Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-01-14

of the experience of all pcnitentiaries
in which schools have been organised, I
need not occupy space by an argument
in support of this suggestion. An APP
preparation of $4,000 is asked for with
which to build prison walls. There is
no doubt as to the necessity and propri-
ETY. of an early inclosure of the prison
grounds. The character of the walls,
and the amount of money they should
cost, will be for the General Assembly to
determine.
come now to consider briefly another
question in connection with the future
of our penitentiaries, viii ;h involves the
welfare and honor of the State. as.
sumo that but few persons will question
tie doctrine, that crime is moral dis
ease, and that the object of punishment
is to protect society from exposure to the
results OF this malady, and to cure the
disease. Modern thinkers and writer's
upon social science have made many
suggestions regarding the improvement
OF methods and practices in the disci-
pline of prisons and reformatories. The
aggregated result of the discussions by
the most experienced delegates to the
international Prison Congress of 1879,
held in London, and at the Nationa!
Prison Congress of 1874, in St. Louis,
was practically TO agree, thai, to give
penitentiaries the largest measure of eff
ticiency as reformatories. NO prison
should contain over 900 convicts at any
one time. Between 800 and 50o we're
held to be about the number hest caicn-
aa.eo W enaois Tue manager to exercise
1iSonai ihnrence upon each indivi-
moral and inte llectual progress. as we'll
as In the profits OF labor. They also
agreed In the conclusion that cony1cts
should be class fied according to the
grade OF their crlmees, and the moral prog
ress mace subsequent to incarceration.
The time is rapidly approaching when,
if the proportion of criminals to popula-
ton remains as at present--and We can
hardly expect this proportion to be ma
terialIy diminished the penitentiary at
Fort Madison will be filled to the limits
that may be proftably cared for under
one management, and the Additional
Penitentiary will find its accommoda-
tons for convicts in full demand. Now
suggest that the State try in its main
features the experiment of prison dis
cipline which has been found to work
80 admirably in other countries. Say
we should use the penitentiary at Fort
Madison for all convicts properly class
ifed as of a criminal nature. Let the
Additional Penitentiary be for those
who do not belong In this class-those
| uboea c-;r,oc ooprie<o1 ;,; ~
sudden passion, or who had fallen from
having come into the presence of an
unlooked-for temptation. And then,
gradually, those who have been held
with the criminal class, especially youths
convicted of first ofense, after pro-
stationary schooling under the rigorous
discipline Of Fort Madison, and upon
showing satisfactory progress in refor-
matiou, could be transferred to the
prison of milder discipline, and where
the inmates might safely and proftably
exercise more enlarged personality
than could be permitted to
the entirely unreformed. The
Irish system of probationary prisons
takes the convict through several inter-
mediate classifcations during his
penitentiary life, and finally, when dis
charged, he is still partially supervised
by system of tickets. leave, until he
finds bis place in society. At Lusk, in
Ireland, some seventy or eighty prison
ers are employed in agricultural labor,
all Of whom have graduated through
the rigorous discipline of the intermedi-
ate prisons, and reaching this last stage
in the reforming process they are here
held in subsection by the moral infu-
ence of tho manager, without walls TO-
hedge them or guards to intimidate
them. This illustrates what moral and
intellectual training may do for the
most hardened. 1 am thoroughly con-
WINGED that wi h proper management a
fair proportion OF all persons convicted
of crime may be reformed. The daily
routine labor of the prison for those who
have never been taught habits of indus
try; the night school for those who have
been raised in ignorance; the Sunday
school, and ministratloHs and friendly
visits of the chaplain, for those who
have never been taught the way of
higher life; and the cheering words
of encouragement from generous hearted
prison officers; will all enter as elements
into the experience and education which
may be made to transform the lives of
even criminals. But will be told that
this will cost; and that society is un-
willing to suffer the depredations Of
criminals, and then pay money to edu-
cate them. 1t is by no means certain,
when you take into consideration the
diminution of crime from system that
will reform men instead OF turning
them GU. TO repeat their old crimes, and
IN view of the fact that the peniten-
tiary containing the partially reformed
will require comparatively light walls
and few guards, and will contain pris-
oners who may be worked prottably
outside the yard, that there will be any
additional expense in the system pro-
posed. But if it should cost, to begin
with, something more than under pres
ent arrangements, it would in the end
compensate BY lessening crime in the
State. But only hint at reforms With
present inviting fields for argument, and
which deem worthy the best thought
and the earnest attention of Legislators
in an enlightened age and progressive
State.
THE REFORM SCHOOL.
In harmony with the foregoing theo-
ries relative to prison management, the
State established a reform school for
vicious and incorrigible youths at Eldora
in Hardin county. The board of trustees
and superintendent have stated in their
reports the condition and needs Of this
school. l would respectfully invite
your attention to their suggestions.
| 4
templated main building should be i'm
| faI