New-York tribune., 1875-10-19
DOES CRIME TNCRE-iSE'


the other day THE TEIBUNE's local columns
stated that Blackwell's Island is found too
small for the safe confinement OF the prisoners
sent there, and that they are now so numer-
Gus that escapes could only be eifootually pre-
vented by building high wall AL around the
island. The number of criminal courts has to
be increased. The daily record of crime III the
police reports grows continually longer. Most
pecple. if asked whether crime is on the in
crease as compared with thirty, fifty, or II
hundred years ago, would answer unheSi-
| tatingly, Yes. But it il quite possible that
they would be mistaken.
On point like this. statistics, unless COM
piled from n broad field and for long periods,
are apt 70 be misleading. ford Aberdare, ut
the Social Science Congress at Brighton, Engy
did an admirable work recently in unfolding
the :a.ujts of ii long and careful analysis OF
tl,c subject. His studies were confined to the
experience of Great Britain, but they may
prove instructive to us. The concentration OF
people in large cities always increases the pro-
portion of crime the tendency of modern So
ciety is toward such concentration; Great
Britain presents the most advanced samples of it
for study. Lord Abelddre himself acknOw lodges
.
that where the conditions of life have been
and are most conducive To The increase Of
crime. Between 1905 and 1870 the popala-
tion OF that country augmented by 40 per
cent; the number of criminals by iS2 per
cent. In some localities a like comparison
gave very striking results; in Worcestershire,
for instance, the criminals increased fifteen
times as fast a. the population. But with 1872
Il change began; from that date 10 1870,
with an increase of 100000 inhab-
iants, there was no addition TO the
yearly number of criminals in England
and Wales; from 1855 0nwaIds there has
been steady decrease of crime, notwlthStand-
ing the increase of population. Comparing
1913 with 1873, it il found that while the
population increased nearly Il l. per cent, the
most serious oiicnseS short Of murder decreased
bv about GG2i Per cent. Minor ohcnseS, espU-
cially what are called ElisdemcanOrs-Sucila as
drunk and disOrdcriy" performanccs-~crc,
however, far more numerous than in earlier
years, though perhaps the frequency OF arrest
was greater because police laws were more
,tringently enforced. But murders held their
own as to numbers through the years, if de-
cadcs be compared. 1t is not quite true. as
D
History of Civilization assumed that the num-
Der of murders is equal year by year. The
annual differences are sometimes great, but
tcn-year periods bring abou the same number
with strange regularity.
70 what causes il TIE great dimiuutiOn of
the most serious crimes (murdor eXccptoG),
since 1Sl3, to be attributed! ! Lord Aberdarc
points out variety of causes, but makes two
prominent. First. the abolition of the practice
of transporting criminals. 1t is worth while
to notice that conclusion, while there is idle
talk going the rounds about making Alaska
useful as a penal settlement. Second, and per-
haps first i'll importance, IN improvement in
the sanitary condition of the poor. The
changes which have been enforced in the large
cities of Great Britain, iii respect 10 the lOdg-
ings of the lower classes, have been only feebly
Initiated here. Old rookcIics have been ruth
lcssly torn down in London and the dwellings
of even to,rably decent people ovelhauled, 10
an extent that New Workers would rebel against.
Lord Aberdare accounts for the connection
between dirt and crime, which statistics con-
clusiyely show, by an intermediate factor, ntem-
perancc. Bad living tends to bad drinking
drunkenness to prison. The moral of this Is
80 obvious as To need no comment. Every
dollar that goes to the support Of criminals
comes out of the pockets of honest labor.
Every crime adds to our taxes and the cost of
living. Would We as a community economic .
Cleanse the tenement houses reduce the num-
ber of their occupants by an enforced law
pull down filthy rookeries; provide rapid
transit promptly and cheaply that cleanli-
ness and fresh air in the suburbs may be &C.