The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-02-13

under sound and enlightened uiseipn'io ohet
they are reformed-keep them ief- year own
sale and tor theirs. The vast majority of
those who enter your prisons as criminals can
he sem back to the world, after no unreason-
able term of probation, honest men and use
Iul citizens. Let the small minority remain,
and if death arrive before reformation, let
them remain Tor liIe."
Recognizing the practical difficulty of
ohlnaing our whole legislation to conformity
with this theory, even though it be specula-
lively correct the Commissioners do not veil
ture to recommend here the adoption of in
Discriminate sentences, but will only suggest
tie idea as affording food for thought now
and perhaps basis of action hereafter. An
extension of the term of Jail sentences win
power lodged in the prisoner hImseIl 10
shorten it by good conduct, we 40 reconi'
mend. This principle of commutatioh Is
recognized by more than twenty States, III
GLIDING chr own. which passed such law in
1877 (Chap, XXX that is now the fourteenth
section of chapter 40 of the revision of 1871.
II this be correct in principle and found to
work well in practice, as applied to the pris-
oners at Thomson, there can be no reason
why it should not operate beneficially upon
those confined at Portland or Bangor. That
it would prove successful can hardly be doubt
ed, wher we consider that it is analogous TO
the mode in which individuals, society and
slowed upon those who do we'll and punish
ment upon those who persist in evil doing. 1t
is lair to presume that the prisoners at Thorn
aston are no more likely to be sentenced be-
You'd their deserts than those who are sent
to ountycails; then the former are no
more entitled OF right to shortening OF time
than the latter-and no more entitled to re-
ceive favor. AS the more wicked transSress-
ors they are less to be favored; yet, II this
Communication be based on its proved moral
tendency and not favor, you are again
taking away this boon also (of working out
his own salvation') from the lesser criminal
to bestow it upon the greater.
IRISH PRISON SYSTEM
The institution OF district prisons, with the
power of transfer, as proposed, would also al
low the Inauguration OF that which is known
as the "Irish Prison System" which is found
everywhere approved by those most con-
versant with and capable of judging of it's
merits. The limits to which this report must
be confined will not permit of our gong into
the details of this subject; but we will simply
say that the system adopted with such UMPIRE
cedented success IN Ireland. is to have the
prisons graded by different kinds of labor, and
to classify the prisoners in each place, making
their promotion from grade to grade, and prs-
on to prison, to depend upon themselves, with
the penalty of being refrigerated for misbe-
tenn is, that the communication of the time of
imprisonment to which good behavior will en-
title a prisoner is conditional and forfeitable.
not merely by positive crime, but by miscon-
duct, and there is then incurred the liability
of being remanded to Jail, there to complete
the original term of sentence. BY uniform
good conduct the convict continually hastens
his deiverance; but even after he has rejoined
the outside community, its is only by prese.
in the yUay ot xuol1 fLot1 I,
preserve his liberty.
We are well aware that the vastly greater
extent of country, the facility of inter-commu
nlcatloD, and the migratory habits of our peo.
pie, are difficulties to be encountered here
which do not exist in Ireland, and according.
ly that supervision over the conditonaly dis
charged prisoner is much more easily main
tanned there than here. Yet we see no reason
why it cannot be properly tested. When first
attempted there it was but an experiment, OF
much more doubtful issue than it would be
here now. The only objection being that the
person subject to oversight could leave the
Slate TO escape it, the reply is plain: If he
propose to behave himself he will have no &C.
casion to leave, or to lear that general obser.
Walton OF his conduct, associates, &c, to which
every member OF socielyis subjected at the
hands OF his fellows. Ii he be disposed to
misbehave, the State will be well rid of him
"HN .iiNNh e,Oou, al lCdou Will udte Deen dC-
compllshed. Nor can any sister STATE rightly
complain OF us that we have sent to them a
man whom, relying upon Uniform GOOD con.
duct, we had thought tit to be restored 10 the
society OF our own citizens.
CARE OF DISCHARGED PRISONERS.
One thought occurs here. Ii we subject
the discharged prisoners to inspection, with
the intent 10 punish them if they 90 wrono.
IL would seem but fair that we should make
some effort to aid them IN guiding their Steps
in the right path. IL is everyones duty, how
ever, to obey the law and be good citizen :
and it hardly seems incumbent upon the
state Itself to do any more than to furnish its
people with the means OF the knowledge of
good and evil, leaving them to the responsible
lty OF their choice; but We trust that private
Den.volence and christian charity might be
relied upon to do something to aid those who
were disposed to become and continue good
and law-abiding citizens.
INSTRUCTION.
In order to fit prisoners to become such eff
lZens, we have spoken OF the imperative me-
cessity OF furnishing them with Instruction
mental, moral and religious. This cannot be
done while they are scattered and confined
over The whole Suite, as they now are, a few
In thls county, and few more in that. If
aggregated according to the plan SUGGESTED
they might be taught evenings, or DAYTIME
as might be thought most advantageous
though we see no objection to appropriating
the evening 10 that purpose. It should he en-
joined by positive statute upon those HAVING
charge OF these institutions, that at least one
hours instruction daily in the elementary
branches be given to those who did not al
ready possess sufficient acquaintance with
the1n. into all the details of prison manage.
menl IL Is not necessary or desirable to enter
here; the charge of them will doubtless he
placed In the hands of men who understand
their duties; but in addition to the matter OF
education we will mention that of personal
Cleanliness. because the deficiency in this res
pect is SO marked and lamentable, The hath
should not only be provided, but the use of If
compelled; and if the prisoners clothing he
nthy or infested with vermin, new should he
substituted. We have nowhere seen capse tn
suppose that the prison diet nee led to be i'm
proved IN quality or increased in quantity.
we Dslive 1t is generally more than thew have
a hight to expect or require. When such ra-
IONS as are dealt out at Thomaston can he
iurnlshed at cost (for food alune of dol.
lar per week, we cannot help thinking that
WINE wages are so high that a working-man
can easily maintain himself and family in
com'olt, The labor OF our prisoners ought to
ne sufficient to clothe as well as feed them
without taxing their strength so much as to
prevent their being able TO give an hour in
the evening to mental Improvement If il
were found that their labor is selfsupportino
or nearly approaching it thay might be given
small interest in their own earning as slim
ulus to industry and exerlion, ard in order
mat they might nave small fund to aid