INDIVIDUAL SENTENCES.

Of those thus sentenced and thus discharged there

Of the 80 commutation prisoners 44 made overwork to the amount of fourteen hundred and eighteen dollars and forty-six cents ($1,418 46), an average of $32 23.

One of the discharged men received $270 06, for 5 years, 7 months, and 8 days shoemaking.

One received $201 12, for 3 years, 6 months, and 1 day cane work.

One received $133 15, for 2 years, 5 months, and 13 days cane work.

It will be seen by the above reference to "overwork" that prisoners may not only by the new "commutation laws" free themselves from a considerable portion of the sentence which the court inflicts, but they may also provide themselves with means to make a new beginning in life, and much valuable experience, itself, if properly used, of incalculable worth.

Since these statements were made there have been many more discharged, but our exhibition shows the operation of the system.

Undoubtedly the Inspectors of the Eastern Penitentiary were well informed by the Warden of the conduct

of these convicts-those recommended to the Governor, and by him allowed the benefit of the new act, so that it seems that about 25 years of imprisonment have been taken off the aggregate of the terms of these commuted convicts. The hope of achieving the same benefits for themselves, will, it is likely, operate upon the conduct of others, and thus the prisoners will be allowed to open the prison door for their departure by their own good conduct, as they were allowed to open the same door and enter by their bad conduct. This seems to be one illustration of the idea of a "free country." The bad have a freedom to work their way into the penitentiaries by pleading bad conduct, and having improved their morals, and exhibited proof of their will and abilities to do better, they are free to work their way out of the penitentiary.

In our opinion the good proposed by this law was, if desired, obtainable without the law. But undoubtedly a great good has been accomplished and men provided for, by the suggestion of this "recommendation for special pardon," as all released from the Penitentiary under this law could have been pardoned under the old laws-but it is evident that very few who have had a commutation, or shortening of sentence by the suggestion of this act, would have been pardoned had not the act been passed.

We expect that the subject of prisons will occupy some considerable portion of the time of the next Legislature, and we believe that the Governor will present the matter of Commutation, with special reference to the county prisons, as, however applicable the present act

may be to this class of jails, it is believed that some improvement could be made in its provisions.

For example, the prisoners in the Penitentiaries are usually regarded as more heinous offenders than those of the county prisons, and hence the term of imprisonment is usually much larger, sometimes for the same offence -only that in the case of the convict sentenced to the Penitentiary, there is usually the aggravation of crime resulting from a repetition of the offence. Hence, perhaps, will be found a motive for extending the time which a prisoner in the county jail may redeem from his sentence by good conduct. By the new commutation act, now adjudged by the Governor to apply only to convicts in the State prison, the class of prisoners who are confined in the Penitentiaries may, by earning a good report, reduce the first year to eleven months; third, fourth and fifth year to ten months each, and the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth years to nine months each, and the remainder of their term to eight months for each year. This is well, though in Scotland we notice that the time that may be gained is equal to onethird of the sentence.

Now as the sentence to the county prison seldom exceeds two years, and very rarely goes beyond three years, it has appeared to us that one month for the first year, two for the second, and three for the third years would be suitable, and perhaps something of that kind will be provided for in the bills which are likely to be reported to the next Legislature

We have spoken, above, of the usual difference of time between the sentences for the Penitentiary and those for

the County Prison. It may be proper here to remark that there are exceptions, and one particularly noticeable was lately found in the County Prison, where there were two men undergoing a sentence of twelve years each for burglary. This is rare, but as it exists and may again occur, of course provisions should be made for

such cases.

We confidently expect that the Legislature will initiate and perfect" bills" relative to prisons and penitentiaries, and their discipline, that will ensure a great amelioration of the condition of prisoners. The plan of Commutation is one which has for a long time received the approval of this Society, and it cannot be doubted that, as it has commenced, though only with penitentiaries, it will be improved and applied to all the prisons of the State.

On every side we hear approval of this system of Commutation, this great plan of letting all prisoners work themselves out of the jail and penitentiary. Of course we may expect some difficulty in the early administration of any laws authorizing commutation. These difficulties will be overcome where there is a will. The authority to commute is the great matter. The administration of that law is what must be looked to-a loving devotion to its permissions, and to the best interests of society and the improvement of the prisoner will ensure the benefits proposed, and without that no law will be worth approval.

* These two men were pardoned in December, 1869.

THINGS MUCH NEEDED.

So much has been said as to the necessity of a House of Correction, that it is not with any hope of adding much to the determination of the city authorities to erect such a building that the matter is here referred to. We know that there is such a want of a place of the kind that the City Councils feel called upon to supply that want; and when there can be an agreement as to the location, we do not doubt that the work will be commenced and carried forward.

But we wish to state distinctly that the erection of a House of Correction in Philadelphia is not the one work of greatest necessity. There is another want that appeals to the friends of humanity, and the respecter of the laws of the State. We allude to the absolute necessity of enlarging that part of the County Prison which is used for males.

The law assigns to every convict a separate cell; and in the County Prison almost every cell for male convicts has two or three prisoners. And perhaps it is even worse on the untried side, where there is a crowding together of men charged with crime and awaiting their trial. There is an absolute necessity for enlarging those portions of the County Prison which are used exclusively for men.

The erection of a House of Correction, if it took from the prison every man that by law could be sent to the House of Correction, would leave more than two to every cell. The law is plain and distinct upon this