The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-20
THE INTERNATIONAL PRISON CONGRESS-.
The Proceedings Of the Third and Fourth Ses-
si0ns Of the Assemblage.
Speech of the Home Secretary Treatment of Re-
convicted Prisoners-Prison Labor, Penal or
Industrlal-The Management Of Prisons
International Prison Statistios-Ireat-
ment of Juvenile Offenders
LONDON, July o, 1872.

LONDON, July o, 1872.
The sitting OF the international Prison Con gr ess
was resumed on Saturday, for the third day, In
Middle Temple Hail. Pending the arrival OF the
Home Secretary, who was expected to preside, Mr..
G. W. Hastings occupied the chair, and without
himself taking up the time OF the meeting, called
upon the gentlemen engaged to report upon the
discussions OF the two previous days, to bring up
their summaries.
SPEECH OF MR.. BRUCE.
The Right Hon. II. A. Bruce, vino entered the
room while the first report was being discussed,
and who was checred upon being introduced by
Mr. Hastings, said-I regret exceedingly that the
absorbing nature OF my dntles, always sufficiently
severe ana dOubly at this period OF the session.
has prevented me from earlier paying my respects
to this Congress. But am thankful for the
opportunity you have now given to me OF convey
ing TO the foreign gentlemen who have been so good
to gather together in this country to give us the
result OF their experience. the thanks OF the gov
crnment for, and my own high appreciation OF, the
spirit In which they have undertaken this task.
Many of them have crossed the Atlantic; others
have come from the most distant countries Of
Europe but all ON an errand Of humanity, and for
the purpose OF contributing, far rs 1t is In their
power to do So from the experience derived in
their own lands, something that win tend to the
diminutiou of those social evils with which oil
countries, more or less are afflicted. hope their
visit to this country win not be without profit to
themselves, but that they will BIO able to learn
something from the very wide experience OF
this country, and am quito certain that on the
other hand we shall derive much benefit from the
experience they have had In other fields The
problems we have to solve are OF tho greatest
Interestingly are also Of the greatest difficulty.
No prior; arguments will avail on these questions
eide which of tho systems IL the best 1t is
a great satisfaction to me to be able to say 1t is
not from any increase Of crime which has aroused
our anxiety that we here, and hope the foreign
delegates will be able to say the same OF their coun
tries. II Is matter for congratulaton that In the
face OF SO many apparently conclusive reasons to
the contrary there has been in this country Of late
years such an extraordinary dlminutlon OF serious
crime. Consider for one moment what tho circum-
stances are. few years ago we gave up our sys-
tenn OF transportation, which sent from our shores
all the worst character. Although 1t Is tue oil the
conyicts were not transported for lifc were still
able to congratulate ourselves on having got rid OF
large portion Of our criminal population although
1t was at the expense OF colonial contentmcnt.
ANYHOW, the fact that we had got rid OF them
was always matter of cOngratulatiOn. Trans
portation has now entirely ceased, and it might
reasonably be expected that the prisoners who
were turned loose In the colonies would return to
their old associations in this country, and that an
augmentation CT our criminal population would
be the result. The facts, however, have been en-
trely different. Year after year we have seen not
only decrease OF crime, relative to the population
but there has been an actual and positive decrease
OF all Glasses of crime. When The very able director
OF our convict prisons audresses you ne VIII be able
remarkable diminuton or crime. From what does
renrcasve acti"n n the Som eithnr of thoso
measures which are taken for the detection 'I and
persuaded that the main cause is q different one
and that the labors of ali good men Tor MANY
years have not been fruiiless. I am satisfied
Industrial schools and reiormatories have done
much to cut or the supply Of crImc that the ener-
giles OF those who have encouraged the promotion
of Discharged Prisoners Aid Societies have pre-
vented the return 10 crime of a vast number OF
criminals and in addition to that we have had the
spread Of education and the diffusion of knowledge
among tho people, which not only led to juster
moral Views, but has also enabled them 20 dlstrb-
ute themselves over the world, and therefore
escape that one great cause OF temptation to
crlme-,extrcme poverty. All these causes, no
doubt. nave had mucn TO do Win the diminution Of
crime; but something IL also due to an improved
police ana something TO the system which has been
adopted In our prisons. VIC have on oil sides the.
most SATISFACTORY evidence both OF the advantage OF
the deterrent portion or our system ana the re.
iormatOry portion We have, | am happy to add.
OF late years adopted the system OF training all
those prisoners who have been sentenced to
long periods OF imprisonment not only in what
we inay term intellectual knowledge, which is O!
course, advantageous, but also In the learning Of
industrial trades; and, az no doryr Won a,c all
aware t;,::, sy-;- mas ,,e., rraight with the very
best results. There arc some, l know. who would
carry the reiOrmatory system further, and some
think the deterrent portion OF system is not su
fciently severe These are AMONG the many 0ues-
lions that YOU may in gathe ding of this Kind dis
tnss with urea. advantage IL Is not my ntentlo
70 express any decided OpInion one way or another
rho cnverumsnt /. only too rlad TO see the repre.
seMtativea nf ali countries assembled here to con
! sider those ny"h,ems and how TO solve Their, .
viii no ther dnfy to watch these ,', ~ !,
Inc rreoiest inteiest and S.a-or q, nN',,, " Io,,
nsetr,i results from tasn, II has basp
let ~ comnJojnt ,hot tho ,nor, 49,, ,uo . SUI ~.
thers aivas satnn m ac,i,.n 80, a. ~! ~.
" Ths ,onrass ~ - mot p, n w. T.. III,
20 40 nt IN ~ th nH wy H -. ','as
str"nSest and cearest rnio =" c t tba st
nndcrsianI has hean ma,e tHat tho o,wn,r ,n
of th,. cnnntrv Ia inajy"rant 4" tho ,afora ~ tho
~ 49, IS ~ -, ~ ~ W s',o ,'I y, .m1