Among the inquiries instituted by the Society this year, was one that
related to the earnings of convicts in the Eastern Penitentiary, which
arose out of a complaint made by a United States prisoner, who had
received, as he thought, less for over-work than was in reality due to
him. The character of the prisoner, or the title of the court by which
he was sentenced, had nothing to do with the character of the claim, or
the interest which the Society felt and would manifest in his behalf. He
was a prisoner, and as such, whether in the County Jail or the State
Penitentiary; whether sentenced by a Police Magistrate, or by a Judge of
the Court of the United States, there could be nothing in his case to
alienate him from our sympathies, or deprive him of the benefit of our
interference in his behalf.
A committee was instructed to present the case of the complainant to the
proper authorities of the Penitentiary, and to ascertain, in the first
place, on what principle the over-work of prisoners was estimated, and
to make especial reference to the case of the United States prisoner,
which had suggested the investigation. It need scarcely be said that
these inquiries were to be made with that friendly feeling and high
respect which have marked the intercourse of the Society with the
authorities of the Eastern Penitentiary, and that the questions were
answered with the freedom and feeling of those who have an established,
well devised plan of action, and are conscious of an adherence to that
plan in all its execution; and the friendly spirit of the Committee of
this Society was reciprocated by those to whom the appeal was made.
As settling a question about which some doubt existed, and especially as
giving information that must be valuable to many, and interesting to
all, the report of the Chairman of the Committee on the Penitentiary is
subjoined.