Part 1

NEW SERIES No. 58

THE JOURNAL OF PRISON DISCIPLINE AND PHILANTHROPY

REPORT OF ACTING COMMITTEE

REPORT OF COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE PRISON SYSTEMS

MILITARY DISCIPLINE AND PUNISHMENTS, ETC.

1919

ISSUED ANNUALLY BY THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY FORREST BUILDING, 119 SOUTH FOURTH STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA.

PRESS OF ALLEN, LANE & SCOTT, PHILADELPHIA.

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 PRISONS.” (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. 58

THE JOURNAL OF PRISON DISCIPLINE AND PHILANTHROPY

REPORT OF ACTING COMMITTEE

REPORT OF COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE PRISON SYSTEMS

MILITARY DISCIPLINE AND PUNISHMENTS, ETC.

1919

ISSUED ANNUALLY BY THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY FORREST BUILDING, 119 SOUTH FOURTH STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA.

FORM OF BEQUEST OF 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 FOR THE SOCIETY FOR 1919

PRESIDENT

EDWARD M. WISTAR, Provident Building, Philadelphia.

VICE-PRESIDENT

NORRIS J. SCOTT, Moylan, Pa.

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.

COUNSELORS

FREDERICK L. CLARK, West End Trust Building, Philadelphia. WILLIAM DRAPER LEWIS, Law Department, University of Pennsylvania.

GENERAL AGENT

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

ACTING COMMITTEE

FOR ONE YEAR

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

FOR TWO YEARS

Harry Kennedy George S. Wetherell Dr. Charles Williams Henry C. Cassel Frank H. Longshore Charles C. Simmington Mrs. Layyah Barakat C. Wilfred Conard Mrs. Eliza M. Cope Rev. J. F. Ohl Rev. M. Reed Minnich Watson W. Dewees Mary S. Wetherell Miss Emily Whelen George A. Coburn

FOR THREE YEARS

Frederick J. Pooley Miss Annie McFedries Joseph P. Byers William Koelle Dr. John Frazer Franklin S. Edmonds Deborah C. Leeds Dr. J. Treichler Butz Leon J. Obermayer Mrs. Clara Hodges Allen George W. Wilkins Miss M. N. Cochran, Jr. Miss Rebecca P. Latimer Mrs. Mary Ella deLong Miss Florence B. Kane

ACTING COMMITTEE FOR THE STATE-AT-LARGE

FOR ONE YEAR FOR TWO YEARS FOR THREE YEARS BUCKS COUNTY ALLEGHENY COUNTY ALLEGHENY COUNTY Mrs. Anna K. Garges Paul T. Beiswenger Rev. F. W. Beiswenger

CHESTER COUNTY MONTGOMERY COUNTY CENTRE COUNTY Mrs. B. K. C. Marshall Capt. Nicholas Baggs Hon. J. Linn Harris

YORK COUNTY LUZERNE COUNTY Miss Rhoda M. Starr Mrs. Anabel Wallace

STANDING COMMITTEES FOR 1919

_Visiting Committee--Eastern Penitentiary_:

MEN

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

WOMEN

Deborah C. Leeds Miss R. P. Latimer Mrs. Mary Ella deLong Mary S. Wetherell Miss Emily Whelen Mrs. Layyah Barakat Mrs. Mary S. Grigg

_Visiting Committee_--_Philadelphia County Prison_--_Moyamensing_:

John A. Duncan Norris J. Scott Deborah C. Leeds Rev. J. F. Ohl H. Wellington Wood Mrs. Clara Hodges Allen Frederick J. Pooley Albert H. Votaw Miss R. P. Latimer

_Visiting Committee_--_Philadelphia County Prison_--_Holmesburg_:

Frederick J. Pooley William Koelle John A. Duncan

_Visiting Committee_--_House of Correction_:

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

_Committee on Discharged Prisoners_:

Dr. Charles Williams George W. Wilkins Miss Florence B. Kane Charles P. Hastings

_Committee on Legislation_:

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

_Committee on Membership_:

Isaac P. Miller George W. Wilkins Miss M. N. Cochran, Jr. John A. Duncan George S. Wetherell

_Committee on Police Matrons_:

Mrs. Mary S. Grigg Miss Emily Whelen Mrs. Mary Ella deLong

_Editorial Committee_:

Rev. J. F. Ohl Miss Florence B. Kane Joseph P. Byers Rev. F. H. Senft Albert H. Votaw

_Finance Committee_:

George S. Wetherell John A. Duncan Robert B. Haines, Jr. Fred Swarts Brink

_Auditors_:

John A. Duncan Isaac P. Miller Watson W. Dewees

THE JOURNAL OF PRISON DISCIPLINE AND PHILANTHROPY

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

The 132d Annual Meeting of THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY was held by appointment in Assembly Hall, Church Building, northwest corner Fifteenth and Race Streets, Philadelphia, on the evening of January 14, 1919, President Edward M. Wistar in the Chair.

Twenty-five members were present.

The Minutes of the 131st Meeting were read and approved.

The Report of the Acting Committee for the year 1918 was read by the Secretary. It was approved and directed to be printed. (See pages 7-14.)

The Treasurer, John Way, presented a detailed statement of the receipts and payments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1918, accompanied by a schedule of the securities held for the Society by the Fiscal Agent, The Provident Life and Trust Company. The statement had been audited and the securities had been examined by the auditors. (See page 15.)

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. Watson W. Dewees and George S. Wetherell were appointed Tellers. The election being duly held the persons nominated were elected to the offices designated in the report of the Committee. (See page 3.)

A communication was read, sent by Leonard G. Yoder, Esq., Solicitor for the Berks County Prison, calling attention to the fact that the Act of the Assembly, approved 1917, provided that prisoners in the county prisons could be employed at agricultural labor only during the continuance of the war which is now interrupted by the armistice. The net profit of the labor of prisoners thus employed in Berks County in 1918 was $800, and the Solicitor recommends that this Act should apply permanently and requests that this Society should exert an influence on the present Assembly for the purpose of encouraging the continuation of this beneficial measure for the employment of prisoners. By motion, the communication was referred to the Legislative Committee of the Acting Committee.

Dr. George W. Kirchwey of New York delivered the Annual Address. He is the Counsel for the Commission under appointment to investigate prisons and to recommend such revision of our present penal system as may seem advisable. While the report of the Commission was not yet entirely prepared, he intimated that some scheme of Central Administration would be proposed, not so much to take the management away from the present Boards of Inspectors as to exercise advisory and supervisory powers and to correlate our various correctional institutions. The conditions now obtaining in regard to the employment of prisoners were deplorable in this Keystone State, and it was the aim of the Commission to provide some form of productive labor for all able-bodied prisoners. They were prepared to recommend an extension of agricultural operations and favored the early removal of the Eastern Penitentiary to a farm in the eastern portion of the State. He deprecated every form of brutality in the treatment of delinquents and evidently thought the old repressive spirit and measures could still be found to have lodgment in some of our prisons. He was sure that a large number of our prisoners, possibly a majority, were mentally deficient and ought to have special treatment adapted to their needs, which, under present circumstances of incarceration, was impossible. If we wish to restore the men whom we confine in our prisons, we must do more than simply restrain them within certain limits; we must treat them as erring brothers and sisters, not as dumb driven cattle.

To nominate to our next Annual Meeting the officers of the Society and members of the Acting Committee whose terms expire next year, the President appointed William Biddle, Robert Dunning Dripps, John A. Duncan, William C. Warren and Miss Emily Whelen.

ALBERT H. VOTAW, _Secretary_.

REPORT OF ACTING COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1918.

At a meeting which was held May 8, 1787, in Philadelphia, at which the “Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Prisons” was organized, provision was made for the appointment of an Acting Committee which should discharge the executive functions of the Society. It was composed of nine persons, the President, the two Vice-Presidents, and six additional members. The first Acting Committee was composed of

Bishop William White, President, Dr. Henry Helmuth, Vice-President, Richard Wells, Vice-President.

Additional members:

Tench Coxe, John Kaighn, Dr. George Duffield, Benjamin Wynkoop, William Rogers, George Krebs.

From time to time, on account of additional duties, responsibilities and opportunities for service, this Committee has been enlarged until at the present time it is limited to sixty persons, and at the present time is composed of fifty-six members.

In 1886 the name of the Society was changed to “The Pennsylvania Prison Society”--a name indicating no change of purpose, but rather a wider scope of operations.

In the year 1829, the Acting Committee, by Act of Assembly, were appointed Official Visitors of all prisons in the Commonwealth. Our Society was the only one having such duties until the year 1903, when, by another Act of the Assembly, the privilege was granted to the Acting Committee of the Catholic Society for the Visitation of Prisoners.

OFFICIAL VISITATION.

While many members of our Visiting Committees have been zealous in their endeavor to open the door of hope to the prisoners, and to stimulate them to higher ideals of life, the general conditions obtaining in the prisons have also claimed attention. It is a prescribed function of the Visiting Committee of any prison, whether State or County, to note the “condition of the buildings ... the discipline and management,” and to make report of their observations. Great discretion and a full understanding of the situation are essential in publishing the results of such comments and observations. In the early history of our organization, there were so many abuses prevalent in the management of prisons that by far the larger part of the activities of the Acting Committee consisted in the effort to remedy the evils of management. These efforts were eminently successful in those days of emergence from medieval methods; and while we all rejoice in the very great amelioration of conditions, it must be confessed that penal improvement has lagged behind all other agencies for betterment. If we compare our educational system, hospitals, transportation methods, agricultural development--any field of human endeavor--with our correctional institutions, we are overwhelmed by the extreme lack of corresponding progress.

PERSONAL VISITATION.

The reports of the Visiting Committees for the year 1918 indicate that there is no loss of interest or effort in seeking to restore men and women to their better selves. In consequence of the quarantine caused by the epidemic of influenza, which resulted in keeping visitors away from four to six weeks, the statistics do not bulk as large as usual.

Number of reported visits to the Eastern Penitentiary 337 Number of reported interviews with the inmates 6,435 Number of reported interviews with the inmates of the Philadelphia County Prison 3,631 Number of prisoners interviewed at Central Station by Agent 15,933 Number of discharged prisoners receiving direct aid 590

On practically every Sabbath one or more of our members take part in the religious services in the prisons.

We are convinced that many of those with whom we meet from time to time are victims of circumstances, and also that many of them are defective in mentality and in self control. At some time, we trust the General Assembly will take up seriously the subject of the degenerates who need treatment in accordance with the most approved psychiatric methods. Some of them need institutional care for a much longer time than is indicated by the Court sentence. Here they should be restrained until they are deemed ready to become useful to the community.

EMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERS.

In the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the most flagrant evil of the prisons is the lack of wholesome employments for the inmates. Even some of our laws designed to help conditions have aggravated the evil. For instance, the law of 1913, which, with the best intentions, repealed other laws for employment in the State Penal Institutions, in order that the inmates might all be employed in making articles for State use, did not create a sure market for the articles thus manufactured, and therefore the number of prisoners profitably employed in the penitentiaries is not so large as under a former law when 35 per cent. of them could be kept at work in the manufacture of articles or products to be sold in the open market. A simple remedy for this deplorable state of affairs may be found in granting the privilege of selling the surplus stock in the market at the prevailing price. Organized labor found undesirable competition with the products of free labor only when the prisoners were employed on the vicious contract system. Under the present methods, the prisoners are to receive a fair wage and the products are to be sold at the market price. Perhaps we could make a beginning by listing certain industries in which the convicts may be employed. Place no restrictions on agricultural products, including canned goods, on the work of stone crushing and in general the manufacture of road-making material, and also allow two or three indoor industries, such as the manufacture of carpets and knit goods. Thus the problem may be solved. When we consider the very small number of persons so employed in comparison with the hordes of outside workers, it appears very evident that the amount of real competition would reduce to the vanishing point. No industry would be injured, the tax-payers would be relieved from a large part of the expense, the prisoners would earn their own maintenance, and thus the demoralizing effects of idleness would be averted.

DISCHARGED PRISONERS.

It has sometimes been stated that for some visitors, the prisoner loses his charm when released from confinement. He may be decidedly interesting behind the bars, or perhaps he may be simply an object of curiosity, or a psychological specimen to be studied, like some abnormal freak of nature. Within the wall the visitor may show warmth, interest, cordiality, sympathy, a certain degree of familiarity, but on the outside the atmosphere is below zero. This is a species of charlatanism for which we have no sympathy. It is an exceedingly important part of our mission to set the discharged man on his feet, and to establish his goings. If ever any man needed sympathy and material aid, it is when the man released from confinement again becomes a member of the community. Not all the men and women who are released seem to require special help, but those who are in need are very greatly dependent upon human kindness till they have regained some sense of confidence and have again become self-supporting. If aid and good cheer are not forthcoming at this crucial time of testing, there is imminent danger of a relapse into former bad habits. We believe that all of our visitors realize the importance of maintaining our interest and kindly feeling for the prisoner at the time of his release.

SECURING EMPLOYMENT.

During the last two years there has been no difficulty in finding work for any able-bodied man. There are some disappointments, but we are learning not to become discouraged. Possibly we may allow ourselves to dwell unduly on the failures, when we should recall the many instances of reclamation. The saying “Once a crook, always a crook” has no place either in our experience or in our philosophy. If this saying represents a truth, we would become pessimistic regarding the human race. Show us the man or woman who has never erred. Please note some examples:--

The other day we met “A” on Market Street. Accompanied by his little son, he was speeding away in his “flivver.” He stopped to give us a greeting, and indicated that happiness and prosperity were his portion.

“B” is a spick and span policeman in a neighboring city. Though you may say “Set a thief to catch a thief,” this particular guardian of the public peace is discharging his duty to the community.

“C” seemed particularly pleased to meet us the other day uptown. He had joined the church, and had attained to the dignity of usher.

“D,” who was once an accomplished burglar, having served at least two terms in prison, has built up a manufacturing industry, and is quite prosperous.

“E” is foreman in the jewelry department of a large department store “somewhere in America.”

“F,” a one-armed piece of ebon jollity, is one of the handiest men employed on a certain prosperous truck farm.

“G,” who began cooking for Blank Firm at $10 weekly wages, now reports with a grin that he is getting $65 a month with board and lodging.

“H” is one of the most popular clerks in the office of a mammoth establishment. That he once fell from grace is known, but it is no longer reckoned against him.

“I” one year ago began as a solicitor and now his business has so enlarged that he has taken a suite of rooms for his office.

We could easily exhaust the alphabet with such cases. There are failures, but we try to discount our disappointments when we take account of those who are “making good.” The Parole Officers have informed us that seventy-five per cent. are becoming satisfactory citizens. By far the larger part of those whom we willingly assist, in a short time are beyond our ken. They take with them our hopes and our fears--our fears, that they may again yield to the manifold temptations on every hand; our hopes, that they have learned their lesson, and with courage and by the help of divine grace are performing their duty to the community.

A REVOLVING RELIEF FUND.

A few of those to whom we render assistance return a part, or all, of the funds which we have advanced to them. We do not press them for payment. Those who are invalids or who have families to support are not expected to repay us. From many years of experience, we have learned that it is not wise indiscriminately to make grants of cash in hand. Old chums are waiting just around the corner for a treat. Temptations of all sorts are manifold. We guarantee bills for board and lodging, purchase tools and clothing, furnish transportation, and provide outfits for those who are sent to the State Sanatoriums. But there are some who should feel an obligation to return the value of the assistance rendered. Thus we hope to create a sort of revolving fund which may be used for cases of need, and when returned is ready for the next man. Many of these released men have some natural pride or self respect, and do not wish to be considered mendicants.

THE AMERICAN PRISON ASSOCIATION.

On account of the epidemic of influenza so prevalent in the autumn, the meeting of the American Prison Association was called off. At a meeting of the Executive Committee held recently it was concluded to postpone till next year the sessions of this body. New York had been selected as the place, and it has been decided to meet in the same city, October 20-24, 1919.

THE AGENT’S WORK AT THE CENTRAL POLICE STATION.