Chapter II: Part 2

Thankful to my Heavenly Father that He has, as I reverently believe, called me to this work and that through all these years He has given me health and strength to perform it, and that I may be more faithful in winning souls unto Christ, and invoking the Divine blessing upon my labor, and that ability may be given me to perform the service with increased zeal and earnestness, with a single eye to the glory of God, and to the advancement of the Redeemer’s kingdom on the earth, this report is respectfully submitted.

JOHN J. LYTLE,
_General Secretary_.

At a meeting of the Acting Committee, held 10th month, 18th, 1900, the Committee on Memorials for deceased members presented the following, in relation to our late fellow-member, Henry M. Laing.

In Memoriam.

HENRY M. LAING, our late esteemed Treasurer, died at Colorado Springs, Colorado, August 1st, 1900, in his 80th year. Funeral ceremonies were held at Friends’ Meeting House, 15th and Race street, Monday, August 13, several members of our Acting Committee attending.

It seems fitting that there should be a minute of record of our esteemed brother, who for nearly 20 years--1873-1892--served the society so honorably and so well, as Treasurer, in the care of its funds, and who had been an active member for many years, beside also being a life member. We revere his memory, as one whom we desire to think of, whose manly disposition and straightforward conscientious dealings led us all to regard most favorably.

Full of years the Lord called him, and we hope to meet him beyond the river of death.

May this note be recorded, and a copy sent to the surviving children by our Secretary.

GATHERED FROM REPORTS AND OTHER SOURCES.

CHANGE OF TREATMENT URGED.

At the discussion on criminals, before the State Board of Charities and Correction, Albany, N. Y., last December, a change of treatment was urged, that “Reformation and not punishment should be the end sought.” Dr. Wm. P. Spratling, Medical Superintendent of Craig Colony for Epileptics, said in part: “I would recommend the following: _First_--Prevent insanity, epilepsy, imbecility, idiocy, and feeble-mindedness as far as possible by making it impossible for them to marry. _Second_--By building less expensive structures in which defective and dependent State charges shall live. _Third_--Maintain at less cost the cases that are chronic and incurable, and maintaining at even greater cost those that probably can be cured. _Fourth_--By giving those that ought to have it an education that they can use in the institution that cares for them, or that they may use in the outer world when they leave the institution.”

Thomas Sturgiss, of New York City, chairman of the Board of Managers of the Elmira Reformatory, read a paper on “The Treatment of the Criminal.” The object of the discussion was to devise some plan for the adoption of a true system of treatment in any and all penal institutions, and the plan determined was

“_First_--Centralization of prisons of every kind other than those of temporary detention only, under State control.

“_Second_--That all prisons shall be taken out of politics, and that they shall be administered by men who are making this profession a scientific study and a life work.

“_Third_--A classification of all criminals, and a division of them among institutions according to such analysis.

“_Fourth_--The specializing of such institutions to the end that each may receive only that class or classes to the treatment of which its situation, its staff, and its system are deliberately adapted.

“_Fifth_--Experience shows that such classification cannot be made by the courts, for lack of time and absence of expert testimony. Provision should be made for such analysis by the head of the institution to which the prisoner is first sent, and that subsequent transfer in accordance with such analysis should be legalized both as to the power of the transferring officer and of the prison to which the transfer is made.

“_Sixth_--The adoption of the principle that reformation (reformation of character) and not punishment is the end sought by imprisonment, with such application of the indeterminate sentence and the parole system as the class and condition of the prisoner and the character of the management may justify.

“The time has gone by when we seek to punish the criminal simply. Punishment as a deterrent has failed. We now seek to reform, if we can, and to seclude for the protection of society if we cannot. Education and training in self-control and in the ability to do useful wage-earning work, are the basis of reform.

“Whatever the system in any prison, it should contain, high above everything else, the element of hope. This should never be abandoned while life lasts, if the mental powers are normal. Omit this and you take away the strongest inspiration to reform and substitute despair. Include it and you give the guardian of the prisoner his strongest weapon; and to the prisoner himself, a gleam of light in the surrounding darkness, shining from the open door through which, if he wills it, he may once again pass to finish his life experience under the conditions of freedom.”

“Every prison from a jail up should be in some measure a reformatory, an institution where the inmates received instruction in industrial pursuits, in wage-earning labor, in letters, and moral precepts.”

Secretary McLaughlin of the N. Y. State Prison Commission, stated that the present prison population of the State in custody was 10,350 (being a decrease in five years of 2,311) of these 1,197 were women of which 342 were in the workhouse, Blackwell’s Island.

Among the State improvements suggested were:

1. In order to furnish the convicts with employment under the present Constitution, further legislative restriction should cease and officers and institutions should comply with the law in good faith.

2. The state should furnish the prisons with new and modern buildings, especially at Sing Sing and Auburn.

3. The hope to see the lock-step and the prison stripes suppressed among the prisoners of the higher grades in every prison.

4. When prisoners, whose education has been utterly neglected are received, there should be compulsory education in the common English branches.

5. An efficient parole law should be adopted applicable to the State’s prisons. Such a law is recommended by the Commission and by the Superintendent and wardens of prisons.

6. The State should watch over a man after his discharge from prison, aid him in finding employment, and in the meantime, render him assistance if necessary.

7. It has been wisely suggested that even life prisoners should be under some system of parole. Probably by special enactment. There are 177 life convicts, many are not habitual criminals, but convicted of murder in the second degree, while in heat of passion or under the influence of liquor. Some have already served 20 to 40 years.

STATE PRISON DILEMMA.

Some “prison reformers” so-called, seem to be laboring under the impression that it is possible to keep convicts profitably employed without subjecting free labor of some sort to competition. A moment’s reflection, however, shows that this impression is erroneous. The best that can be done is to distribute industries in the prisons so as to reduce competition to the minimum, and that it is the policy which the State is now pursuing. A sash and door factory has just been established at Sing Sing, the output of which is to be used in public buildings. This leaves the market for sashes and doors practically to the free labor employed in that industry, and yet the fact remains, that but for this prison factory the State would have to patronize the other ones. The Amended Constitution and recent legislation in conformity with it have rendered the task of keeping convicts at work a problem. Of course they might be employed piling and unpiling stones in the prison grounds for no other purpose than to prevent them from being idle. But experience has proved that fruitless work of this sort is bad for convicts, tending to demoralize them. Unless they are given something to do worth doing they grow morbid and ripe for further mischief. Road-making as an experiment may be worth trying. The Superintendent of prisons says he finds it exceedingly difficult to keep convicts employed without antagonizing the Constitution, until the Legislature makes the present law mandatory.

HOW TO DEAL WITH WICKED MEN.

The prevention and cure of crime, the best methods for this, says Frank B. Sanborn, the political economist of Massachusetts--why “Prison science is in its infancy, so far as the world at large is concerned.” Pathetic and humiliating is the tardy advance made in this direction. Very provoking to the enlightened are the dull indifferences and frequent hallucination of the community in regard to the treatment of criminals.

Gradually, however, there has grown up in regard to a large class of criminals, the so-called “first offenders,” most rapidly in these United States, and chiefly in the past thirty years, something that may justly be turned “prison science.”

Its best examples are in the men’s prison at Elmira, which is the outgrowth of Mr. Brockway’s half century of experience in controlling and instructing convicts, and in the woman’s prison at Sherborn, Mass., lately under the inspiring government of Mr. Johnson.

As yet the criminals of longer habituation in guilt have come but little under this new development of prison science, except that in some States they now receive an added sentence when proved to be an old offender. But the tendency is where crime is best understood, to establish a small class of “incorrigibles,” for whom perpetual imprisonment shall be the sentence.

This is on the theory that such can never be safely returned to the community, upon which they are found perpetually preying, with a reasonable hope that they can be cured of evil habits. From these, should be distinguished a much greater class of criminals, who are temporarily incorrigible, but will yield to the methods, somewhat prolonged.

WHERE DEATH PENALTY IS NEEDED.

Governor Dockery, of Missouri, in his message to the Legislature of that State, recommends a law prescribing the death penalty for kidnappers of children for ransom. Also recommends that it be enacted in every State. It should also apply to another crime, which our penal laws do not properly reach--railroad train wrecking, which is often attended with a wholesale slaughter of life, and those who commit it seldom receive their just punishment, though abhorred and dreaded more than the ordinary murderer.

THE LOCK-STEP.

At Sing Sing prison the lock-step has been abolished for first offenders; it ought to be given up everywhere. The men are often identified as having been to N. Y. State Prison by the shuffling habit; a military step has been substituted. Superintendent Collins has noticed that the lock-step has grown on a prisoner to such an extent, that he will fall in behind people on the street unconsciously in true lock-step fashion.

A gang of convicts belonging to Class A, all carpenters or masons, were sent to work on the new prison at Mapanoch, Ulster Co., N. Y., and 250 from Clinton and Auburn. The new prison will cost $700,000. It was first intended for a reformatory, but the plan was changed to a State prison with accommodation for 1,000 convicts.

GRADING AND CLASSIFYING OF PRISONERS.

_From the Report of the Board of Control, Iowa._

This is carefully done in all our reformatories, but in the State penitentiaries and penal institutions very rarely. It seems fitting now, that the public desire is not only to hold the convict, but to encourage self help, by a system of regular graded or progressive classifications of prisoners, based on character, and operated on a system of marks. Hope should be made an ever present force in the minds of the prisoner, by a system of rewards for good conduct, that carries with it a promotion from a lower to a higher grade.

In connection with this system of classification, a well regulated parole and indeterminate sentence law will be enacted by the Legislature; thereby placing the destiny of the prisoner in his own hands, and by his own exertions to continually better his condition. The object of imprisonment and prison government is for the protection of society and for the reformation of the prisoner. It is plain the State does not discharge its obligation until one or both these objects have been clearly accomplished. If the prisoner cannot be reformed, he must be held indefinitely, yet the parole system in connection with established grades may be so administered as to secure these results. It is better than a definite sentence (that does not reform) without a provision of parole; but more effective when coupled with the reformatory or indeterminate sentence, because it makes a stronger appeal to the convict for his co-operation.

It is gratifying to know that this is to be introduced into all the State penal institutions of Iowa.

RECLAIMED CRIMINALS BY PAROLE LAWS.

It is only in recent years that the idea of making a good man out of a bad one has had any prominence in the penal system. The old idea was simply to punish the criminal and lock him away from honest people so he could do them no more harm. The actual result seemed to have proved that it made him more proficient in the school of crime. In many States this evil still exists. In New York State for example, seventy per cent. of the released convicts return to criminal lives. Several other States have tried the plan of releasing well-behaved convicts, with comparatively clean records, finding work for them, and keeping them under surveillance until assured of their reform. Here are the results:

Offenders Redeemed. Returned to Crime.

Pennsylvania 85 per cent. 15 per cent.
Ohio 90 “ 10 “
New Jersey 95 “ 5 “
Indiana 94 “ 6 “
Connecticut 100 “ None.
Utah 100 “ None.
Michigan 94 “ 6 per cent.
Alabama 96 “ 3 “
Virginia 100 “ None.
Minnesota 92 “ 8 per cent.

The convicts themselves are enthusiastic in praise of the new plan, for many of them would prefer to lead honest lives if given a fair chance. “The Star of Hope,” a paper written and printed by the convicts of the N. Y. State Prisons, is full of articles in favor of the parole system, which the convicts hope to see adopted throughout the State. At present, it applies to the Elmira Reformatory only.

Indiana State Prison, at Michigan City, has had the parole system in force three years; 132 prisoners have been paroled, 6 have been returned for violation of their parole, 2 have failed to report, and we do not know where they are. We consider this a good showing for the management. We have now 80 men on parole, who make report promptly, earning all the way from $5 to $40 per month and their board, in many cases caring for their families, that would otherwise be a public charge upon the township where they live had the prisoner been kept in confinement.

PROPOSED MARRIAGE REFORM.

The Tri-State Medical Society of Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, in session at Chattanooga, have taken steps to secure medical Legislation in those three States, for the purpose of regulating or prohibiting the marriage of habitual criminals, or persons afflicted with incurable diseases, drunkards and victims of harmful drugs.

CONTRACT, PRICE-PIECE, STATE ACCOUNT.

Formerly the contract plan was followed in most penitentiaries, the labor of each convict being hired out in a certain industry at a fixed sum per day. This has been succeeded in many States by what is known as the price-piece plan, where the contractors pay for the convict labor at so much for each piece of work done; and in other States by manufacturing done on the account of the State.

The contract system, where it is possible to contract the labor at a fair price, is undoubtedly the best one for the State. In such case the State only furnishes the room, heat and labor, saves the great outlay for machinery and power.

If proper contract labor cannot be had for our penitentiaries, then the price-piece plan is the best, and if it is not possible to employ the convicts in any other way, then we should resort to proper industries to be carried on, by State account, like New York.

The convict should be employed, either by contract or price-piece plan before resorting to manufacture on State account. Many a warden at the National Prison Congress, has shown that they could have all the contract or price-piece work that they could do if the law permitted it, but it is the everlasting fear of antagonizing force labor.

When we find that the entire output of all the penitentiaries in the United States during 1899, for the five principal things manufactured in prison was only one-tenth of one per cent, it does seem strange that any Trades’ Union would be unwilling to have the State by employment care for the health and best interests of their sons and brothers detained!

CONVICT LABOR ON STATE FARMS.

Mississippi Penitentiary Board of Control find farming their best interest, have leased 9,350 acres of cleared land on which was worked 720 convicts, the net revenue past year estimated at $100,000. The State has purchased 3,000 acres on which 80 convicts will be employed, and they have set apart $80,000 to purchase not more than 12,000 acres.

ROAD MAKING FOR CONVICTS.

The most valuable contributions in some respects, is the report of the Industrial Commission on “Prison Labor,” Washington, D. C., in the brief part which deals with what is not prison labor at all, but the labor of convicts outside of prisons--building and repairing roads--an employment which meets the demands of intelligent and practical reasoners, and seems to solve the problem of prison labor from a humanitarian standpoint. Mention is here made to call attention to it.

INDUSTRIAL REFORMATORIES.

New York State Reformatory, Elmira, is one of the oldest institutions of the kind in the United States. Has about 1500 convicts. As the State does not permit the sale of their product in open market, the institution has become more than ever a great trades school. Thirty-six industries are taught, beside mental, physical, and industrial training, including education in the school of letters. Several of the literary schools are taught by convicts trained for that department.

The trade of the convict is determined by the Superintendent, according to the advice of his relatives, and the surroundings he is likely to return to. Of the 658 discharged in 1899, 82 per cent. went directly to the trade practiced in the Reformatory.

It is a very busy place, the convict plying his trade industriously, not to be sold or serve some useful purpose, but only to give him practice and skill; when completed it is destroyed, then done over again. The disposition to excel in skill and excellence has a tendency to make them better men. Almost every visitor is impressed with the conviction, that labor here so exquisitely performed, should be applied to some useful purpose and the articles sold.

The carefully prepared system of grading is admirable. A prisoner when he enters is placed in the second grade; he may work up to the highest grade, shorten his term, secure his liberty by good conduct, and proficiency in trades and school work. The lowest grade is cared for much like the prisoners in the penitentiary, the middle grade fare better, have a table-cloth and other privileges, the highest grade have better food and clothing, privileges to converse, and order their food and pay for it out of their own funds. The system seems to rest on three ideas--1st, indeterminate sentence. 2nd, parole provisions of the law. 3rd, the trades and marking system. Gross cost per capita in 1899, $153.85.

MASSACHUSETTS STATE REFORMATORY, CONCORD.

Receives men from 18 to 35; if guilty of crime more than three times, cannot be sent here. The training-school is very much like Elmira, N. Y. After they become proficient in these schools, they pass into the industrial department and are employed at various kinds of productive labor. Sloyd system work is very prominent, forenoons spent in the trades schools, and afternoons in the shops. Prisoners alternate, so that both shops and industrial training-schools are in full operation all of the day.

Products of the shops are furnished other State institutions. They manufacture cotton and woolen goods (having a $35,000 plant of machinery). All weaving is done by hand-looms, made in the institution. There are over twenty industries and the institution uses all the money it earns.

The average convict’s stay is fifteen months, yet it is possible he may work out in a year, and he may be kept two years if convicted for a felony. About half the prisoners remain full time for which they are committed. They have 300 acres of land, and twenty acres are inside the prison walls, 1022 cells; prisoners go out on good records made in school and shop.

ILLINOIS REFORMATORY, PONTIAC.

Has 1,379 inmates between 12 and 21 years. Boys under 16 go to school daily, over 16 years three-quarters of a day. Trades schools and productive labor, contracted out certain sum per hour. Eighty-five per cent. conduct themselves properly, and the authorities keep track of them for a year after they leave. The average stay is 19 months, a few go out in a year. First grade men eat in a dining-room, the rest in their cells. Cost per capita, $120.

THE JUVENILE COURT OF CHICAGO.

Has been in operation over one year, and it has rescued 1,250 children, three fourths of whom have been paroled and placed in charge of probation officers. It is against the law of Illinois to imprison, even in a police-station, any child under twelve years of age, before, during or after trial. In case of necessity the child is to be committed to some suitable institution. The purpose of the plan is to give a boy another chance in his own home under the oversight of a probation officer. The business of the officer is to establish relations of friendship with the boy’s parents, and with the boy himself, and to take pains to secure that the surroundings in which the boy is growing up shall be such as to minister to a decent life. This is another step in that probation system which has long succeeded so well in Massachusetts and which ought to be established in every State in the country. One interesting fact in connection with the workings of the Juvenile Court, is, that the Judge and the probation officers have learned that it is practically hopeless to expect satisfactory results where a boy is a confirmed cigarette-smoker.

SLOYD WORK.

This is not a trade, but a system of teaching, by draughting plans, used in manual training-schools and some of our reformatories. It ought to be introduced in all our reformatories, and would be extremely useful in the prisons among those of long terms with work, for it establishes practical thoughts as a foundation for a trade when dismissed.

NOVEL PUNISHMENT.

When Mayor James L. Schaadt, of Allentown, Pa., began his office a year ago, new ideas were inaugurated for evildoers, and generally with good effect. When but a few days in office, a party of boys were brought before him on some trivial charge of disorder. The offence needed some punishment, and the parents were too poor to pay even a small fine. The Mayor learned the family shingle was still in use in the boys’ homes, and as the boys were too young to send to the station-house for a day or two, the Mayor sent the boys home with instructions that they should be soundly spanked by their parents as a punishment, and to report at court the next day whether their sentence had been carried out. The scheme worked well until some of the fathers refused to do it, then the Mayor did it himself until he tired of it, and finally it was required to be done in the court-room by the police officer; the plan has worked well and the number has greatly decreased.

On many prisoners fines are imposed, and he trusts them to be paid on instalments, and they never fail to satisfy the obligation. It acts as a deterrent to committing a like crime. Squads of tramps are put to work on the city streets without guard, and they very soon skip out of town, fearing re-arrest and a long sentence.

THE WHIPPING-POST.

Judge S. C. Baldwin, of Philadelphia, is in favor of the lash, or whipping-post, for incorrigible boys, and especially for wife-beaters, as they are often the only support of the wife and children. The September Grand Jury made such a recommendation before Judge Pennypacker, and he considered it worthy of consideration. But most of our Judges considered it not in harmony with the twentieth century ideas, and were unwilling to express any decided opinion offhand, as the whipping-post was a radical change. Judge Michael Arnold thought it would shock the public mind too much, and that the reason why our present plans fail is because the prisoner has too easy a time in jail, not required to work. Judge Robert N. Wilson held that in detaining a husband it often caused more suffering to the wife and children to be deprived of support, and it was a serious question whether it would not be degrading and lower a man’s whole moral nature.

Judge Wm. W. Whitbank thought the matter too radical to be decided without a careful consideration.

Judge Abraham M. Beitler had very decided views, but the public does not realize the situation. If they would only sit one day in court and see the cases of brutality brought before us, they would very soon recommend more drastic punishment. What are you going to do with a man who beats his wife in a most brutal manner (while drunk, generally), but who is the sole support of that wife and children? If you put him in jail you inflict ten times more suffering on his family.

In regard to the opinion of the Grand Jurymen, that the House of Refuge is not operating for the good of society, because not all the boys are reformed and converted, all the Judges unanimously expressed themselves as not in sympathy with the view taken by the Grand Jury, for we all know of very many cases where the House of Refuge has done splendid work. One of the Judges said:

“You cannot hope to make a law-abiding citizen out of every criminally disposed boy, and you cannot say that, because a few cases have not been benefited apparently, that the House of Refuge is a failure. I believe, on the contrary, that it is doing a most excellent work in elevating the morals of the community.”

THE BERTILLON SYSTEM.

In the past year the Bertillon system has been introduced in several of the States (it ought to be in all). Iowa has just found it very desirable. New York State has had it several years, proved of great value, not only in identifying prisoners, but in the identification of several meeting with sudden deaths in railroad accidents. By this system identification becomes positive and certain, as often as the prisoner comes under the measuring instruments, it will be an easy task to lay bare a criminal’s history by referring to his card. If the Legislature would enact an indeterminate sentence or parole law, the effectiveness of the same would be wonderfully aided by this system of identification. There are some who contend that “the State has no right to use this system against the man”--then let us have something better--a law of the United States requiring every State to enthrone this system, and that a National Bertillon Bureau be established for all the convicts of our country. This would be of untold help, and many a time a man’s true character could be asserted before the Judge had pronounced an unjust or inadequate sentence. This present Congress will be implored to establish this National System, by the advice and recommendation of the National Prison Congress.

RESULTS OF TREATMENT OF THE INSANE.

Last fall the press often seemed to indicate a startling increase of insanity among the inmates of the New York State prisons, and it aroused scientific discussion. As the number was larger from those prisons where work was silent, it was held that the want of exercise was the cause. But when it was shown that from the Elmira Reformatory, where work is constant, 65 were transferred to the State Hospital at Matteawan, the State prison authorities cannot account for the sudden increase. Over 700 the past year were sent to this hospital from penal institutions.

Who can measure the value of services to those restored as producers, and who would lower the standard of care, if it would result in preventing a single recovery? Many live in hospitals surrounded with everything necessary to their comfort and who may never fully recover, but their burdens are lightened and lives sweetened so far as it is possible to do so.

Hospital treatment of the insane in this country has made great strides in the right direction past few years, by substituting proper and healthful employment in place of mechanical restraint, thus stimulating a return in the patient to normal conditions, and naturally improving the prospect of final recovery.

The hospital of to-day is not a prison. It is a place where those skilled in the treatment of mental and nervous diseases continually minister to those affected; where health-promoting vocations are encouraged; where books, magazines, music and entertainments contribute to the pleasure and restoration to health of patients.

It is a startling fact that of those who were discharged as recovered nearly one-half had been received at the hospitals within a month or two after the affliction, and most all of them were afflicted less than a year prior to their admission.

In view of this fact, it becomes the duty of friends and persons afflicted with insanity (whether in prison or out of it) to see to it that they are early placed in the hospitals, for the probabilities of recovery are greatly in their favor.

Music both vocal and instrumental, has been found to be exceedingly valuable to restoring unbalanced minds; even brass bands and orchestras have been an untold help.

The people of our State have a right to expect that its insane who are cared for at its hospitals, shall have the best medical skill and attention, and the best care that can be given them; pleasant surroundings and good dietary. To this end let us continually labor to always maintain the highest standard of care for those unfortunates.

HAVANA PRISONS, CUBA.

Urafall Muntalso, warden of Havana Prison, last fall made a tour of the most noted prisons of the United States, with a view to adopting the best points of our system in the big Government institution of Havana, of which he is the head. He spoke of Sing Sing as being so different in all its features that one would imagine the institution conducted for another purpose entirely, instead of having exactly the same object. He gave high praise to our Eastern Penitentiary as a model institution of its kind, and to Warden Bussinger as certainly conducting it in a model manner. Several times expressed that the men seemed happy and contented as possible, being detained. Cuba so many generations under Spanish rule, with ancient views for punishments of convicts--to introduce American reform would seem almost revolutionary, but it must be done.

The penal institutions heretofore embodied all the unfavorable features of solitary confinement, and with very few of the favorable features. Education and employment of convicts in prison was out of the question. The convicts simply served out their sentence, not contributing in any way to their own support. By means of the reforms contemplated this will be largely changed. The intention is to improve the sanitary condition of all the penal institutions in Cuba, to alter the buildings to modern details, the men to do the work; then as rapidly as possible the humane American features will be introduced. Since Spanish rule has been cast off, the number of criminals and of crimes committed have been lessened over one-third. The cause is attributed to its present prosperity, thousands being employed, who were long time idle, keeping them honest and out of the hands of the law.

AUSTRALIAN PRISON REFORM.

Sydney, New South Wales, and in fact all Australian prisons were of the congregate system, free association. The recently introduced system of restricted association among prisoners is being gradually extended, though distasteful to the habitual criminal. Those seeking to reform, rejoice to be cut off from the degrading companionship. Captain Neitensteen, the Controller of New South Wales Prison, says: “There is every reason to hope the new departure will improve the moral atmosphere of all the jails, and will lead to the reformation of many prisoners. Already the number committed has decreased over 600, and the more serious crimes have received a check. Female prisoners have decreased to 180 prisoners last December, the lowest number in twenty-five years. The prisoners make all the clothing, boots, etc., for the officers and inmates, beside last year they earned £20,000 in work for the various Government departments repairing buildings, etc., outside the value of labor employed in the domestic work of the various jails.

“At Bathurst a complete marble-cutting and polishing plant has been erected, occupation to a large body of men. The waste lands attached to jails are now being cultivated, giving healthy out-door work of reformatory character, and supplies the greater portion of the food.”

PRISONS IN OLD PARIS.

[FROM THE GENTLEMAN’S MAGAZINE.]

Of the five principal prisons of Paris during the Reign of Terror, the most hopeless of all the horrible places on earth was the Conciergerie, whence few escaped, except to ride in the fateful tumbril which conducted them to the guillotine. All the other prisons fed this one. As many as 80 prisoners a day were sent to the scaffold, and the feeling of terror outside the prisons was almost equal to the dungeon. No one knew when his turn would come. Men’s faces were calm, but hearts filled with fear. Detectives and spies bore false witness everywhere, even the garçon who served you with a _petit verre_ might be an agent of the Republic, whose report might send you to the Conciergerie in the evening, and on the morrow to the guillotine. The fatal roll call was read out daily. Men rushed to hear if their names were included in the list of victims. If not they breathed more freely, at least they had another day to live. But now how changed! look at the----

MODEL FRENCH PRISON.

A SANITARIUM, RETREAT, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION WHERE CRIMINALS ARE HANDLED WITH KID GLOVES.

The new prison at Fresnes, eight miles from Paris, is the largest in the world. Takes the place of three old prisons, is situated in a healthy district, and covers with its main buildings, flower-gardens, and villa residences of officials, over half a square mile.

The prison is not built on the star plan, but consists of five rectangular blocks, one of which is the infirmary. The plan is the cellular, and the number of cells 1,824. Also accommodation provided on the association system for 400 privileged prisoners; total criminal capacity is 2,224. As a sanitarium for the criminal Fresnes is unique. As his or her present home, it boasts the proud record of being only half full, for crime or at least punishment by imprisonment for crime is diminishing in France. The system at Fresnes is interesting; the authorities believe in fresh air and sunshine, those foes of the microbe, and friends of health. Hence the prison is a model sanitarium. Otherwise the criminal is gently educated; he works at some trade, and can purchase from the proceeds of his work, extra food and personal requirements, with the exception of tobacco. When the prisoners go to worship, which is not compulsory, or to school which is, they wear hoods to prevent mutual recognition on release. In some of the workshops this rule does not obtain. The reason for this apparent inconsistency is not clear.

Even the officials receive instruction on such subjects as the prevention of crime and prison discipline, and as a result of this the excellent idea of the whole prison is admirably carried out. A final feature of Fresnes is the severe simplicity of its architecture.

SIBERIAN BANISHMENT.

The official messenger of the Czar of Russia at St. Petersburg, Oct. 1, 1900, published the Imperial ukase providing for the abolition of banishment at Siberia. The Czar commissioned the Minister of Justice to draw a law for abolishing such banishment. This was sanctioned by the Council of the Empire, and has been signed by the Czar, thus the law is now gazetted.

NORWAY PRISON.

A member of our Pennsylvania Prison Society, returning from the land of the midnight sun, reports his visit to the principal prison at Akerstuis, Christiania, Norway. When he made known that he was a member of the oldest Prison Society in the world he was shown the utmost attention by Director Peter Soelberg. He describes it as the congregate system, and being shown over the entire plant, the sleeping-cells, dining-room, baths, culinary departments, &c., describes it as exceedingly clean and neat with a purity of atmosphere. The chapel is very large and all the prisoners are required to attend service twice on Sundays and also on other days.

The workshops are many, and the trades pursued are carpentry, cabinet-work, blacksmithing, wheelwright, harness, boots and shoes, tinsmith, making all kinds of household utensils, and weaving by hand. If a prisoner has no trade, he is taught one before he goes out; their object is to turn out men reformed and able to make their own living. The prisoner receives part of the profits he made while in prison, to help him on his release, which is then paid to him. All the goods manufactured in prison are sold at a store outside, at a little less price, and the people go there to purchase, yet there is a fair profit made. The prisoners have outdoor exercise every day, they have a schoolmaster besides a moral instructor, and they are treated as erring brothers, called by their first name; the Director was horrified at the thought of our calling a man by a number, when the object was to reform him and make him appreciate his position as a citizen or subject of his country. Women prisoners were very few.

Chairman Finance Committee and the Editorial Board.]

THE NATIONAL PRISON CONGRESS.

CLEVELAND, OHIO, SEPTEMBER 22-26, 1900.

The meetings were held in the hall of the Young Men’s Christian Association, except on Sunday. There were 201 delegates present. Ohio had 40, and Pennsylvania next, with 25. The official delegates present from this Society were Mrs. Deborah C. Leeds, John J. Lytle, and Rev. R. Heber Barnes.

On the platform were Governor George K. Nash, Abraham Wiedner, Chairman of the local committee; Captain Edward S. Wright, President of the Association; Rev. D. Morgan Wood, of Plymouth Congregational Church; Hon. Frederick Howard Wines, LL. D., of Washington, D.C.; Rev. John L. Milligan, of Allegheny, Pa.; M. W. Beacom, who represented Mayor Farley, and others who had achieved national reputation for reform in prison work.

Director of Public Charities Abraham Wiedner, as Chairman of the local committee, presided, and made a brief speech of welcome. Rev. Dr. Morgan Wood made the opening prayer. Director Wiedner introduced Governor Nash.

GOV. GEORGE K. NASH, ADDRESS OF WELCOME.

To me has been assigned the pleasant duty to express to you, in behalf of the people of Ohio, a hearty welcome. We appreciate the honor of having you meet with us, and also the noble work in which you are engaged.

When the Association was first organized it was presided over for a number of years by that noble man, Rutherford B. Hayes. After his death another noble man from Ohio became your presiding officer; and I am glad that General Brinkerhoff is still in our midst.

My understanding is that there are two purposes in punishing crime. The first is to protect society; the second, to bring about the reformation of the prisoners. With these ends in view the prisons should always be healthful, but the prisoners should not live in luxury. The reformation of the prisoner is most desirable, and he should be treated with that end in view. If you succeed in reforming those men and women you have accomplished a most noble work. In your efforts you need and are entitled to the sympathy of all, and I give you a most hearty welcome to the old “Buckeye State.”

The chairman introduced CORPORATION COUNSEL M. W. BEACOM, who represented MAYOR JOHN H. FARLEY in his absence.

I wish to express the Mayor’s feeling of gratitude, that you have chosen this city for your conclave. Your purpose is not to further your own interest, but to uplift humanity. I take it that there is a tendency in the caring for criminals to run to sentimentalism. I think that all such theories should be laid aside, but the health and environment of the prisoners should be good. In behalf of the Mayor and the people of Cleveland I welcome you to this city.

HON. FREDERICK HOWARD WINES, LL.D.,

Responded in a graceful way to the addresses of welcome. He outlined the objects of work of the Association at some length. Dr. Wines is the Assistant Director of the United States Census, and, as Assistant Director, thought he ought to be the most popular man in Cleveland. He said he was very glad to come to Ohio, for it was his birthplace. What the Governor has said about the object of this organization was right so far as it goes. Not only do we mean to look after the interests of prisoners, while they are in prison, but also after they have been released, and even before they are put in prison. We want to know with reference to the prisoner what is desirable and possible to do for him. Dr. Wines spoke of the different theories held with reference to the criminal class. One view, he said was held generally by many religious people, and it was that since all people were bad, the so-called prison class was no worse than the other class except in being less fortunate. The other extreme view was, that the average prisoner had so inherited criminal tendencies, that all efforts to reform him would prove futile. The truth, he said, lay somewhere between these two extremes.

ADDRESS.

CAPTAIN EDWARD S. WRIGHT, PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION.

We all retain memories of having regard for all the men and women who have been helpers in the work we have in hand. One name will always stand highest, that of General Rutherford B. Hayes, for ten years our President, and to many of us a type of a gallant American gentleman. His life and labor in the promotion of humanity in prisons, and the reformation of the imprisoned, are crystalized in the records of the proceedings of the Association.

Following the history of prison reform work in the world, and especially in this country, he said, “Thus it has come about that a cellular system of confinement in separation in the intervals of work has come to be called the American System of imprisonment. In nearly all the prisons of this country details may vary in some points, but in the main the prisons closely resemble each other. No better form of imprisonment has yet been devised. Nearly all these changes in prison discipline of the United States have taken form in the latter part of the century.”

“The Constitution laws, of nearly all the States have been enacted since the National Prison Association took strong grounds in favor of this feature, in which reward and punishment go hand in hand. A system of classification first introduced in the Elmira Prison Reformatory has been adopted in substance by the majority of all classes and

GRADES OF PRISONS.

As the work goes on it will be found to lead step by step to the indeterminate sentence law, or a system which holds the prisoner in the control of the law, until he has given evidence of a reformed life.

EDUCATION.

An interesting change in the method of conducting prison schools deserves consideration. Illiterate prisoners of all ages, cripples, and men of clouded intellect are brought into a real school, with hours of instructions each day. Education is only given in the elementary branches, but such great progress has been made, that it would seem possible to extend its curriculum especially with the long sentenced offenders.

PRISON LABOR

remains an unsettled problem, except its future in the South, and here and there in the North, where the expense of support has been met by the earnings, show no inclination to adopt measures really leading up to its eventual abolition as a means and measure in prison discipline.

“Convicts should be constantly employed in intelligent labor or work having a beneficial object and result. We should all hope that common humanity, which underlies all hearts, must some day agree upon a system of labor for all ages and conditions, it has been considered a man’s common heritage; the most helpful to his restoration to honesty and virtue.

BERTILLON SYSTEM OF IDENTIFICATION.

“To promote efficiency to the system of measurement and photography throughout the country, Congress will be asked to enact and establish such a National Bureau. When that has been secured, many facts as to crime and criminals can be made plain to all. For the repeater, severity is mercy. On that thought much could be said, for it underlies all systems and methods of modern prison discipline. If we contrast the conditions, methods, and laws now the rule in all prisons with those of one hundred years ago, there is great reason for thankfulness and hope for the future.”

At the adjournment of the evening session a reception was held in the parlor of the Y. M. C. A., where all the visitors shook hands with Governor Nash.

The headquarters were at the Colonial Hotel, where most of the delegates stopped. The delegates were furnished with a badge, and also a package of twenty trolley-car tickets to ride on any of the lines. These were donated by the car line management.

SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 23d.

The delegates met at the Colonial Hotel and marched to the Epworth Memorial M. E. Church to listen to the annual sermon by Rev. Ward Beecher Pickard, D.D. It was a masterly production, so well filled with good thoughts, that it was constantly referred to throughout the sessions.

The theme of Dr. Pickard’s sermon was “God’s child, the criminal.” I refrain from any extracts as it is to be published for general distribution, as a leaflet, for a help to prison workers.

Sunday evening, at the Old Stone Church, Chaplain Rev. John L. Milligan, General Secretary, made the invocation prayer, Chaplain William J. Batt read the Scripture lesson, and the evening was taken up with short popular addresses on prison reform, by President Wright on the aims of work of the Association, Hon. Samuel J. Barrows on the International Penitentiary Congress, held at Brussels, Belgium, General R. Brinkerhoff of Ohio, Hon. H. H. Hart of Illinois Children’s Home and Aid Society, Professor Rev. C. R. Henderson, University of Chicago.

MONDAY, 9 A. M., SEPTEMBER 24TH.

WARDENS’ ASSOCIATION MEETING.

PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL ADDRESS, ALBERT GARVIN,

WARDEN CONNECTICUT STATE PRISON.

It contained a number of striking features. He strongly advocated the adoption of the indeterminate sentence plan, and that of productive labor. Among other things he said:--“The absolute indeterminate sentence for all prisoners except life convicts is, in my opinion, the only logical method of dealing with the delinquent classes. Upon criminals it should operate as a definite deterrent influence. To habitual offenders it would be a danger sign, and it would beget new risks in the commission of crime. Under it the sifting process, by which the reformable prisoners are sorted from the incorrigibles, could be intelligently applied; powerful motives for the abandonment of criminal practices would be created, and safeguards for the protection of society would be erected.”

The State might as reasonably send an insane person to an asylum for a definite time, as to convict a criminal to a prison for a specific period. If the management in the one case is competent to discharge, why not in the other?

“From every penal institution in the country convicts are being regularly discharged, who as the management only too well knows, will promptly resume the criminal program which was temporarily interrupted by a term of prison.

“Every consideration of social welfare demands that, on the one hand the criminal should be kept under restraint until he is fit to be released, and that, on the other hand once fit to be released, he should be conditionally discharged. This system should not only afford the largest measure of protection to life and property, but it would also supply the most practical method for the reformation of the offender.”

The galling fire which is kept up against productive labor in penal institutions, is born of a mistaken or partial view of the situation, and is not justified by the whole body of facts in the case. It is estimated that the value of the products of penal institutions does not exceed one tenth of one per cent of the total value of the products of the manufacturing industries of the whole United States. This fact renders it obvious that the economic and competitive effect of convict labor upon free labor is in the aggregate insignificant, and that it wholly fails to justify the persistent warfare which some people take pleasure in waging against prison industry.

It would be superfluous to state in a gathering of this kind, that regular and intelligent employment is absolutely essential to the moral and physical welfare of convicts, and the enforced idleness begets sullenness, immorality, sickness, insanity, and retards, if indeed it does not entirely prevent, the improvement of which the prisoners might otherwise be susceptible. In all intelligent efforts to reform convicted criminals, work is an indispensable factor--and only productive labor is reformative labor. Both the practical and the ethical requirements of the situation make for productive labor.

ADDRESS BY H. F. HATCH, IONA, MICH.

“_A contractor’s view of prison discipline._”

JOSEPH F. SCOTT, WARDEN MASSACHUSETTS STATE REFORMATORY,

Spoke of “_Civil service in Prison_.”

A deplorable evil was the constant changes in prison management for political reasons, it was an evil which had to be eliminated. Mentioned several instances, where prisons were entirely under civil service rule with very satisfactory results.

Recreation and privileges as aid to prison discipline was freely and favorably discussed.

The food problem in prisons was discussed. This being a wardens’ meeting, the wardens of almost every penitentiary in the country (including our warden of the Eastern Penitentiary) told briefly what food was given to the inmates of their prison. The cost ranged from 7-1/2 cents to 10 cents for each prisoner, average was 9 cents.

It was also agreed that a prison orchestra could do much good in a prison. A music hour was also advocated, during which every prisoner should be allowed to play whatever instrument he chose in his cell.

* * * * *

George Scheidler, warden of Northern Indiana State Prison, said he had found that the improvement of prison food had done much to establish confidence between prisoners and officials. He said Indiana supplied food baked, roasted, stewed, etc., and that the menu is changed every day.

MONDAY AFTERNOON.

THE CHAPLAIN’S MEETING, 2 P. M.

A meeting which at times waxed warm. One of the subjects for discussion was Dr. McKim’s recent book, “Heredity and Human Progress.” The consensus of opinion among the chaplains was that the cause of crime is not psychological, as Dr. McKim tries to prove, but sociological, and it behooves the churches especially to try not only to improve the environments of the prisoners and ex-convicts, but to study more closely the cause of crime.

ADDRESS. REV. WM. J. BATT, CHAPLAIN, CONCORD, MASS.

He reviewed the past work of the Chaplains’ Association, and said: “That as they looked back he certainly felt very much had been gained from the existence of this organization,” and that much more could be done to aid the wardens and superintendents in the management of prisons and reformatories. That criminality was not on the increase, being lessened by public education, beginning in our public schools, where there has been no backward step in the matter of discipline and study of civil government.

To-day the cry is: “Use the preventative in the case of the discharged prisoner.” Yes, but what is needed is to use the preventative “education” at all times before he has cause to enter a prison gate.