The Sun.
London, England, 1869-08-05 00:00:00

HABITUAL CRIMINALS BILL.

Mr. BRUCE moved that the house go into committee on
this bill, the object of which was to endeavour to deter it
possible habitual criminals from crime, and to remedy a
state of things that called loudly for some change. The
bill amongst other provisions gave the power of surveillance
of the police, an arrangement that he thought would even-
tually be attended with:good results to society. The hoe
gentleman then went into a variety of statistics to show
the necessity of the bill, which he said he hoped the house
would agree to pass through committee, as it was very
desirable it should become law during the present session.
Sir C. ADDERLEY moved that the bill be referred to
a select committee, for the purpose of substituting a dis-
charged prisoners' aid society throughout the kingdom to
which the supervision of the discharged criminals might.
be entrusted instead of the police; of adding provisions
for the infliction of corporal punishment during imprison-.
ment for brutal assaults on policemen and others;
and for carrying out the objects of the bill i 4
punishing forhabitual disorderly conduct and drunkenness.
He would at once say that the object ho had in view by
the motion he had put on the paper was to endeavour to
get some of the too stringent penalties of the bill mediae°.
lie thought it would be most advisable to take the super/
vision of criminals out of prison out of the hands of tbt,
police. The result of which was that criminals discharge
were looked upon by the police as their prey, and instead
ci
assisting the discharged prisoners in obtaining employ
ment, the very reverse was the desire of the police, wh
lost no opportunity of showing their activity b:.
dragging the unfortunates back to prison. It we
said that the bill would work well, but he eou: •
not believe that punishment and education ever ()old
work well together, because the first was medicine and tb,.
latter food. He objected very strongly to the provision •
of the bill that rendered
a wanconvicted of two Ma .
felonies subject to the surveillance of the police for save •
which period the unfortunate creature woul
from the visits of the police either nig' .
or day,
ny
o ears,tb e daringfreeh
over desirous he might be of gettin,!
his living honestly. That he thought was ut
the way to bring about a reformation. Then, agate.•
it was set out, on the part of thb bill, that a third convie
tion left the j edge no alteryativa but to inflict seven ye&r,
penal servitude. Those acts he thought too severe, an, I
that they would I reduce evil rather Than good. B. •
could not see that there could b 9 any objection t.:
the motion be made, because those guilty of brut..
assaults either of the police or women, ought, to be
punished with the utmost severity.
Mr. G. HARDY thought it was desirable tln,t the
house should go into committee on the bill, which ho
thought could be made a measure of the most efficient
description.
The house ultimately went into committee on the bill,
and the principal clauses were agreed to without amend-
ments.

THE APPROPRIATION BILL.
This bill was read a third time.
The how ettemixds idjourned.