New-York tribune., 1874-01-01
MILITARY PRISONS.

REPORT OF TIE PROVISIONAL BOARD TO ADOPT
PLAN FOR MILITARY PRISON AT ROCK ISLAND
OBSERVATIONS on THE DEFECTS IN TilB sfs-
TEN or PUNIsIING MILITARY PRsoNERs-THE
ARSENAL GROUNDS AT FORT LEAVENwOKIH
RECOMMENDED AS A MORE ELIGIBLE SITE THAN
ROCK ISLAND.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO Tue TRIBUNE.I
WASHINGTON, Dee. 3l.-Col. Nelson A. Miles Maj.
Th0s. i. Barr, and Maj George L. Andrews, three
members of the Provisional Board authorized by
act of Congress approved March 3, 1873. to adopt
plan for the building of military prison at Rock
Island etc. in their report to the AdjutaDt- General
make the following observations:
To the thoughtful OF army administration tho
most apparent bemsh long been the absence o any
system looking to proper enforcement OF sentences
adudged by Courts Martial that the highest OBJECT or
punishment-reformation-ha been and Is mposslpe OF
attainment In OF guard houses prisoners arc
with no restraint upon intercourse 30 that
youthful offenders necessarily brought undef 'ho
influence OF those old in crime, who have been gnomn
ously discharged. The penalty Of hard labor usually
accompanying sentences TO confinement 10 faie'
possible Of execution tho labor generally per-
formed being police duty, which, u is Clearly
evident. should not be considered penal I'D iN
character. That such work is performed by prisoners
wearing balls and chains not only to degrade the
labor but az well 1t tends to infct injury upon tho
prisoners II is evident that course OF degradation
can never reform criminal and when 1t II borne IN
mind that large majority Of military prisoners are not
from the criminal classes but are mostly cononeo ior
oenses naLa proht6itd the great wroDg when Is dohe
them cannot be too strongly condemned In pecuna'y
sense the loss to the Government engendered throuth
the support Of these prisoners In comparative ioeness
is very great while in moral sense the loss 10 society
cannot be estimated Those sentenced to hard aoof,
with ball and chain pass through the Illuminating period
leay H..
with a sense that injustice has been done
them and with hearts hardened toward con-
sttued authorities. swell the criminal Grasses it
cannot be questioned that the GovernmeDt mas
responsibility IN the premises that has hitherto aed o
active The provisions OF the act undef
which this report submitted aim to assume that re
spopsibility and while the erection OF single prison
cannot meet fully the require OF service widely
distributed as ours it will bring under one system OF
management all the military prisoners who are c"hnne"
in the State prisons peniteniares throughout W"
country and 10 that extent work radical REFORM "H
believed that its successful administration VIII ha'aV
lead to proper provision being made for punishmencn
wise and discriminating manner OF all mltlry on'hn-
ers az uniform system is felt to be the greatest want
Of the service.
The Provisional Board also believe that military
prisons propery conducted. can be made sef-sns-
tanning Although not called upon To offer any .
suggestions as to the advisabty of selecting other
sites for military prison, than that at Rock Island.
the Board does recommend the arsenal grounds at
Fort Leavenworth. as far more eligible and con"
venent, while the buildings there, now OF but litie
practical use to the Government could be readily
converted to prison uses Two-thrds OF the expense
could be saved in the preparation OF buildings py
this change of site Should il be deemed desirapeto
have prison on the Atlantic coast DavIdi Band
in New York harbor is mentioned, as I'D all essepbaI
respects a most eligible location.