REPORT OF ACTING COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1917
All the stated meetings of the Acting Committee for the year 1917 have been regularly held with an average attendance of about 16 members. We are gratified to report this apparent increase of interest, indicated by a larger attendance than for several years past. We are entirely aware that several of our very efficient members have business engagements which make frequent attendance impossible. It must also be remembered that some of our members reside at a distance from the city. The presence of 10 members have constituted a quorum, and no meeting has been held without the number required for the legal transaction of business.
LEGISLATION.
The General Assembly of 1917 was notable for activity and interest in reformatory legislation. The Acting Committee favored and urged the passage of several measures, some of which have become law in this Commonwealth.
An Act providing that any person held for costs or fines may, at the discretion of the Court, be released, on agreeing to pay the said charges by instalments, was passed by the Assembly and received the sanction of the Governor.
An Act providing for the establishment of six industrial farms, to which persons sentenced for the shorter sentences in the county jails may be sent, amended by the substitution of nine instead of six, was passed and received executive sanction.
An Act, urged by the Prison Reform League, and which received our hearty sanction, providing for the appointment of a commission of five persons to investigate prison systems in this commonwealth and elsewhere, and to recommend such revision of the existing prison system as may be deemed wise, for adoption by the next General Assembly, was passed and approved by the Governor.
An Act, proposed by the State Board of Charities, providing that prisoners may be released from county prisons to work on farms belonging to the State or county was passed and received the approval of the Governor. This Act shall remain in force during the continuance of the present war. Already several counties have taken advantage of this Act to the satisfaction of all parties concerned.
An Act, designed to render the present law more effective with regard to the employment of prisoners in the manufacture of articles for State use, we regret to report, perished in the Committee room.
An Act to abolish Capital Punishment passed in the Senate but failed of passage in the House.