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.
Number reported visits to the Eastern Penitentiary 462
Number reported interviews with the inmates 7882
Number reported interviews with inmates of the
County Prison 5110
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.
RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR 1917
To Balance January 1, 1917 $2,096 30
“ Contributions 3,757 28
“ Dues, Annual Members 233 00
“ Fees, Life Membership 100 00
“ Income from Investments 2,315 83
“ Income from I. V. Williamson Charities 720 00
“ Income from Anna Blanchard Fund 220 50
“ Income from Barton Tool Fund 109 76
“ Proceeds Sale of Literature 42 35
“ Returned by Discharged Prisoners 9 22
“ Interest on Deposit Balances 60 51
“ Legacy, Estate Joshua L. Baily, deceased 5,000 00
“ Legacy, Estate H. A. Rogers, deceased 952 50
“ Distribution from Estate Geo. S. Pepper, deceased 60 00
----------
Total Receipts $15,677 25
PAYMENTS
For Aid to Discharged Prisoners $1,115 73
“ Tools for Discharged Prisoners 61 44
“ Religious Literature for Distribution in Prisons 50 00
“ Journal for 1917, Postage on Same 495 62
“ Annual Fee American Prison Association 5 00
“ Office Rent 525 00
“ Postage, Printing, Stationery, etc. 383 25
“ Office Supplies, Telephone, Incidentals 260 67
“ Expenses of Wardens’ Meeting 30 00
“ Traveling Expenses, Secretary and Agent 442 13
“ Library, Periodicals 33 72
“ Salaries 3,600 00
“ Investment under General Fund 905 25
“ Bequests and Fees transferred to Fiscal Agent 6,052 50
“ Balance December 31, 1917 1,716 94
----------
Total Payments $15,677 25
----------
REPORT ON FUNDS HELD FOR HOME OF INDUSTRY
Receipts on Account of Income $356 72
Payments to Home of Industry 356 72
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.
Number of notices and letters written on their behalf 2425
Number discharged prisoners receiving financial aid 368
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.