties according to their efficiency. In nearly all of them, the markings this year indicate some improvement in efficiency. Our method has been used in the inspection of the county prisons of North Carolina, the average grade being stated to be 56 per cent. An inspector of the New York County jails has informed us that he intended to use a similar plan in estimating the efficiency of the county jails in the Empire State.

DIETETICS.

There is much complaint from almost every penal institution of the Commonwealth in regard to the character of the food and the manner of its preparation and serving. Denunciation of the food is a perennial charge and is common to all public institutions. It is just dawning on the minds of prison boards and officials that it is sound economy to keep the prisoners in health and that nourishing and palatable food conduces to health. The inmates have abundant time both to prepare the food and to serve it in accordance with approved sanitary methods. When it has been shown that such improvement can be made in the quality and wholesomeness of the food without increasing the cost, our prison officials have been willing to give some attention to the matter. The need of a balanced ration to be determined by a food specialist is beginning to be recognized. There is no thought of providing a luxurious menu, or of adding materially to the cost of provisions. Government is easier when the prisoners are satisfied with the diet.

We commend to the serious attention of officials and managers of all our public institutions, whether for the convict, the blind, the insane, the destitute, the subject of the appointment of an expert dietitian who shall supervise the selection and the preparation of the food, believing the results will amply justify the expense involved whether considered from the standpoint of health or economy.

THE GENERAL AGENT.

The General Agent, Fred. J. Pooley, has diligently maintained his mission of mercy at the Central Station. The opportunities for helpful service have been so numerous as to justify his attendance both at the morning and afternoon sessions of the Court of the committing magistrate. In a large number of cases of suspicion or of a trivial character, the Agent has been instrumental in securing the discharge of the prisoners or in placing them at once under the care of the probation officer, thus properly saving them from the evil associations of a term in prison. The magistrates often place the accused person in the charge of our Agent. A home and employment may be found for them, and quite often they are sent to relatives either in this State or elsewhere.

The full report of the Agent will be found in the Journal.

CONCLUSION.

We desire to thank the friends by whose generous contributions our work of restoration and timely assistance has been made possible. So many stranded ones have told us they had no place whatever to go except to our sheltering care.

With the means entrusted to our use, our friends have materially aided in the circulation of information and literature throughout the Commonwealth, which, we have abundant reason to believe, has been greatly instrumental in educating public sentiment and therefore in ameliorating the conditions of our correctional institutions.

For many reasons we are encouraged to continue in this work of reformation in the hope that a sounder method of treating offenders will result in lessening the incentives to commit crime.

On behalf of the Acting Committee,

Edw. M. Wistar, President.
Albert H. Votaw, Secretary.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

Respectfully,

John Way, Treasurer.

We, the undersigned, members of the Auditing Committee, have examined the foregoing account of John Way, Treasurer, compared the payments with the vouchers, and believe the same to be correct. We have also examined the securities in the hands of our Agent, The Provident Life and Trust Company of Philadelphia, and find them to agree with the list thereto attached.

John A. Duncan,
Charles P. Hastings,
Isaac P. Miller,

Auditing Committee.

REPORT OF GENERAL AGENT FREDERICK J. POOLEY

During the year 1917 the Agent made daily visits to the cell-room at the Central Station at City Hall. 17,521 men and women prisoners were detained there for preliminary trial, all of whom the Agent visited either at the Central Station or at the untried department at Moyamensing Prison.

Over three thousand prisoners at the Convict Prison at Holmesburg were visited during the year by the Agent.

The General Agent has visited the cell-rooms of those brought to the Central Station daily since November 19, 1910, and since that time has sent 14,967 letters and notices to the relatives and first friends of those who were arrested. Many have thanked the Agent for this timely notice, thus giving the relatives or friends the opportunity of securing the release of those arrested, often on trivial charges, either by the payment of a fine or release on bail or by direct discharge under the care of parents or the probation officer. In some cases they have been released under the care of the Agent.

The Agent is in daily attendance at the preliminary examination held in room 625 before the committing magistrate, and has found the work so important that he now attends the afternoon session held in the afternoon from 2 to 3 P. M.

Emlen Hutchinson, Esq., has continued his generous donations for the sending of repentant lads and girls to their homes, a service which we greatly appreciate.

Mrs. Horace Fassitt has been of very great service in assisting many who sadly needed aid.

Your Agent will have soon served twenty years in this work, and it is still his endeavor to help those who have wandered from the right path to find the better way. It rejoices his heart to know that many recipients of his kindly favors are now upright and serviceable citizens.

Respectfully submitted,

Frederick J. Pooley,

General Agent.

THE COUNTY PRISONS.

BY A. H. VOTAW, SECRETARY.

The Secretary during the last year has paid some visits to a few of the county prisons. The tendency is toward improvement in the line of furnishing employment and in sanitary accommodations.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY (CITY PRISON).

Conditions are much the same as last year. The management is very ably conducted under Warden Lewis. The inmates are largely those who are detained for trial. Out of 445 prisoners, 50 were convicts. Bread is made in the prison, an economical feature whenever the population has an average of thirty or more. Here meats are generally served in the shape of hamburg steaks. We commend this practice to many of our wardens. The meat is eatable, palatable and all the coarser parts may be utilized. The cost of the food in 1916 was 8.4 cents daily for each prisoner, one cent more than the previous year. Considering the higher cost of all provisions, the additional cost is by no means surprising. Too many were detained for non-payment of fines. We trust they are now availing themselves of the law, passed by the late Assembly, allowing those held for costs and fines to be released on condition of agreeing to pay said charges by instalments. Most letters received for those awaiting trial are delivered unopened. Tho it would be a task to inspect all incoming letters, it seems to us that it would be wiser to have a universal rule providing for inspection of all letters.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY (THE WORKHOUSE).

The apartments of the women have been greatly improved. No women are now hired out. This may or may not be an improvement. If they work out under proper influences and can earn some wages, they may be improved thereby. Doubtless there are difficulties encountered in making satisfactory arrangements for their care. As there appears to be work for them at the institution, the necessity for their finding work outside is not apparent. The women now eat in a large dining-room at concrete tables with surface of rubber composition rendering breakage unusual and affording a surface which is readily cleansed.

The earnings last year of the farm and industries were $111,290—the largest amount ever reported by the institution. The overhead cost of each inmate is in gross 57 cents, but this is reduced to 14 cents in consequence of the splendid earnings. The time may come when this institution will become self-supporting.

BERKS COUNTY.

We are delighted to report some improvements in the prison at Reading. After strenuous effort by some members of the Board, a few men have been allowed to work on the poor farm. In 1917 they succeeded in raising several hundred bushels of potatoes and were helpful in drainage projects. The experiment is considered a success in every point of view. Next year under the law providing for the employment of prisoners on county land, which was approved July, 1917, more land may be cultivated and more prisoners employed.

Striped suitings, which it was once thought was a custom so firmly rooted as to be ineradicable at Reading, have been entirely abrogated, a plain jeans suiting being substituted.

We learned that 22 men were on parole, an increase over the report last year. These men were generally doing well. Thirty-two men and boys had been placed on probation, serving no part of their sentence in jail. They have a small yard in which the men parade thrice weekly for a half hour each time. This is insufficient. Measures should be taken at once to allow more time in the open air under the blue sky.

The women prisoners should be entirely segregated from the men’s quarters.

We now revise our estimate and make it approximately 70 per cent.

BLAIR COUNTY.

The Secretary was hoping to have opportunity to revise his estimate of the efficiency of the prison at Hollidaysburg, but was informed that the Commissioners requested that he should have an audience with them prior to making the usual examination. The Commissioners were not in session at the time of his visit, and so he did not insist upon his right as an Official Visitor. His rule is to be subject to the local regulations. Last year the Secretary was not favorably impressed with the sanitation and some features of the management. He trusts that some improvements have been made. He was pleased to learn that some men were working on the county farm and others on the roads. He did not learn whether the inmates were allowed to use the yard for exercise or whether they had the privilege of remaining outside of their cells longer than two hours a day. Letters ought to be inspected when received.

The fee system is still in use, a practice generally more or less abused. The Commissioners should very seriously consider a proposition to appoint a warden who should purchase provisions by contract. They buy bread. It would be more economical to bake their own bread.

Parole has not yet been instituted in this county.

On account of the road and farm work, we increase our estimate of the efficiency from 41 per cent. to 48 per cent.

CAMBRIA COUNTY.

Twenty-two men are reported to be working on roads. Several men have been raising vegetables on land, part belonging to the county and part rented for the purpose. A good beginning. We think that next year Warden E. H. Knee will endeavor to increase the amount of farm work.

Sixty-five prisoners are reported to be released on parole.

They ought to inspect incoming letters.

Those who enter a plea of guilty may be sentenced any month in the year, and hence the number of those detained for trial is greatly reduced.

They have long discontinued the fee system, the food by contract costing the county daily for each prisoner 8.62 cents. The workers eat at a table, and the warden wishes he had tables for the entire population. They bake their own bread.

On account of the additional number doing good work for the county we have raised our estimate from 59 per cent. to 65 per cent.

CHESTER COUNTY.

We are pleased to report that new and satisfactory sanitary appliances have been installed.

A sufficient amount of provisions is supplied and care is taken in the preparation of the food. What is surprising, when we take into consideration the greater cost of food, is that the cost per diem for each prisoner in 1916 was 11 cents as against 12.3 cents the year before.

All the inmates are kept at work. The industries are carpet weaving and chair-caning. They paid for materials $3,431 and received $5,387.

The authorities are willing to allow some of the men to work on farms but there is no county farm, or land belonging to the county, which is available. Grade raised to 77 per cent.

DAUPHIN COUNTY.

Here there are about 180 prisoners, say, 150 able-bodied persons, detained in idleness, from a few days to a year with no duties except in the line of domestic service. The bakery, the kitchen, the serving and the work of sweeping and scrubbing give nearly 25 per cent. of them some employment, and the good warden by a system of rotation endeavors to give all their turn at being useful. But what an appalling waste of labor!

There is no available land belonging to the county on which they might raise supplies for the institution. Dauphin County needs a prison farm.

Formerly the warden received 25 cents per day for each prisoner whom he maintained. Now the cost is 13.5 cents per day and the menu is far superior to what was formerly dispensed under the fee system. The meat ration is one-half pound daily, which is regarded as too much for unemployed men. They bake their own bread.

Strange to state, notwithstanding the lack of employment, none are paroled. In this respect, the county is very much in the rear of the procession.

As a rule, letters ought to be inspected before delivery.

Of the 168 hours in the week, the men may spend four hours in the open air. Conditions are not as they should be and cannot be improved materially till the question of employment is solved.

DELAWARE COUNTY.

The county prison is fortunate in having a warden who does not slumber on his job. If the laws of the State restrict employment in some lines, this warden gets busy in some other lines. It is vexatious to him to see able-bodied men dawdling about with nothing to do. He gives them all the open air possible. On occasion they may play games in their limited enclosure. Recently he has constructed a special building in which the looms are installed. No longer do they work in their cells, where they were obliged to live, eat and sleep in lint-laden air. The men assist in making improvements, and somehow there is something doing in the line of repairs or improvements every minute.

At the personal request of the warden, the Court had liberated some selected men to work on the poor farm, and the result had been exceedingly satisfactory. They raised much of the vegetables for their own use, and what they could not eat at the time they canned for future use. They bake their own bread.

The Court here was one of the first to adopt the principle of parole, and in no county of the Commonwealth have so many offenders been placed on parole and probation and with such good results. Grade increased from 67 to 75 per cent.

FAYETTE COUNTY.

Average number of prisoners every day in 1916 was 130, of whom they manage to employ 30 per cent. and would be glad to have all at work. Some 25 men have been at work on roads and farms at a wage of 25 cents per day. The road-making has been very profitable to the county. The general results have been altogether satisfactory.

They buy their bread, but we think they could employ some of their idle men in making and baking bread and also save money by the operation.

Cost of food 15 cents each prisoner daily, four cents more than the year before. They now serve three meals daily instead of two.

They need sheets and pillow cases. They have abundant help for a laundry.

Unless the men are at work, they are never in the open air, but they have the freedom of the corridors during the daytime.

LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

No special changes since 1916 to report, except that the number of prisoners has decreased about 50 per cent. This may indicate for that county a higher average of morals.

Last summer they were buying a pound loaf of good bread for 5 cents, and while flour is $14.00 the barrel they were not disposed to construct a bake shop.

While they were willing to employ convicts on land belonging to the county, they thought it would be difficult to find among their convicts, many of them serving quite short sentences, enough reliable men to constitute a workable gang.

Food is purchased by contract, and the county allows the prison authorities to expend as much as 20 cents daily for each inmate.

Whoever has power to order repairs ought to get busy. We understand the grand jury usually calls attention to the urgent need of improvements, but their suggestions are unheeded. It is poor economy to allow these unwholesome conditions to continue.

LEHIGH COUNTY.

Farmers are encouraged in this county, as labor is scarce, to apply to the parole officer for the privilege of employing some prisoners who can be recommended. Thus, some twenty-five men have been released to work on farms. The results appear to be satisfactory. The men receive wages and the county is not charged with supporting them in comparative idleness. Some of the men are employed in carpet weaving and rug-making, the profit on which in 1916 was $1,500.

When the law providing for the release of prisoners held for fines on condition of paying the charges by instalments was approved, the Court and parole officers immediately put the law to practical use. Within eight weeks the sum of $2,600 was collected on this account—an amount more than saved, since otherwise the men would have been maintained at the expense of the county and not one cent would have been received.

We trust that by this time the new entrance planned for access to the apartments of the women prisoners has been constructed. Heretofore the women have been obliged to file through a corridor occupied by the men, a custom salutary for neither men nor women.

The work of probation, parole, non-support, truancy and collection of fines under the recent law is all administered from one central office by a general officer with assistants. On the ground of economy and practical results, we commend this policy to other counties.

Percentage of efficiency raised from 60 per cent. to 70 per cent.

LUZERNE COUNTY.

As is frequently the custom of county prisons, this prison contains both prisoners committed by the county court and also the city misdemeanants. The city prisoners have been allowed to work outside on the county farm. The authorities have not been willing to assume the responsibility for paroling the county prisoners for outside work. It is quite possible that in the spring of 1918 they may take action under the special legislation of the late Assembly.

There are some acres of ground about the institution which is kept in an admirable order by the inmates, but no space has been set aside or adapted for an exercise ground for the prisoners. This is a matter which should receive attention. The open air is wholesome, and men should not be deprived of this privilege even if they are felons.

This institution was one of the last to adhere to a striped costume, which has finally been superseded by suitings of plain colors.

They ought to add a bakery to their cooking department. We believe this prison would profit by the employment of a professional cook.

The warden manages to find employment for nearly all of the prisoners in some sort of domestic service, tho no special industries are maintained.

A liberal application of the privilege of parole is noticeable in this county. The results are very satisfactory.

General efficiency the same as the year before.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Early in the season of 1917 some men were paroled to work on the county farm. The satisfactory results are reported in our account of the Wardens’ Meeting. The authorities have been so well pleased with this experiment that it is probable next season will witness some enlargement of these activities. Some of the men have been employed in finishing rugs, but this industry last summer was lagging.

They bake an excellent quality of bread, and prepare a menu somewhat above the average. Their experiment with cocoa nibs was not satisfactory; the men greatly prefer coffee. At some institutions, cocoa is being served occasionally as a substitute for coffee, and the inmates appear to enjoy it. A drink made from cheap cocoa nibs may not have much nutriment, but real cocoa possesses considerable nutriment, while coffee has no value as food, but may act as a stimulant.

Estimated efficiency now rated at 75 per cent.

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY.

Here they are considering a proposition to place a gang of laborers on a county farm. The warden is favorable to the experiment and will do all he can to make the effort a success.

So far as we know to date, they are not discharging prisoners, detained on account of fines, on condition of paying costs or fines in instalments. Next year we hope to hear they have established this system which in some other counties has proved to be eminently satisfactory.

The prisoners listlessly parade for an hour and a half each day either in the corridors or in the small exercise yard. They spend the remainder of the time in their cells excepting those who weave carpet or engage in domestic duties.

In 1916 the average daily cost of the food per prisoner was 17.8 cents, and there was an attempt to serve some variety. They purchase bread.

None were reported on the parole list. What is the matter with this county? Are there no prisoners fit for parole? Or is the Court still unconvinced? Will Northampton County be the last to adopt a system, the principle of which is becoming universally recognized?

No change this year in Efficiency grading.

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY.

The two departments of this prison, one the convict prison at Holmesburg, the other the receiving prison at Moyamensing, pursue the even tenor of their way. There is little change to report. The sanitary appliances have had much attention within the last few years, and are now in practically perfect condition. The latest cell blocks at the Holmesburg prison represent the best thought in most ways of prison construction. The cells seem like rooms, not cages, the windows deserve the name, and the sanitation is correct. At this prison the solitary system may still be studied. Those who work, however, and there is a goodly proportion, eat at tables and converse freely at all times while employed. There is still no special work other than domestic service and work of repairs and extensions.

The hospital at both departments is well equipped.

For years prisoners have not suffered much detention on account of non-payment of fines. Fines have been imposed but within the last five years less than 10 per cent. of the amount has been collected. We have no report of the operation of the new law by which fines may be paid in instalments.

Grand juries may come and grand juries may go, but the institution pursues its unwavering course. Sometimes the jury recommends improvements which the management desires as sincerely as the jury. Many of these improvements have been made, and it may be the published reports of the grand jury may have rendered the task of securing appropriations a little more easy. But it is an impossible task for any body of twelve or fifteen men within the time of two or three hours to study the conditions of an institution so as to present a well-developed scheme for its management.

We hold no brief for the Philadelphia County Prison. Doubtless some conditions could be improved. But the jury occasionally in its zeal magnifies a possible wrong or views some punitive feature out of its proper prospective. The discipline for a body of untried prisoners, some of whom may prove to be dangerous criminals, must not be squared by the discipline meted out to convicts who remain year after year in the same institution. You deal with one set as with people you know, the others present unknown dangerous proclivities. The tendency is to treat a body of transients with a stricter set of regulations. Just how far the principles of “The New Penology” have entered the precincts of Philadelphia County Prison, we are not prepared to discuss. There is a medium ground in all things and in prison management, probably the safest plan is to take the middle course. Compared with the “Tombs,” the New York County prison for those detained for trial, the prison at Moyamensing compares very favorably. The advantages, the employments, the general discipline of the New York Convict prisons at Blackwell’s and Riker’s Islands are perhaps in the main superior to our convict prison. The regulations for those held for trial should be as mild and reasonable as is consistent with safety and the convenience of the accused person. While they are not yet convicts, many of them are well-known recidivists, more or less dangerous, some are entirely unknown and need watchful care, so that any system founded on uniform treatment for all is liable to criticism. A system which combines moderate restraint with exactly the right proportion of reasonable freedom presents a problem which a novice can no more readily solve than an ignoramus the elements of an eclipse.

Down at Moyamensing they have the buildings and the space for the detention of the untried prisoners, and we have little doubt but that the manager and the court officials, if they were to meet for a conference, could unite in the adoption of regulations which would be satisfactory to all parties concerned. It is to the city’s direct interest to make use of the facilities already possessed. We are inclined to the belief that the construction of a new prison for the untried may be an economic blunder.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.

We learn that ten men have been working on the county farm.

This county for some years has been allowing men who were fined to be released on condition of making payments on instalments. In 1916 they collected from this source the sum of $2,081.14. If these men and women had been maintained in prison in accordance with the old law of 1836, their board and maintenance would have cost the taxpayers $4,025.38. Hence by the new arrangement a snug profit to the county of $6,106.52. They were pioneers in the rational treatment of those who were fined.

Here they believe in the principle of parole and put it into practice.

Some failures reported, the majority being juveniles arrested for truancy, etc.

They still continue their antiquated toilet arrangements. The closets are flushed by dumping therein water from buckets. The water is readily obtainable from spigots, so that the inconvenience is reduced to some extent, yet this system is justly condemned.

Trusties keep the Court House and the grounds in good order. Some are employed in making carpets and knitting socks.

Except murderers in the second degree, practically all county convicts are detained in the county prison. They have room for them in the old bastile, so why send them to the penitentiary on per diem charges?

The prisoners are turned absolutely loose one hour each day in the prison yard.

General Efficiency the same as the previous year, but on account of the farm work we estimate the grade at 70 per cent.

WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

Here is a county prison reporting for the year 1916 an average daily number of inmates of 58. And yet they could send 12 men to work at road-making in a prison camp, and 10 men to work on the county farm. The employment record is a vast improvement over the report of the previous year when a few at domestic employments about the jail were the only inmates at work. It is thought that next season the agricultural operations will be increased.

The Directors ought to contrive at once to improve the cooking arrangements or, better still, to construct an entirely new culinary department.

They eat at tables in the corridors. We believe that it would be well for wardens generally to adopt this method. The cells are more readily kept clean, and the appearance has a civilized effect.

There are no sheets and pillows, a lack which some philanthropic organization might supply. They have plenty of time to do laundry work.

On account of the new opportunities for employment, we cheerfully revise our estimate of the Efficiency from 53 to 65 per cent.

YORK COUNTY.

No official visit has been paid to the prison at York since the last report. We have learned that conditions are generally unchanged. If this be true, there is much ground for complaint.

There is no employment except that a few assist in domestic service at the prison.

The food supplied is utterly inadequate. A few weeks ago the bill of fare for one week consisted of bread and coffee served twice a day for the seven days and a ration of soup with meat and vegetables was served twice during the week. On one other day three potatoes were dealt out to each prisoner. A certain amount of molasses is given out each week. No prison in the United States or Canada has such scanty fare. The prisoners are allowed to supplement their fare by purchasing supplies from a dealer who calls almost every morning, but the majority of them are penniless. Their friends, if they have any, may bring provision.

The sheriff receives forty-five cents a day for providing this meagre fare. Again and again we have called the attention of the good people of York County to these disgraceful conditions. One hundred and thirty years ago in the prisons of Philadelphia, each prisoner was furnished with water and a half loaf of bread every day. Those who had money could buy additional supplies; others must beg and depend upon friends. The York Prison has maintained a similar system to the present day. There has been no progress. The sheriff follows in the line of his predecessors. The authorities, under whom this iniquitous system has been allowed to continue, are the responsible parties. If the fare at other prisons, where a sufficient quantity is served, costs from 12 cents to 16 cents per day, the fare at York County prison costs barely 10 cents per day. Possibly the sheriff finds the business profitable, but that has little to do with the matter. The system is wrong. Any plan whereby the superintendent of any prison derives his profit from boarding the inmates is liable to abuse. The only remedy is to change the system. Act 171, Laws of Pennsylvania 1909, provides that all counties having a population between 150,000 and 250,000 must have a warden who purchases supplies by contract. Such a warden may be appointed in counties having less than a population of 150,000. The remedy lies with the citizens of York County. A number of prisons in counties having less than a population of 150,000 are controlled by either a warden or sheriff who serves for a salary and purchases food by contract. In such prisons, the conditions are always better than under the fee system. Grade 40 per cent.

Later. As we are going to press, we learn that proceedings are being brought before the court in York County with a view of making some wholesome changes. This Society endorses the efforts of the good citizens of York to remove an evil which has too long been a reproach to that community.

BEQUESTS

We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of the following bequests which we received in 1917:

THE WARDENS’ MEETING AT GLEN MILLS AND SLEIGHTON FARM, OCTOBER 4-5, 1917.

Reported by Florence Bayard Kane.

In view of the fact that some important penal legislation was enacted by the General Assembly of 1917, it seemed wise to call a conference of wardens, inspectors and commissioners to consider the effect of this legislation and how it might be put into practice.

Hence a call for such a conference, issued by The Pennsylvania Prison Society and by the Prison Reform League of Pennsylvania, was sent to county commissioners and prison officials in the eastern and central parts of the Commonwealth. Mrs. Martha P. Falconer, superintendent of the Girls’ School at Sleighton Farm, very kindly offered to entertain the members of the Conference at this institution on the afternoon and night of October 4th, and Mr. F. H. Nibecker, superintendent of the Boys’ Department at Glen Mills, cordially agreed to take care of the company on the 5th inst.

Responses from those invited indicated much interest, and the attendance fully justified our expectations.

Nine wardens were present from the county prisons of Easton, Ebensburg, Harrisburg, Hollidaysburg, Lancaster, Media, Norristown, West Chester and Wilkes-Barre. Seventeen Inspectors were in attendance representing the counties of Berks, Blair, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lehigh, Lancaster and Montgomery. The counties of Bucks, Chester, Columbia and York were represented by one or more of their Commissioners.

The State Board of Charities was represented by Mr. Louis Wolf, a member of that body, and by Wm. McGarry, an agent of the Board.

Judge J. F. Hause, of West Chester, graced the occasion with his presence.

Miss Florence Bayard Kane, of the Prison Reform League, and John Way and Albert H. Votaw, of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, were present. Robert Dunning Dripps, Esq., Secretary Public Charities Association, was present on the evening of the 4th inst.

Most of the company arrived about noon at Sleighton Farm and were soon doing ample justice to a bountiful lunch provided by the efficient helpers of Mrs. Falconer. After an inspection of the buildings and grounds and noting the excellent work of the girls on the Farm and the fifty-acre kitchen garden the company assembled in the commodious audience room to consider the objects of the meeting.

Secretary Votaw called the meeting to order and served thereafter informally as Chairman. He said he was convinced that persons engaged in the same sort of work often were the gainers by comparing their views and experiences. As a teacher he had learned to value the opportunities afforded by the Teachers’ Institutes. Not that he always adopted new methods proposed, for he learned that the personal equation must be considered and that all persons were not adapted to use identical methods. What would succeed with one might result in failure with another. At the same time, there was inspiration and much profit from such conferences. He ventured to say that the county prisons in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania were all diverse in their administration. There was lack of team work. While it was not recommended that all should follow exactly the same form of management, there was undoubtedly much to be gained by comparison of methods and results.

This meeting, however, was called particularly to consider recent legislation. The following letter from Governor Brumbaugh, addressed to E. M. Wistar, President of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, was read:

“Mr. Edward M. Wistar,
Philadelphia, Pa.
My Dear Mr. Wistar:

I have the letter of Mr. Votaw, calling my attention to a meeting to be held at Darlington, Pa., October 4th and 5th.

The purpose of the meeting, as I understand it, is to ascertain in what way recent legislation affecting prison labor may be most practically and effectively applied to conditions in this Commonwealth. I am heartily in favor of the wise employment of the prisoners in our penal institutions, and steadfastly favored and approved all legislation having that end in view.

I consider, therefore, this conference most opportune, and trust that its deliberations may result in practical guidance of great moment to Pennsylvania.

It may be of interest to you to know that we are now planning to utilize such of our prison labor as we can in connection with the Highway Department, not only because we believe this is right as a fundamental principle, but because in this emergency it will release other labor for national service without impairing the road construction program of the Commonwealth.

I wish your convention great success, and beg to be

Very truly yours,

M. G. Brumbaugh.”

The wardens were first asked to relate their experience with regard to the recent law allowing the wardens or superintendents of prisons to release the inmates for work on land belonging to the county or state.

Warden George W. Allen, of Media, being called upon, told the Conference that he had been employing from seven to fourteen men on the county farm since early in the spring, even before the Act had received executive sanction. At his request Judge Isaac Johnson had, as privileged under the law granting parole to county prisoners, paroled certain selected inmates for this purpose. None of the prisoners had violated their parole nor attempted to escape. They were taken in a van every morning to their work with one guard, and had worked faithfully and with pleasure. They had cultivated about 20 acres of land. The entire cost of the venture was about $1100.00, a sum which the results had fully justified. The expense had been equally shared with the Poor Directors and also the proceeds. They had raised cabbage, soup beans, lima beans, carrots, turnips, potatoes, beets, tomatoes and other produce. What was not used at once by the prisoners was dried, canned or stored for winter use. No wages was paid to the men. The result had been satisfactory to all parties concerned.

Dr. J. K. Weaver, Prison Inspector, of Norristown, informed the assembly that nineteen men had been sent to the Poor Farm, whose officials had taken charge of them and had provided them with food and lodging. There had been no difficulty whatever in maintaining discipline. The men had worked well and with enjoyment. A few privileges were allowed, such as swimming in the river when the day’s work was done, and no one had attempted to escape. They were paid 60c. a day for their work, payable at the time of their release. One man earned $52.80.

Warden Lemuel Roberts, of the Norristown Prison, informed the meeting that this employment of prisoners in Montgomery County had been initiated by presenting a petition to the Court to parole a few selected men to work on this Farm. The Court consented to parole three men for this purpose, and the experiment was so completely successful that the number thus paroled was gradually increased to nineteen. He was convinced that the payment of 60c. per day had served a double purpose in giving the men an incentive and a reward for good conduct and also in enabling them to go forth with a little cash to pay their expenses while searching for further employment. Without money and without friends, very often released convicts resort to crime for their maintenance.

Warden John F. Clower, of West Chester, stated that the County Home had refused to employ prisoners for the reason that they had already an abundant supply of labor from their own inmates. They had bought from the Farm supplies of vegetables at a lower rate than in the open market. For winter use they had canned 400 jars of tomatoes and a large quantity of sauerkraut.

Five of the inmates had been paroled to neighboring farmers, for whose labor the prison had received $25.00 per month, the prisoner receiving no large share. In this prison the men are almost all employed constantly at work in making carpets, caning chairs and weaving cloth for their clothing. In 1917 they had sold products amounting to $5,387. A small allowance, about 19c. weekly, is paid to the prisoners.

Mr. Thomas J. Fretz, an Inspector of Lehigh County, stated that a number of prisoners had been paroled directly to farmers. It was stipulated that the men should receive the prevailing customary wage for this work and that this sum should be paid to the families of the paroled men, or given to them on their discharge. In some instances wages sufficient to pay certain costs had been deducted from the amount paid to the prisoner.

Mr. Edward Taenzer, Inspector of Berks County, informed the meeting that this season they had employed prisoners on their County Farm, and that the experiment had been a decided success from every point of view. Two years ago an effort had been made to employ the prisoners on this land, and this proposition had been heartily approved by the Inspectors, the County Commissioners, the Directors of the Poor and the local press. The Solicitors of the Boards, however, held that such action was illegal, admitting that work on roads was the only employment allowed to prisoners except behind the bars. Since the beginning of the great war Mr. Taenzer and others renewed their efforts to find employment for the prisoners on farms, meeting with formidable opposition, but since the legal bar was removed by recent legislation the prisoners have been hard at work, giving satisfaction to all concerned. The selected men are taken by conveyance to the Farm and work for eight hours daily. They have produced from four to five hundred bushels of potatoes and a like proportion of other vegetables. Just now they are working on the drainage project. The Poor Directors provide the midday meal, and it is expected that hereafter they may provide for the necessary supervision. The men receive no pay for their labor, but esteem it a great privilege thus to be employed.

Secretary Votaw stated that the consensus of opinion was evidently favorable to the employment of county prisoners on farms as far as possible. He invited Agent McGarry, of the State Board of Charities, to comment on the attitude of this Board on this subject. Mr. McGarry said that the Board had for many years advocated such employment and that the emergency created by the war had made such legislation possible.