Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-02
OUR CRIMINAL LAW.

In times OF great pecuniary distress
every person becomes a student OF
finance; when cpidemics sweep overthe
land, all become interested in and study
pathology and hygiene; so now that the
difficulties arising from our penal code
have brought home. to this community
at least. a great calamity. the subject OF
convict labor is On all lips.
That the working OF convicts away
from the penitcntiary walls. whereby
they are brought lnto direct conflict with
honest labor, at special points. is wrong,
all agree. How 1t is to be avertcd, is not
so clear. To solve this question is OF
more Importance than to hurl denuncia-
tons at individuals or parties. Its solu-
ton requires calm though; and careful
study of the entire ground covered by
our penal code.
Society must protect itself by restrain
ing the vicious. To do this a multiplicity
OF laws and processes must be enforced.
and these cost a vast sum OF money,
which the honest people OF the state must
pay. The costs in criminal cases, which
are but u part OF the expense OF the cou-
vIction OF criminals. amount in Missouri
to about two hundred thousand dollar.
per aunum. The maintenance Of thirteen
or fourteen hundred prisoners in idle
ness would, with the strictest economy,
cost AZ much or 80 netting more; add TO
tins the salaries ri Judges and the other
incidental expenses Inscparablo from
the apprehension. conviction and care
of prisoners, and we find ii grand total
that will not tall much short # 4 halt
million dollars per annum. That crimi-
nails do not cost all OF this startling sum
to the state at present is owing to the
fact that so far rs is practicable their labor
is utilized and made remuncratlve,
inside OF the walls and out.
1t is asserted by many persons at the
state capital that if the walls Of the
prison were extended. additional work
shops erected, and greater motive power
provided, all OF the labor could be utll-
lied within the penitentiary. SO tar,
then, as the working of convicts IN coal
mines is concerned, here is L simple
solution provide shop room. and keep
the conyicts within the confines OF the
prison.
But, if i reform is to be instituted in
our criminal laws. it should be more
radical than this. The incubus which
rides the state like a nightmare-costs-
should be allayed and, as far 4. maybe,
convict labor should be prevented from
coming into competition with honest
labor. To accomplish both of these OBJ
jects in part, we would have work
houses established in each county in the
state. where persons guilty of minor Of
lenses might be incarceratcd at the
minimum of cos for conviction. Here,
under the immediate supervision of the
county courts, in numbers never IN
wieldly, these criminals could be made
to earn more than the cost OF their
maintenance. in a character of work in
which they would not compete with
honest labor. viz. in improving orr
county roads.
1t is true that this plan will cost the
counties a certain amount of expense in
extending their prison accommodations.
but this will rot only be returned in a
kind Of labor which is much needed. but
it will be absolutely saved in a %curtail-
ment of costs and the abrogation of the
necessity Tor making additions to the
penitentiary.
In considering any reform OF the
criminal laws Of the state. the principles
| which are sought to be carried ont by
borne in mind. 1t is not enough to say
that he must be for u time restrained of
his liberty that he may be incaFacitated
from iniuring society. The dictates OF
christianity. humanity and the safety of
society MI INCLUDE in the manne of
his treatment q reformation OF the pris-
obsr, that when he is turned adritt
among honest people he may not CON
tinue to be a terror to them. For this
purpose the prisoner guilty OF minor OF
lenses is entitled to be kept from the
association and contamination of the
viler %rufisn; he should be impressed.
not so much with the rigor Of his pun
ishment &c with its certainty; and he
should be brought cnder the influences
OF industry, education and religion,
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