The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-08
PRISON CONGRESS.
Changes Suggested and Considered
From Different Standpoints.
HOW TO TREAT FEMALE PRISONERS
Plans for the Reformation of Ju-
venile Delinquents.
THE FARMING OUT PLAN.

One hundred and ninety delegates to tho National
Prison Reform Congress assembled yesterday morning
ut ten O'Clock in Steinway Hail. Among them
representatives from foreign states:-videa Dora,
Argentine Republic; A. N. Henderson, d. D., Aus
tralia; A. Barthodi, France; Giuseppe Dass, Italy;
sehor Don Ignaco Marisca Mexico, and G. J. Meyer
berg, Sweden.
On motion OF Rev. DR.. Wines Ex-Governor Haynes, of
New Jersey, chosen chairman, and Rev. Mr.. Fes-
sender offered prayer.
The Committee on Organization then reported the
nomination OF officers for the Congress Hon Richard
vaux President OF the Board OF Prison Inspectors for
Eastern Pennsylvania elected president, and,
taking his seat, made address advocating the
OF prison reform The Congress, he Claimed holds tho
place OF teacher to the public.
Mr. CONN was appointed treasurer in place Of Mr.
Thomas, who resigned
The report OF tho Committee on Prison Discipline
then read The committee stated that all the sub
jects had been referred TO SPECIAL subcommittee who
would report BY series Of papers TO BIO read at this
session Of the Congress
On motion tho Committee OF Arrangements werc In
sructed to report amended order Of exercises the
subjects to be considered by tho Congress whole
The hours fixed for the sessions are as foows:-
From ten a. NJ. TO one p. NJ, two p. NJ to five r. NJ
and eight p. N. to ten r. NJ.
Rev. Frederick H. Wines, Secretary Of the Illinois
State Board OF Public Charities read long and able
paper recommending the abolition OF tho county Jail
system. In closing his address the speaker recapitu-
lated his ideas as foows:-
Frsf-Thc present county jail system, for reasons
sufficiently indicated is hopelessly rrcmedably bad
SecoRd-The evils complained of grow out cf the fact
that few counties strong enough wealth and popu
ation 70 maintain aprson conducted upon the rcforma
tory, as opposed to the expiatory, idea.
Tkird-The remedy must lie In the discharge by the
State OF It's proper responsibility respecting the Grim
nal class by assuming tho Immediate custody and con-
FourN.-The State ought to administer its prison
systcm with constant reference to the extrpatlon Of
crime by the reformation Of those who constitute the
criminal class.
FtA-One element Of any rational and practical ad-
ministrRton Of that system is the graduation OF prisons
for different classes Of prisoners this graduation to DO
based not upon crimes committed but upon the crlmi
nality Of character manifested by those who commit
them
pense OF the counties should be houses OF detention for
tho suspected or accused.
Scpcnu-Houses OF detention oughtio be constructed
with separate cells Tor the solitary confinement Of the
inmates
Tho Hon. Joseph Burnett Of Boston, road very brief
paper the question. what should DO the construo-
ton Of prisons intended for women" He thought
that they should be constructed make them
homo like cheerful may BIO consistent with their
character as places OF security aud punishment
Mrs. Q. F. Coffin, OF Richmond, Indiana, road very
interesting paper the treatment OF the inmates Of
as those of Mr.. Burnct, but she dwet upon tho
influence OF religion. She also was averse 70 having
such institutions under charge o. males Woman alone
aud the difficulties by which such prisoners
surrounded she alone can enter into the innermost
rccesses OF their being and minister thereunto.
The Congress then took a recess till two o'clock
AFTERNOON SESSION
IL was half past two O'Clock when the members Of
the Congress and called to order by
Hon Richard Vaux, chairman. Hon. Dowel Hanes,
Of Now Jersey read paper upon The constusonaity
he defended the policy Of supporting houses Of refuge
for the exclusive reception OF youthful criminals Mr.
T. D Howard Of Massachusetts, madc some remarks
upon the paper
Mr. G. l. Brace, Secretary OF the Children's Aid So
cety OF New York, read long paper, which he dis
cussed the question whether our public schools,
juvenile asyums, protcctories and roormatorics
sufficient to meet the wants OF society with respect TO
neglected., destitute and exposed children, whether
they need 70 be supplemented by day industria.
schools which food and instruction provided for
paper read by Mss Carpenter before the Social
Science Congress 10 Glasgow 1874 was quoted IN cor
roboraton Of The theory that the only proper
sday industrial and feeding Schools with power In
the hands Of the school boards to compel attendance
the Female Roformatory, Mlddctown, Conn, deliv-
cred IN address upon the mode OF committing chill
general MANAGEMENT thereafter. When children
reach proper age to leave the institutions she recon-
mended their being farmed out to honest middle class
families who. will. undertake their caro- IN re-
for their services In household tasks farming
mechanical labor. She frequently met in the reports
OF curtain society, tue statement that many
children had been provided with good homes. " II
want learn,n she added show they know these
homes are good The lady dwclt Tor some time upon
tho peculiar difficulties encountered in dealing with
girls An idea prevails TO great extent not only
among the latter class, but cvcn among those having
them In charge that household service DEGRADING
Tho absurdity OF this mlschievous notion fully
monstrated by Mrs Rockwell who claimed that neither
store, mill nor factory could do hall much TO
develop the head and heart and to nt the subject
for future life OF usefulness as the influence
Of wholesome homo life. The greatest reormatory
Influence was work, and persons connected with re-
formatory institutions should insist upon early
cognitlon by pupils Of the fact that with the poor
choice must be made between toll and crime In con
clusion the lady contendcd that such institutions
should their whole support from the State
but should derive part OF through the avenue OF the
hearts tho people, inducing them 10 personal conir
buttons.
to ask Mrs Rockwell whether she had any objection TO
receiving girls old AZ sixteen She replied that she
the period between fifteen and eighteen the
most dangerous for girls, that she willing to admit
them up 10 the latter age They are now actually re-
ceved IN the institution with which she Is connected
Mr. l. n Alden. Superintendent OF the State Schools
OF Michigan, explained tho manner which the poor
children supervised in that State
Ar. u. }. Mcyerberg, superintendent OF Public In
structon for the city OF Stockholm. Sweden, and Com
missioner IRON the latter country to our Centennial
Exhibition said they have many institutions for Tho
country, and their experience has been similar
to our own. He had frequently asked him
educated in these institutions, which have good prin
cpaIs and good teachers, and had made up his mind
that the because the children do have
home The child needs love- During the past few
years the swedish institutions had been sending
children out into tho country 10 1--we with farmers,
but dif1culty was experienced in finding people
OF this class competent TO caro- for them. Thirty
or forty years ago the schools OF Sweden
not good, but they have now improved so much
that many think the children will be ovcredccated.
Ladies' especially think u unwisc 70 teach girls 80
much history, geology and geography Tue speaker
ayr wit adirgu
20 we're combined with knowledge OF how TO work
and be diligent In Stockholm they now admit chill
drcn to schools the afternoon Tor instruction
industrial pursuits aud the forenoon session ID devoted
20 scholastic instruction. That system has proved
perfect success In every respect
THE pASGsRs or sxSDlSo CHILDREN WEST.
Rev. H. q. luton, OF Wisconsin. had prejudice
against distributing the vagrant children Of this city
through the West. He questioned whether II was
possible TO place children always in right homes and
whether the general system were sufficiently dscrm-
mating. IL Is he said, thought In the West that
majority OF these children ind their surroundings