The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-20
OUR CRIMINAL GLASSES.
Tho National Congress on Penitentiary
and Reiormatory Discipline-Re-
view Of Its Proceedings-Effsct
Of Moral Influences on
Reforming Criminals.

SinCiHNATI, UcL. IL, 1870.
the sittlngs OF the Congress- which commenced in
she 'Qucen City, on the 18Th inst. be,np now nearly
over anu their scope ana spirit well understood the
readers OF journal which treats the news SO ex.
haustiyely AS the NEW YORK HERALD win natu-
rally look Tor some more comprehensive account OF
tho congress than could BIO gwen IN the brief sum
mary OF ITS proceedings transmitted from day to-
DAY over the wires, and that account now proceed
to supply.
II Is known TO those who take an interest IN mat
'ers relating TO rerormatory prison discipline in
this country, and should perhaps be mentioned for
the Information OF those who 40 not, thar It was
originally proposed by Dr. Wines ana other members
OF tho New York Prison Association, and also by
members OF the philadelphia Prison Association that
the Congress which IT was proposed summon should
he international and should embrace the subject OF
''criminal law reformn as well as "ref0rmatOry
prison dscipline" Uf the European reformcrs ana
experts, however VINO favored the holding OF the
Congressman these incuded such names a. Sir
Walter Crofton Mary Carpenter. Florence Nighiin-
gale, Sir ohm Bowrng, Count Sollohuo, or Moscow;
Signor M. Bethan Scale, Inspector General OF
Prisons In Italy; FRI Brdn, OF Denmark, &c-several
suggested that It might be preferable to pre-
pare the way for an International con-
xress by lrst holding a national
American ~. Mr.. Talleck, Secretary OF the
Howard = iarion OF London, IN writing 10 DR..
Wines, saii.-'l unite with Mr.. Brock ways opinion
contained in your paper,, that IAN American con-
Rress, say III 1870, would he valuable means OF
preparation for an International congress- The
United States have gone ahead OF most if not OF all
nauons In their prison disclplinc--sayc ana except
No regards some oil their county jais and few
Others. series or recommendations agreed TO by an
American Congress would carry great weight in
Europe and prepare for more useful International
,ua NJ fhn lat fprt rf,f,n
coded by general UIitcd states congress. Fur
ther many who might attend the one In America
could not spare the time to cross the Atlantic.n
Inls view OF the subjecl was finally embraced by
The promoters OF the Congress, VINO were mainly
members OF the New York Prison Association and
the subject OF criminal law reform was dropped.
Such Is the Congress whose labogs here are now
drawing TO a close, aud which is attended by two
governors one Of WHOM, Governor Hayes, OF Ohio,
~ President-an ex-governor, deputies OF governors
members of state ana Prison boards OF charities,
members OF rcfornitory boards, wardens OF State
prisons, supertntcndenLs OF juvenile reformatories
chapans, physicians ana others intcrest In prison
discipline, Including representatives OF foreign
countries Numbering In all over two hundred per-
sons and representing between twenty and thirty
States OF tie Unioa from Maine to California and
from the Northwest to tile South Several gentle
men, including Governor Holman, OF New York
sent expressions OF tlelr sincere regret t,at they
We're unab.e.o D. Ire eut.
The appea rance OF the Congress Is striking and
has been Tho SUBJECT OF favorable comment by fhe
press o. This ely. Many OF the members men OF
lent countenance-. Their refinement and culture
have been obsii.,ei rather IN the schools OF expe-
rtence, than IN lie learned univ erstcs. Yet tn.y
are not mere pnianl hroplC much less mawksh Ell.
tnusiasts. IN y are abe might say sharp men or
business, Deiievers IN facts rather than theories
aware OF the III isutule OF the evils With which they
nave To deal, aud desilOuS well the sax oi So
ccy as from to the inmates of adult prisons
Aba our juvenile refugees, To bring about the
thorough reformation Of these unfortunate classes
AM, possible 10 bridge over the great gulf which
70 s ana q soc aa 80 T 70 proS
these ends they nave, IN some Instances. travelled
thousands Of miles At their own expense, under
taken the pecuniary Responsiveness OF the present
gathering, prepared elaborate papers on the sub
jecls OF prison reform ana management in its DIFF
ierent branches, and given up much valuable time
70 these discussions. whatever any one may think
81 the result OF Their labors, AL must admit that
the 0uJect contemplated IL noble rs 1t IL impor
tant. l am convinced, however, that the results
viii prove to be very valuable am confident that
the opportunity OF comparing notes." or asking
aad answering questions, aud OF engaging IN 1icu
roe discussion, which the Congress has Afforded
has already slvel 4 valuable Impetus To the cause
OF re.orm prison discipline and management. IL Is
70 be borne In mind III this connection, that wh,e
the Congress Inc LADIES' among It's members such well
known prison leiorner5 as Dr.. Wines General Pills
bury, or the Albany PEN entiary; Mr.. Brocgway,
Of the Detroit hou or Correction; Mr.. y. Sanpor
OF Massachusetts, and the more experienced war
dens, supernOetdcnts, chaplains and physicians OF
the various state anu city Institutions, II Is also AZ
tended by not a Few persons engaged in the same
work. whose great desire Is 10 Learn hoS the duties
entrusted to them may best pe performed and it is
most interesting to how earnestly they have ap-
pied theinsciN es % his work, and how much they
have learned III q short lime.
FJREIiN COOPERATION
pleasing feature OF the Congress is the number Of
papers contributed by European PRISON reforncrs,
Among the most Important OF these wond mention
such papers as tle Ioiowing-'Prison Discipline In
Deanark B., F. bran INSPECTOR Of Prisons in
cpline," by Sr John Bowrng; 'rne substitution
OF Reform Sentences lor Time Sentences by NJ. d.
Hill, The venerable eX-itecorder Of Biisto '.rle
Absolute Dependence OF the Criminal Class
Cooperation OF certain Capitalists anu the POSI-
blity Of cxlnyu'shing the Criminal Class by com
polling the wl.ndrawal OF such co-opera-
tlonn 10y Edwin Hill, brother OF the Re-
Walter Crofton, c. b., now OF Winchester, England;
''Pecunlary responsibility OF Pal cnts for the Fun
Partial support OF rhelr Children While Inmates Of
Reiornatorles:" Florence Nighiingac's paper on
PROSTITUTION "a an Element In Criminal PUNISH
ment,'' and some Others
PAPERS BY AMERICAN WRITER'S.
II IL not TOO much to say, however, that the
papers contributed " American writers, in quantity
country aud illustrated me readiness with when the
MINDS o, the United States can take hold OF
problems comparatively new TO them and apply
themselves, with practical solution, the humor-
GUS principle that zone thing can he done as welt az
another" Among these may be mentioned DR..
Wines General View or PRISONS In the United
Stales;'' Dr. pierce's General View OF Preventive
and keformatory discipline III the United fates;''
TEN Tor Stale by T. H. Brockway--a
most able discussion from radical STANDPOINT;
'1ne Irish Prison Dsciplinc How Far Applicable to
this Country by g. L. =. Sannorn who contends Tor
Its entire adaptation and recommends il, modl
hcations; "Dr. wicherD's Paradox-'tne strongest
wall Is 40 walls; IAN Inquiry into the Comparative
strength ol Wall OF Granite and II Wall Of Infiu-
ence. iy f. u. Aiusworth, OF ndlana-a Hne plea for
the farming system;n Dr.. Howe's paper on .The
Family Farm School for Boys,n Lancaster Onio-a
wonderful record OF success; Rev. Marcus Ames'
paper on ''The Family industrial Reform School for
Girlsn Lancaster, Mass; Captain Elrilge on cine
Nautical Reform School, Massachusetts, DR.. Wines
an international Congress on Penitentiary ana
Reform Prison DISCIPLINE" and several Others or
almost equal merit.
DISCUSSIONS ENGAGED IN AND CONCLUSIONS Arrived
At
1t would take up too much space To go into the
former at length the latter viii be more Interesting
10 practical business men. / shall therefore, only
slightly advert to the discussions and indicate more
particularly the nature OF the conclusions arrived al