New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-13
THE CASE or GFNERAL MOTT


IL il announced that no further testimony
will he taken by Tie legislative committee
which has been investigating the adminlstra-
ton of the New-Jerscy State Prison, and
probably the public now knows "a much as
ever it will about the discipline which prevails
IN that retreat. 1t is true that the report OF
the committee is yet to come, but there
is little promise that any document or docu-
mcn,s emanlting from that body will shed a
very white light upon the subject. 1t is too
often the case that legislative investigators III
New Jersey and elsewhere feel called upon to
range themselves upon one side or the other OF
the strict judicial line, so that 1t is convenient
10 classify them just as the aboriginal and
untaxed Americans on our Western frontier are
divided into Fiiendlics and Ilostiles. The
function of a &" friendly" investigator seems
to be that of gush machine, and it is his
sole aim 10 suicc out more or less elusive
tribute" to somebody. On the other hand,
the "hostilc" investigator is impcllcd by IA
sense Of duty to make a more or less indis-
criminate and vcnOmOus attack not only upon
the investigated, but upon all his friends.
The scarchcr after truth is not materially
aided by the statements of either of these
classes and persons who have given attention
to the evidence in General Motifs case will
not he likely to wait for the reports before
they arrive at some very definite conclusions
of their own.
Now, it plainly appears from the testimony
that III many important respects General Mott
has proved himself Il better prison keeper than
most of his predecessors. He has been charged
with nothing like jobbery. He has furnished
the prisoners with good food and clothing He
has looked carefully after their health, and has
kept their quarters clean and well ventilated.
He has been absolutely infcxiblo IN the
enforcement Of discipline, but there has
been nothing like caprice in his government.
Even the punishments which he has inflicted
unsparinSly, and which have been character
lied rs cruel, have been the same in kind and
degree which have hitherto been used, and,
altogether, it is a question whether this sharp
treatment is not more humane than the lin
gering dungeon confinement which has been
urged rs its substitute. And yet General
Mott Is far from being an ideal keeper. The
dominating idea in his mind seems to be that
prisoners are depraved lot and SO they are,
in the main But he crrs when he assumes
that, therefore, the fear of physical violence
is the only influence to be relied on
for the enforcement of prison discipline.
His forms of punishment may not be too rigOr-
ous treatment for persistent dsobedicnce, but
the punishment comes too soon. Under his
cast-iron system there is no space for repent
ance. Authority never waits TO make appeal
to the reason or the feeling of the tranSsIcssor,
but recntlessly, upon the violation of def
mite rule, follows the prescribed punishment.
If Shook should be reported as refractory, Gen
cral Mott would never think of finding him
and saying: Now, Shook. you know you
"can't lule here; hadn't you better stop
"and think awhile before You go any fur
ether ~ 1t would never occur to General Mott
that such IN approach, not by deputy, but
by the responsible head of the prison, might
do for Shook and for discipline what the
stretcher could not accomplish. The boot
heel, gag and burning alcohol have
served their purpose AS pictorial hor-
rors, but the essential inhumanty of
the Trenton treatment lies in the fact that
the keeper has faith in nothing but the ON
impotence OF force.
AT the very outset of this investigation
General Mott took pains to deliver some often
sye statements in regard to newspapers, be-
cause they presumed to criicisc the public acts of
public servants. This proves that General Motifs
mental horizon is rather contracted, and he
would hardly profit by any newspaper advice
which might be given him. And yet it is
pity that a man of his integrity and frmness
and executive force should fail of being a
model official for the lack of little tender
ness, consideration and sympathy for the hui
mainly which he might find, If he only