The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-30

years or two and half, while II you stand trial,
while the docket Is 30 full as IL T. now. and the
judge so anxious to hurry mp business. YOU will
be sent for at least nve years, sure" The
frightened youth agrees to plead guilty to an
business hastened. and another human soul
started on that stecpest and smoothest road to
ncrdition which OF ems with tn state prison.
The hardened criminal, ON the other hand. who
knows the measure Of his crime and the value
Of the evidence against him just as well a. the
lawyer does, will not dare to stand trial III Dad
case but pleads guilty Of attempt" and he
TOO glides through IN the same convenient way
on sh ut sentence, when he riculy deserves
the extreme't penalty Of the law.
PAHDoNs AND COMPUTATION.
II would he well to take power Of pardon
ing criminals from the Governor and vest II in n
Court Il Pardous. "a has been done IN New Jer-
sew. There Is manifest lnadvlsabil MY and even
impropriety IN saddling all responsibility for the
not time to thoroughly investigate their claims
to executive clemency, without too great n sac
rnce Of the other duies OF his onlre, and IL Ia
not right that he should be subjected TO tho
Immense pressure which politicians and relatives
OF felons too often bring to bear to influence his
action even against his judgment 10 such a
court a. has been suggested, composed from
our highest Judges, let absolute power be given
to either grant abs Lutte free pardOns, Dnrduns
without removal 81 disabilities. or simple COM
mutations Of sentence. There can be no DOUBT
that however sublime may he the mdfhl atrength,
and however thorough may be the purpose Of
rendering bsolte justice on the irt OF a State
Governor he, ~ an individual, IS moro liable 10
be touched and warped 10y personal cOnstdcra-
lions than would tie court OF three or nyc
judges endowed with these solemn powers and
responsibilities.
The statute fixing Communication as a reward
for good behavior In prison should be 50 remod.
ellcd "a to take all discretiOnary power out of
the hands of the INSPECTORS. As 10 is, there IA
nothing positive about It, and the cuDvicts know
that fact Let IL De riridly established that a
convict can only gain the benefit Of shortened
time 10y really exemplary conduct throughput
his term. and great a'd will have been render
ed In the IN aintenance OF prison discipline.
In Ut Attest part, this article, from the neces-
sary limitations Of space, nus been but sug-
gestive and indicative. IL IL to be hoped, how
ever, that II may awaken puohc attention to
the pressing necessity for prudent and humane
provision for the horde Of the simply wretched.
who in a few weeks more will be thronging our
streets, and to the equally imperative demand
now before us for sucn vigorous and I'M elligent
legislation as will tend To repress the constant
ly increasing growth Of criminality in our large
cities. and its spread, through the existent
prison system. throughout the state. Let us
lie very KIND to those VINO truly need our kind
ness, but for those who wilfully war against So
ciety, let our motto be;
G. d forbid that thief should de-
without his share OF the laws