We have by no means exhausted the list of industries suitable for the labor of prisoners. Every suggestion as mentioned above has been tried and found to work satisfactorily elsewhere.

In all cases, especially with regard to farm products and canned goods, it should be specified that the surplus may be sold in the open market. Suppose more potatoes should chance to be raised than the public institutions should need. In these days we tolerate no waste. We doubt whether there is a farmer in the Commonwealth who would object to the sale of the surplus in the open market. The competition would be negligible, as we think it would be with any other industry.

Inebriate Home.

It is specified that each of these farms shall have a separate apartment in the institution for the treatment of inebriates and drug users. What becomes of the proposition to establish a State Farm for the care of inebriates? Just such an institution was authorized by the Assembly of 1913. If this farm is established, and if nine other Inebriate Homes are to be constructed, it might seem that an appalling amount of dipsomania and anesthetic torpor is found in Pennsylvania. We suppose the intent of the Act is to retain, until cured, or greatly improved, those unfortunate wretches who spend a large part of the year in durance in thirty-day and sixty-day sentences. Philadelphia can supply a thousand of such derelicts, possibly Pittsburgh another thousand, and the remainder of the State a goodly proportion. Many of these people can do good work when not under the influence of intoxicants. We doubt the wisdom of segregation in every instance. If they mingle freely with those who are not drunkards or addicted to opiates, they may derive some benefit from such association. The separate treatment should be reserved for those who have become greatly impaired by bad habits.

There is also very great need of providing separate quarters for those afflicted with tuberculosis and venereal disease.

Expenses.

Original cost of farm and buildings paid by counties according to population. Overhead expenses to be paid by counties according to population. Care and maintenance of inmates to be paid by counties for each inmate sent. Each county pays for transportation of its inmates to the institution. The transportation of the convict when discharged will be charged, so it appears, to overhead expenses of the institution.

Thus, every county will pay pro rata according to population a share of the expense of purchasing the land and erecting the buildings, also the same proportionate share of the net expense of conducting the institution, or of the amount left when receipts are deducted from the expenditures. It is to be hoped that at some time the receipts may exceed the expenditures. In that event we suppose the balance will be credited pro rata to each county, though the Act is silent on this point.

In addition every county will pay transportation, care and maintenance of its own inmates. No inmates, nothing to pay on this head.

It will require an expert in institutional management and in bookkeeping to determine just what items should be charged to care and maintenance, and to general expenses. What difference will it make? Simply this. Some counties naturally will send a smaller proportionate number of inmates than others. A few counties may have but one or two inmates during the year. Each county will receive two bills for payment. One will be for its share of overhead expenses. The other will cover the cost of maintaining the prisoners sent from said county. If certain charges which might be debited to care and maintenance are charged against overhead or general expenses, then the auditor of the county sending few or no prisoners will justly protest a system of bookkeeping which charges to general expenses what ought to be charged to care and maintenance. Questions will arise quite difficult to decide, hence, there should be some regulations adopted of universal application to the nine institutions.