New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-23
THE PRISON CONGRESS AND IT'S WORK.

Success OF THE ST. LOUIS MEETiNG-PRAcTIcAL
MEASURES TO BE SET On FooT-PLANs FOR THE
NEw-YoRK CONGRESS NEXT YEAR.
TO the razor Of The TrtoHne.
SIR: The Third National Prison Reform
Congress OF the United States, convened under the
auspices OF the National Prison Association closed It's
annual session in this city on Saturday last IL num-
bered between 200 and 800 delegates, representing
States and Territories OF the Union. number OF these
held Executive appointments; prisons andrefOrmaores
we're largely represented by officers OF those establish
ments and members OF their managing boards, WINE
fair sprinkng Of theorists and thinkers lent their pres
ence aud cooperation. The Hon. Horatio Seymour
President Association, TO have delivered the
opening address, but was Unexpectedly detained at tho
last moment but SO far the address expected from
him is concerned, his place was well supplied py tha
Rev Dr. W. G. Eliot, President Of the Washington Uni
yersity ST. Louis, two days notice The BODY was
Intellectually a strong one. will readily be believed
when it is stated that among those present either oy
papers or in person, ex-president Woolsey ex'
Gov Haines f. b. sanborn, c. L. Brace, Judge C. l.
Walker Dr. Eliot DR.. ). II. Wilson, judge k:eke, ex'
low Dewey OF Wisconsin, Prof Hammond, President OF
the Law University OF Iowa. and many OF the best and
wisest OF the gentlemen at the head OF our Nailou
pc nal aud reformatory institutions throughout the
country.
Two things specially characterized the proceedings OF
the Congress The first was a series Of able and ex
haustive reports from the standing committees OF the
Association, covering the questions OF criminal law
REFORM improvement Of police systems, prison DIS
cplne discharged prisoners juvenile refOrmatories,
and preventive iniutons. The other special charac-
erstc OF the Congress consisted in fu ana Tree ln-
terchange of experiences by prison and reformat0ry
officers This occupied nearly two DAYS and was ionnd
extremely interesting and Instructive especially 10
those engaged the cement Of such Institutions
The work laid for the next Congress, which VIII
probably be held ia the City OF NewIprk, Is OF tho
highest Importance. The Hon. i. j. Lowocr or new
York submitted short paper ia which, after referring
the broad study which has been gwen 10 TINS sngec,
and the vast amount OF Information gained, ne eh
presses the opinion that the time has come when some
practical should be proposed. anu suggests
that complete systems codes OF prison discipline. OF
juvenile treatment both preventive and refOrmatOIy.
and OF criminal law be prepared for consideration by
the Congress aud that these cofes on being ap
proved and adopted by that body should lee urged upon
the OF the L. legislatures OF the several States
orable action possible he secured there
upon These matters referred, scYeray, 10 inc
appropriate standing committees, who were requested
to report upon them at the Congress or 1875. Is evil
IDENTIFY business, and II the committees shan pre-
pare aud report the projects Of law as requested vi"
be difficult to exaggerate the interest and lupoItac"
that Will attach 10 the proceedings OF next year. A.
So Louis, May Is, 1874.