The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-18

The Rev Dr. WINES Omitted States), who pro-
sided, said the Congress was convoked In the inter-
ests OF humanity and OF civilization. It was con-
posed OF thinkers and workers In one OF the great
departments OF social science and social reform
representative men and women gathered literally
from the ends Of the earth. There were represen-
tatves OF governments OF prison societies. of penal
and reformatory institutions, of the governing
boards OF penltentiary establishments Of high
courts Of criminal jurisdicti0n OF police boards OF
associations OF jurists, Of the penal law depart
ments OF universities, and Of the Academy Of Moral
and Political Sciences OF the Institute Of Franco.
The special work Of the Congress to study and,
II possible to solve the problems, as grave as thoJ
were difficult, involved in the treatment Of crime
and criminals. The Congress cmbodying, therefore,
representativey, the knowledge, ea;S,cc-.ence and
wisdom OF the world on this subject, had greaf
opportunity before 1t, great and full of promise.
The business Of the Congress was not to fritter
away its time, strength and zeal in minute details
and especially not to give expression to prefer.
ence for one penltentlary system over others, but
to agree upon certain broad principles and pr0p0-
sitions which might he made to underie, permeate.
vvify, and above all to render fruitful any and al
systems Of criminal treatment. They had come to.
gether to give shape point and practical force to .
great movement In favor OF penitentiary REFORM
he might almost say great upheaval Of the public
conscience throughout the civilized world on the
subject. He called upon the ladies and gentlemen
of the Congress to address themselves to their
work with courage, resolution, intelligence and,
above ALL with hearty love Of truth and genuine
brotherly accord.
Most Of the foreign delegates, in the ensuing dis,
cussiOn, spoke In their own languages. DIR. MOuatt
kindly and promptly interpreted the French
speeches into english and the English speeches.
into French. The German speeches were inter-
preted by Mr.. Maurice r. Buchner. ~
The first question for discussion was-"Whas
was opened by Herr Exert Germany, who having
been for many years prison r. director In Baden
the number OF prisoners should never exceed 500.
his reason being that NATURALIZATION was en-
one Establishments remark that applied to the
question. the debate was opened BY Sir. John
ing that money would be saved by gathering TO-
gether large number Of prisoners under one roof
would also be best promoted where the numbers
were large. NJ. Cremieux (switzerland) was
rather opposed to small prisons: and considering
he was in favor Of large numbers 80 long as they
did not exceed 1000 but thought for cellular prs.
speaker, M. Stevens (Belgum), held that the maxi,
mum OF 900, even less with cellular prisons, was
Ss rea
ment with view to reclamation. DIR. MOuatt, who
for many years was an inspector Of prisons i9
control and that 1000 was a good maxi,
mum, because the cost OF superntendonce would
and q half years governor OF the Pententiary
at Christiana, who addressed the Congress IN ex-
Ssn M G b es S
tenn 81 Judge Neveit United statesl described
where most hopeful reformation was Id
progress and where the experiment Of Large
at one time under his charge, and during tho
eighteen years during which he had held his ap-
pointment he had never had less than 1900 prison
ers at a time, and had never found the slightest
thought 1t was Impossible to nx given number.
the chief consideration being how far would the
director Of prison be able to come into personal
contact with each prisoner.
CLASSIFICATION OF PRISONERS.
fought classification OF prisoners according to
character to be considered as the principal basis OF
any pepitentiary system, whether associated or
separate ?" This was the second question for the
gave It an Affirmative answer. M. stevens, how
ever, denied that moral classification was possible.
The Creator alone knew the moral character OF the
prisoner. DR.. Mouatt also warmly argued that
moral classification was an impossible basis to
work upon. Mr.. Tallack believed we wanted moro
classification, and that the highest kind Of classi-
cation was the cellular system under which every
man was class to himself Dr. Marguardsen (l3ava-
ral member OF the German Re!chstag, while believ-
mono, had not much faith In the principle. SERGEANT
Cox much regretted to hear from such high author
ity that classification was impossible, having long
felt that no administration Of the criminal law
could be perfect without 1t. Classification was
de- acd npractca6e by Colonel IA Ratcline o. BIZ
dord urged that without classification there could
be no progression DR.. Biddinger United Statcs)
PRISON SYSTEM AND LEGISLATIVE ACTION.
The third question should the prison system
SS sa .Ss act q
been tried 1t had always succeeded. Baron Mackay
QIoand) insisted that the principle, at least Of
lament. Mr.. +. Ill., DR.. Mouatt, Baron Won Holt.
zendOrfr and others continued the debate.
TRAINING SCHOOLS FOR PRISON OFFICERS.
s'Ought training schools for prison officers 10 ba
formed, and for what class OF officials ?" was tho
next question, and 1t was introduced by NJ Gull.
Of prison officials in the same way as army and
navy officers. Captain Du Cane said the best school
Of instruction In the world iot prison Officers or ir
mary and daily work. What prison oflicial re-,
quired was hrmness, Intelligence and honesty; and
sary, could only be learned In well conducted
prison. Baron Mackay agreeing that efficiency
said he had always used his influence TO obtain
tho position OF governor OF prisons for well
Mouatt agreed with those gentlemen who con-
sidcrcd that the prison was the best training
school for the prison 0ficlal and he thought pro-
motion SHOULD always follow the progress Of tho
oncer. Therefore he was opposed to the principle
OF selectag the governor OF prison from officers
OF the army AMI navy as such only. After some
remarks from Major Pulford tStafford) and Mr..
Rsthbone HiverpooD the subject dropped.
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.
The next was the interesting question OF cor
poral punshment--"Ought 1t to be admitted In the
disciplinary code Of penitentiary systemW This
was the query propounded by M. Stevens and an
swered BY him negatively. His opinion vas that
corporal punishment tended to brutalize the pris-
oners. Captain Du Cane at once took the other sido
Of the question, and declared II was the experience
from the beginning OF the world that corporal
prisoners to whom 1t was applied, 1t must be bornX
In mind, were not refined. DIR. Mouatt, relating
ment, stating, as powerful argument, tnat crim0.
especially crimes Of violence, had actually do
creased under the terror OF nogging. Mr. Asphalt
magistrate, also thought nogging acted as O do
terrent ~ well as corrective, and the extension
OF the punishment had had Q most wholesome Of.
was condemned BY Herr stelnmann (Bavarlal,