the board of managers directing that any official who strikes an inmate, except in self-defense or to quell a mutiny, shall be dis missed; by taking away the authority an inmate monitor once had to issue reports against other inmates and lastly by impressing it upon each and every prisoner that he would have an equal chance with every other one to progress and gain his liberty; and giving him the privilege to seek an interview with the superintendent or a manager at any time to rectify any fancied or real wrong which he might think he had suffered at the hands of an officer or inmate. I feel that when an inmate has something on his mind which he desires to tell those in authority, even though it is imaginary or trivial in character, it is better to give him an audience than to refuse and leave him to brood over it in his cell which will certainly magnify its importance in his estimation, and keep him in an unsettled mental state, or more likely ultimately be the means of his complete discouragement and downfall. HEALTH. Previous to 1900 the Reformatory had but one resident physician and he was an assistant to a visiting physician from the city of Elmira. In that year the board of managers succeeded in creating the position of senior physician, and he was compelled to reside in the institution. Dr. Frank W. Robertson of Bellevue Hospital, New York city, was appointed. Shortly after Dr. Robertson assumed the duties of the office, he made a thorough examination of the whole population and found no less than seventyeight (78) inmates whose mental condition was such that they were totally irresponsible for their acts, and they were subsequently transferred to the Matteawan State Hospital. Our board received some severe criticism from persons wholly unacquainted with the conditions of affairs on account of this large number of insane, but we simply did at one time what should have been done during the several preceding years. Previous to the appointment of Dr. Robertson, Mr. Brockway was the sole judge of an inmate's mental responsibility on his arrival at the Reformatory. After my appointment as manager in the spring of 1900 and at the first meeting I attended, I offered a resolution requiring a careful mental and physical examination of every person committed to us, and I would say that since that time we have found several prisoners insane on arrival from the courts throughout the State. By this examination we have also been able to detect those afflicted with tuberculosis and consequently their immediate isolation has materially reduced the number of cases of that disease. In 1900, one hundred and three (103) were released on invalid parole; in 1903 there were three (3). The tubercular inmates occupy cells designated by the letter "T" over the door. They are not changed about with their various changes in grade. The blankets used by these inmates are of a different color from those used by the healthy inmates, and these blankets are washed separately and at more frequent intervals. The tubercular patients who are considered to be in the infectious stage of the disease have their own invalids' yard for taking daily exercise. During the past year we have transferred with the consent of the Superintendent of Prisons many of these cases to Clinton Prison which is located in a climate especially beneficial and often curative of this most prevalent and dangerous disease. The cells of the whole population are sterilized every month with a charcoal furnace producing a temperature of seven hundred (700) degrees. ASSIGNMENT ON ARRIVAL. On arrival at the Reformatory all persons are assigned to the gymnasium for one hour each day to be drilled in freehand movements and calisthenics. This continues for two months. Those who are physically unable to take up the duties in the general routine are kept in this class for longer periods, until by measurements of their chest and lung expansion and a decided improvement in their general health they are considered to be in condition to perform the work in trade and school. MILITARY. Each inmate, unless excused for some special reason, is compelled to take part in the military. He is on admission placed in the awkward squad with his wooden gun, and one would be astonished at the quickness with which even a defective learns to be a soldier. Dress parade of the regiment takes place every day and the hour spent in this exercise of marching and going through the manual of arms in the open air assists materially in maintaining the high standard of health which it has been our good fortune to have for the past four years. We take great pride in the efficiency of this department. General Miles once said that there were three organizations in this country that knew how to drill the Regular Army, West Point Cadets and the inmates of the Elmira Reformatory. TRADE SCHOOLS. Our trade schools are under the care of an able director. He prepares the outlines to be followed by the inmate as he passes through the different stages of his trade. Under this director we have an instructor in each branch taught. Our curriculum covers thirty-one different trades, and although the time of apprenticeship is necessarily too short in many cases, yet the work we have accomplished in building the residences of the assistant superintendent and senior physician, the large power-house, a chimney 125 feet high and the trade school building (now under construction), illustrates the excellence and thoroughness of the training in this department. Over 60 per cent of those paroled last year went out to work at the trade learned in the Reformatory. SCHOOL OF LETTERS. It is difficult to conceive of the ignorance of many of those sent to us. One would scarcely believe that there is in existence a normal young man, 18 years of age, born and reared in this country who can not read or write, yet we have many such cases, and as proof that it is not the fault of the individual you should see the eagerness and earnestness displayed by such to obtain at least the rudiments of an education. To be able to read the literature furnished him from the institution library and to write a letter to his parents is the first goal aimed at. Many times I have been requested by one of these to be placed in a cell with another who is somewhat advanced, so that the knowledge of that one can be taken advantage of to assist the one deficient. True, we have many of fair education, and some college graduates; such are used as teachers in the schools under the supervision of the school director. Our schools were formerly held in the evening, but during the past two years we have gradually arranged to have them in session during the day, believing that the constant strain in the general routine from early morn until bedtime had much to do with causing the mental diseases so prevalent a few years ago. Now there are two hours almost every evening to read books from our library, the institution paper, or to study. Frequent entertainment and lectures are given in the auditorium, the lectures by prominent men, and the entertainments composed partially of local talent selected from the inmate population. PAROLES. During the past year over six hundred paroled men have gone out, the largest number in the history of the institution. Each one earned his parole by good behavior and by successfully passing his examination, both in trade and school. Eighty-six per cent of those paroled in 1903 made their reports for six months or more, behaved themselves and obtained their absolute release. This ought to be convincing that the training given these young men makes them better, and fits them for a career of usefulness. It proves, in my opinion, that the institution is fulfilling in the highest sense the purpose for which it was founded. I wish that more of those who are contributing through taxation to maintain the Reformatory would take the time to visit it and see the work it is doing for the poor unfortunates confined there and then a deeper interest would surely be taken in their future welfare and success. I believe that there is some good in every one no matter how depraved, and if it can be reached and nurtured it will soon grow and eventually predominate over the evil in him. In my experience at Elmira I have failed but once to lift up those in whom I have taken a personal interest. Many do not need assistance; they at once drop into the regular routine and rise through their own exertions, while others either lacking in self-control or requiring just a little encouragement to keep them in the right path, enlist the sympathy of the members of the board and are watched carefully until safely on the road to a parole. The gratitude of the inmate himself or of his heart-broken mother is sufficient recompense for any assistance I may render him. A mother never deserts her wayward son; she may have a dozen children all doing right and the unlucky thirteenth going to the dogs as fast as he can. She pays little attention to the twelve, except to quarrel with them because they do not feel as she does towards number thirteen. He commits a crime and is sent to us; she comes to see me every month and begs that Johnny may soon come home, because she needs his help so much, and yet when Johnny was at home he was continually in trouble and worrying the life out of her. But "A mother's love If there be one thing pure That can endure When all else passes away; Surpassing human deed or It is a mother's love." CHAIRMAN MAYER: The discussion will be opened by Hon. George McLaughlin, Secretary of the State Commission of Prisons, Albany. MR. MCLAUGHLIN: We have all listened with interest and with instruction to a clear presentation of the present methods and work in that great institution, the Elmira Reformatory, that institution that may properly be called one of the greatest, if not the greatest, prison in the world, great in its inception, in its growth, and in its work-the mother of modern reformatory institutions, for which we are largely indebted to its illustrious founder, as has been so well mentioned by Dr. Howard. We are glad to know the present management of this institution is continuing the essential features of this great prison and are able even to improve upon them and go on bettering conditions so as to reach even a higher plane and greater perfection. This paper of Dr. Howard opens up a large field for discussion that I shall not enter upon with any fullness. |