[The following article from The Umpire, a paper printed at the
Eastern Penitentiary, gives a graphic description, from a prisoner’s
standpoint, of that century-old prison, where once the rule of
perpetual solitary confinement was imposed. Today it is noteworthy for
the liberality of its rules.]
Sometime in the early “Forties,” Charles Dickens, the eminent author,
visited this institution, and the result of it is found incorporated in
his “American Notes” published in 1842.
He strongly criticised the methods in force at that time and depicted
conditions well calculated to arouse the indignation of every one with
a spark of kindly feeling in their make-up.
Many people believe these same conditions exist at present, for
Dickens’ works are read quite as freely today as they have been at any
time since they first left the press.
Then again, many people confound this institution with “Moyamensing,”
which is the county prison, and _somewhat_ different.
Some of our contemporaries, and especially those in Western States, are
evidently under the impression that the system in vogue fifty years
ago is yet in force in this institution, and so far from giving any
indication of being fully abreast of the times as they claim, one would
suppose they must have enjoyed a period of oblivion, second only to
that of dear old Rip Van Winkle.
More especially for their benefit therefore, it is said that the
Eastern Penitentiary of Pennsylvania, situated in the city of
Philadelphia, has for at least five years maintained a system of
humanitarian treatment of its inmates which is the STANDARD FOR THIS
COUNTRY, IF NOT FOR THE WORLD.
Among the benefits enjoyed by the people in this place, first is WORK.
Every man who is able, finds some occupation suited to his capacity.
Thirty-five per cent. of them are engaged in different occupations in
which they share in the profits to the extent of from $5 to $15 per
month. Labor unions have decreed that not more than this number shall
be so employed. But all others are engaged in some labor, for which the
State makes a very small allowance, sufficient to keep them in tobacco,
which is permitted in every form excepting cigarettes.
What these earnings amount to may be told right here, through figures
taken from the last annual report:
Sent to relatives, etc., $24,626.75; drew in cash on discharge,
$6,721.91; spent for sundries, $12,036.90; on hand in savings banks,
$3,795.00; cash to their credit in office, $12,278.18. A _per_
_capita_ “wealth” of a trifle over $10.
The average population is a little over 1400, but at this season
of the year we hover around the 1500 mark. Of this number, 500 are
attending the schools of this place, which are under the supervision
of a salaried teacher, who is assisted by inmates selected on account
of their qualifications for this kind of work. In addition, there is
a correspondence school for the higher branches of English, where men
receive instructions in their cells from visiting teachers.
We have trade schools, where men are taught carpentry, brick laying,
plumbing, plastering, and the different branches of electricity.
Instructions are both theoretical and practical.
We have a band of 40 pieces with an auxiliary band of the same number
under the direction of a salaried musician, who is in attendance six
days a week.
We have an orchestra of twelve pieces wholly under the direction of
the inmates, who arrange their own programs without suggestions or
interference from the officials, and the Saturday night concerts they
give throughout the year will compare favorably with those of any
similar organization in the outside world.
We have a hospital which is maintained for the sick, and not as a
loafing place for influential prisoners, which is the custom in so
many penal institutions. The physician with his family resides in the
institution and responds quickly to calls at any hour during the day
or night. The inmates are weighed once a month, and any deviation of
more than five pounds is called to the attention of the physician, who
immediately examines the man, to learn the cause. Many cases of serious
disease have thus been caught in their incipient stages, and cures
affected by prompt attention. The hospital patients are waited on by
salaried trained nurses day and night, while the druggist is also a
salaried official of the institution.
In addition to the regular resident physician, there is a consulting
staff made up of some of the most widely known specialists in the
State, who give freely of their best services.
We have a dentist who is in attendance daily from 2 P. M. until as late
as necessary, and every class of dental work is executed by him.
An optician is in attendance twice every week.
We have fewer rules to obey than the people outside the walls and every
one of them is for the comfort of the men, and not to degrade or annoy
them.
The silent system was abolished so many years ago it is forgotten it
ever existed.
At no time is a man’s hair clipped, unless he so desires it, and he may
wear any style of facial adornment in the way of whiskers that suits
his fancy.
We wear no stripes, but a uniform of blue and white mixed cloth. About
one fourth of the men are permitted to have their clothes made to
measure by the prison tailor, and these are cut and finished in a style
equal to any $15 suit in the open market. A vici kid dress shoe is now
being issued in place of the old time “brogans.” It has already proven
its economy.
Every man is given a complete new outfit, when he enters the prison,
and this is renewed from time to time as it wears out. No used clothing
is given to an inmate. When a man is discharged, what clothing he had
is sent to the incinerating plant, and destroyed.
The cells vary in size and average 8 × 12 by 12 feet high, with a
sky-light let into the roof and controlled by the inmate. There are
double doors, but the outer one is never entirely closed, day or night.
A steam radiator with individual control and portable electric light is
in every cell.
The men are permitted to furnish their cells at their own expense in
any manner they choose, and many of them are really luxurious.
Any kind of a musical instrument, excepting a drum, is permitted, and
some men have installed pianos and organs. Canary birds are the only
pets allowed, and there are hundreds of them carolling all over the
place from early morning until dark.
Running water from the city mains is in every cell but it is only used
for domestic purposes. The drinking water is boiled and then passed
through iced coils, so that we have unlimited quantities of iced water
summer and winter.
Every cell has a heavy white porcelain hopper, entirely free from sewer
gas and odors. When they erect a monument to Warden McKenty, they will
mention this hopper.
The Catholic chaplain celebrates mass every Sunday morning at seven
o’clock, and at nine o’clock nine Protestant services are held
simultaneously on the different blocks, by upward of one hundred
people. At three in the afternoon, visiting choirs from different
denominations render a sacred concert on the Center.
The men are allowed all kinds of tools and material necessary to
any work they may care to undertake for pleasure or profit, and the
management encourages such efforts by finding a ready sale for the
product. One man made $700 last year another $400 and a dozen of them
are earning more than $200 a year through work of this kind.
Every man has the privilege of the yard daily for a time, during five
days in the week. Sunday is the day when everything is closed down
tight after church services.
The baseball league is now in its fourth year and numbers nearly one
hundred men. Games attended by the inmates, are played daily except
Sunday during the season. Quoits and hand ball are in evidence at all
hours.
A semi-dark cell is the only form of punishment. The officer inflicting
it usually apologizes for being forced to go to this extreme.
We have 90 officers, and there is not a brute in the whole lot, and
only three “cranks.”
We are within ten minutes walk of the business center of one of the
great cities of the world, and there are no roads upon which we may be
employed in repairing. This is a matter for congratulation.
Philadelphia had the road building system in force 125 years ago,
and it was the sight of the humiliation and indignities suffered by
the prisoners from malicious onlookers that inspired the thought
resulting in the erection of this prison. Road building for prisoners
in Philadelphia would mean a backward step of over 100 years, before
the West and particularly Oregon was born.
The United States Government, with a full appreciation of the
humanitarian methods in force here, is sending its prisoners to this
institution from points as far as the middle West.
Much more could be said in favor of the Eastern Penitentiary, but let
this suffice: We have every comfort, and benefit accorded to prisoners
in any penal institute in the United States, --and then a whole lot more.
At the same time THE UMPIRE does not recommend it as a place of
residence.