received his discharge. This is done with a view of finding out what becomes of the inmates at their absolute discharge. If they have on deposit with the prison administration a sufficient percentage of their earnings, these are inducements for keeping somewhat in touch with the management or with the parole officer, and they are required to furnish evidence that they have been industrious and honest during the period.

At the Baltimore Penitentiary I was impressed again with the remarkable administrative ability of Mr. Weyler, the warden, and the great extent to which every prisoner is utilized in the institution and enabled to earn something for his labor. In spite of the recognized limitations of the contract system, the Baltimore Penitentiary seems to be so well conducted that the disadvantages are reduced to their lowest terms. The institution turned over $36,000 to the State for the year 1905 and the prisoners themselves gained an equal amount. Men go out of the institution with as much as forty, seventy or a hundred dollars, and a man who was discharged the week before I was there had earned $255.

At Indianapolis, in connection with my duties on the Probation Commission, I spent two days studying the working of the Juvenile court, and especially the combination of paid officers and volunteer officers in the probation work of that city which is entirely confined to juveniles. A distinct feature at Indianapolis is the number of volunteer workers who may be called upon in this field. They have enrolled since March, 1903, 305 such volunteer officers, of whom 172 have been in active service. On this list of 305 available for such service, 132 are business men and 98 professional. There were 35 ministers, 22 teachers, 21 lawyers, 16 physicians, 3 musicians and 1 artist among those who offered their services. Of course the limitations of this volunteer service

are evident. It cannot possibly It cannot possibly take the place of paid officers who do the original investigation, but it is of great advantage to have so large a body of business men to whom cases can be confided. Usually not more than one, or never more than three are entrusted to one person at the same time. The active co-operation of the business man has been of great value in securing places of employment for many of the boys. I had personal interviews with several of the business men employed as such officers, and it was inspiring to note their interest in this work.

NEW YORK STATE CONFERENCE OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTION.

Still another conference demanding attention was the New York State Conference of Charities and Correction which held its meeting in the city of New York, November 14-15-16. The meeting was well attended. The corresponding secretary was chairman of the committee on the "Treatment of the Criminal." Twelve members of the committee of sixteen accepted the conclusions of the report drafted by the chairman. The report aimed to set forth some of the ways in which prison systems of New York can be improved. As it represents the views of so large a majority of the committee, it is printed elsewhere in this report as an illustration of work that still lies before us.

OTHER MEETINGS./

In addition to attending the State, National, and International Prison Congresses referred to above, the corresponding secretary has been called upon to address many meetings and some of his time has been necessarily occupied in inspecting penal institutions. Monday evening, October 16, at the invitation of Rev. Dr. Meengs, Pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church at Albany, I addressed the Men's Club and was given a cordial reception by an intelligent and sympathetic body of men.

During the month of November much of my time was spent in travels and making inspections.

November 23-24 I gave two lectures at Meadville, Penn., Theological School on "The New Penology," pointing out the progress achieved and work yet to be done. The audience of its students was increased by auditors from the city, and I made use of my stay in Meadville to visit the county jail and to expose in a column of the local paper its wretched condition. The cells are dark, antiquated and ill ventilated. The prisoners are idle. The woman's department, though brighter, is a veritable fire-trap. It is to be hoped that public sentiment at Meadville will move in the direction of a new and better jail.

From Meadville I went to Buffalo, November 25th, and visited the Erie County Penitentiary; and on the same day also visited the Monroe County Penitentiary at Rochester. My impressions of these penitentiaries and what needs to be done to make them effective are given later in this report in dealing with our jails and penitentiaries.

Leaving Rochester Sunday evening November 26, I went to Washington, arriving there on the 27th. I had a brief interview with the President in regard to the International Prison Commission. In the evening I went to Baltimore and gave an address on the "Indeterminate Sentence" before the Political Science Club of that city, a club composed of gentlemen of exceptional intelligence, some of them being members of the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University, others being lawyers, editors and physicians. Discussion on the subject lasted until 11:30 p. m. when I was obliged to take the night train for New York.

On December 4, in company with Mr. Wheeler, a member of the State Prison Improvement Commission, I had an interview with

Governor Higgins at Albany. It was a great satisfaction to find the Governor so much interested in the improvement of our penal system and desirous of taking practical measures for bringing this about.

On Wednesday, December 13, returning from a meeting of the Probation Commission at Rochester, I visited Elmira for the purpose of meeting the Board of Managers of the Reformatory. I had also an opportunity for an interview covering some five hours with Mr. Brockway, the Mayor-elect of Elmira, who is a fount of knowledge and experience in penological principles and their application.

The above is but an outline of some of the more important engagements and interests which occupied the attention of the corresponding secretary during the year 1905, to which must be added the meetings of the Probation Commission and the State Prison Improvement Commission, which have required a large amount of time.

WORK IN THE SPRING OF 1906.

During the present year legislative work at Albany and also at Washington has engaged a good deal of my time. An attempt has also been made to impress His Honor the Mayor of New York with the great importance of the problems with which the Department of Correction has to deal, especially in relation to Hart's Island Reformatory and the proposed building of a new penitentiary.

An active campaign was made in Queens county against the system of paying the sheriff so much a week for the board of prisoners; and a bill was introduced in the Legislature to place the next sheriff on the salary system. Owing to various political

and other complications, the bill did not pass. One object of those who resorted to dilatory measures was to secure a continuance of the fee system in Queens county for another term.

January 1st and 2d I visited Massachusetts for the purpose of inspecting the prison at Deer Island and the State Farm at West Bridgewater with a special view to prison construction. I also visited February 5, the State prison at Wethersfield, Connecticut, and studied the working of the Children's Court in that State.

On Sunday, February 11, I addressed a meeting of the Brooklyn Reform Association on the condition of the Raymond Street Jail. A committee was appointed to cooperate with Sheriff Flaherty in having King's County Penitentiary designated as a jail so that Raymond Street Jail might be reserved mainly for those awaiting trial. This proposition was subsequently presented to the commissioners of the sinking fund, who under the charter have authority to designate jails. The suggestion, supported by Commissioner Langtry of the Department of Correction, was approved and a satisfactory arrangement was made.

On February 14, I spoke at a meeting at Baltimore held in Johns Hopkins University in regard to a reformatory system in Maryland.

During the months of February and March I gave ten lectures on the New Penology at the School of Philanthropy, New York.

On February 20, I lectured before the Colored Young Men's Christian Association on prison reform. I also addressed, Sunday, February 25, a meeting of the People's Forum at Mount Vernon; on Sunday, March 11, the Universalist Church in New Haven, Connecticut, and in April the Universalist Church in