New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-12
OUR PRISONS.
AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT.

A National Congress on Penitentiary and
Reformatory Discipline has been called to meet GIN
cinnati Ohio from October IL to October 90 inclusive
The call is pamphlet consisting OF two pars-irst
Programme Of Proceedings" covering nine days. and
secondly, Declaration of Principles of Prison Disc
pline, prepared by the Committee of Arrangements, TO
be submitted TO the Congress for Its consideration and
action. -
Tuesday evening, the 18th, will be devoted to the
ganization Of the Congress and listening the opening
address Of the President the Hon. Speaker Blaine OF the
US. House of Representatives Who ON invitation Of
the Committee Of Arrangements, has consented to pre-
side the deliberations OF the body. This is an ar
rangement every at to be made not only because
of Mr.. Baine's high position and great parliamentary
experience, but still more because Of his familiarity WIN
prison dscipne-he having years ago made anable
report upon the subject Commissioner OF the State OF
Maine.
The Congress, though called National" has quasi
international character there less than IA
papers contributed by citizens of foreign countries
vz eight England, two from France, each from
Italy, Prussia Denmark, and the Dominion of Canada
Prof Won HOtzendOrf Of Berlin contributes ga general
view of Prison Discipline In Europe" NJ. Bonneville dc
Marsangy Of France will show how the antecedents the
criminal biography, to speak, of persons previously
convicted Of crime may be ascertaned and made matter
OF record while NJ Corne the country will prove
that, since personal liberty is right respectable
the right Of property, society is much bound
20 indemnify the citizen who has been wjustly
imprisoned it is to indemnify the citizen from whom
his house his field has been taken for public
sgnor Scala Of Italy will submit his views to the ques
lions proper 10 be considered in International Penn
Tertiary Congress- to which the be held in Ciacin
matt is designed to be preliminary and Inspector Brun
Of Denmark the present state Of prison discipline in that
country. Miss Florence Nightingale will discourse on
restitution an element in criminal punishment, in
where the oense is invasion of the right of
property. Mr.. Commissioner NJ. ID. Hin will enforce his
wemOwn views to the policy OF making the ternina
ton sentences depend reformation rather than
lapse of time; while his brother, MI Edwin HILL win
show how the criminal class may be immensely reduced
in numbers If not wholly extinguished, by the extrpa
ton of certain capitalists whose money supplies the
of their warfare upon society and his daughter
Miss Joanna Margaret Hill, Will prove that the boarding
out Of pauper children in private families may be made
20 play important part in the dminution Of crime.
Sin Walter CrOtOn author OF the farfamed Irish prison
system, will tell the Congress what principles of that
system essential, and what may be eliminated
without destroying it, or materially imparng it's
efficiency. Sir John Bowring will give his
views on the proper purposes OF prison
discplinc Col. Henderson, head Of the Lon
don police, his on the best mode OF dealing with
habtual criminals and Miss Mary Carpenter hers on
the pccuuary responsibility Of parents for the support of
their children while inmates of refOrmaOries fOrtfyng
her views by the results Of experience In England and
other European countries. Mr. Inspector ONe Of Can
ada will exhibit the present State Of the prison question
In the Dominion.
so auckland a good deal 10 is-for the contributions
of countries the interest and usefulness of the
Cincinnati Congress Let take glance at what
Is to be dORe in this regard by countryInen
Dr. Wines, Secretary Of the Prison Association contrib
utes two papersOne presenting general view Of prs
and prison discipline in the United States, and the
other giving his ideas to the policy Of interna
onal Congress penitentary and reformatOry disci
pine; while Dr. Pierce OF the NewYork House Of Ref
uge will submit paper offering general view OF pre-
ventive and reformatory institutions in the United
States showing probably that children and youth
constitute the field Of promise in which to labor for
che repression of crimes Mr. BrocEway will suggest the
true ideal OF prison system for State; Mr. sanbOrn
will far the principles of the Irish prison dis
cpne can incorporated into American practice; and
Mr. Cordier viii discourse the looming prison."
developing its constitution spirit aims, processes,
aud results Dr. Dwight will elucidate the
subject of indefinite sentences their nature, operation,
and effect and show how they may be guarded against
abuse while DR.. Snow, Secretary Of the Rhode Island
Board Of Charities, viii explain the character and
give the results Of the experiment nauguraed in that
State this direction. The Rev. Dr. Bttnger OF Penn
svania will unfold the Of crime, and show how
Tar society ITSELF by its indifference, its neglect, or its
Injustice responsible for their existence The subject
pardOns and their influence prisoners
will be exhibited by the Chaplain OF the Western Peni
Tertiary, the Rev. J. L. Mgan, and the Hon. Joseph R.
Chandler many years laborous and useful worker
among the inmates OF the Moyamensng prison, will
sent his the expediency of newspaper designed
and adapted to the wants Of imprisoned criminals
The superntendents OF the two great family reform
sehoOsone Lancaster o. for boys, the other at Ian
caster Mass for girls-Messrs. Howe and Ames-win
present history principles methods and results Of
their respective institutions; while Mr.. Rensselaer, N
Hayens who has for many years filed the post OF Chair
man the Indenturing Committee of the HewYOrk Ju-
venile Asylum win submit his views the best means
OF dsposing Of the inmates Of reformaOries Mr. FL
bridge Of the Massachusetts, Nautical Reform School viii
give the history that institution and Mr. Strong Pres
ident of the Board of Managers Of the NewYork House
Of Refuge will develop his conception Of the true ideal
of reform school-ship. DIR. Wolff of ClnE
ton prison will show the applications Of san
itary prisons regards detares ventilation
hospital accommodations baths, drainage, &C., &c. Bro
ther fellow of the n. Catholic Protectory viii tell how
important an element of in the treatment Of the
inmates of Reformatores is confidence; and Mr. Vain
wright the Indiana House of Refuge win demonstrate
the truth of Wichens paradox, that the strongest
wall WALL" in other words, that wall OF influence
is stronger than wall of granite Mr.. Tufts OF Mass,
will explain the system Of family visitation OF the wards
of that State out from Reformatores, and exhibit
its immense influence for good the reclamation of
juvenile delnquents, and the prevention OF crime
The Rev Foote of the Detroit House of Correction,
Will show the importance and power Of religious forces
In PRISONS and Dr. s. g. Howe of Boston, will exhibit
the relation Of insanity to crime shedding doubt
valuable gh on this intricate subject for the guidance OF
counsel court jury the trial Of homicda cases Dr.
ur late clerk OF the Eastern Penitentary and now cor
responding secretary of the Pennsylvania Board ofstae
Charities Will point out the importance Of prison stats
tics and the bes formulas their registration; and the
Hon James A. Garfield of Ohio viii show the necessity OF
a national prison bureau TO this and other i'm
portant ends Of prison administration in the United
sfates The Hon. GAYLORD B. Hubbel late of Sing Sing
Prison. will read paper reformatory discipline as
spped 10 adult criminals and the duty OF society TO
liberated prisoners and the Hon. VIM. H. Merrill a mem