Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-02-08

acts, and as things are they can only be
dealt with by sending them to the Peni-
Tertiary. To do that, however, is to rem
der their reclamation hopeless, for the
State Prison is and always has been Col
lege of Vice, from which young men almost
invariably graduate confirmed criminals.
Concerning the need of some reforma-
tory institution there can therefore be no
controversy; but when we inquire how
such an institution is to be organized and
governed we at once find ourselves in
volyed in difficulties. 1t may be stated
as indispensable conditions of any success
full legislation on this subject that the
proposed institution shall be entirely free
from political control or interference, and
that it shall be under the management of
skilled penOlogists. It is really not worth
while to discuss the question at all unless
both these conditions are guaranteed at
the outset. We have had bitter expert
enee in the past of the utter futility of all
attempts to introduce penal reforms in
this State so long as the politicians are
allowed to control the business. We are
not willing to waste any more time or to
prepare any further Disappointment for
ourselves and the public by supporting
measures concerning which there is the
least doubt ON the points mentioned. Mr..
Harrison proposes to make the State Board
of Education the Directors of the School
of Industry We cannot admit the Apo
STIFFNESS of this selection. The State Board
of Education is supposed to be well in
formed in regard to public education, but
1t is not supposed to know anything about
penology To put the control Of such an
institution into such hands appears to us
in no way preferable to placing it in the
hands of almost any Board chosen hap
hazard, or chosen from political motives.
A special Board OF Directors would, in
our opinion, be required, but we candidly
confess that we Go not know how such a
Board could be chosen so as to avoid the
dangers which it is necessary to steer clear
Of As this Board has the appointment of
the Superintendent and all the officers, it
is clear that the character of the institu-
ton would depend entirely upon its consti-
tuition, and it is precisely at this point
that the weakness of the proposition ap-
pears We have no fault to find with Mr..
Hartson's system. If it were administered
fifty by intelligent officers it might and
probably would work. But who is to
guarantee it's proper administration At
the very threshold of the undertaking we
are confronted with an apparently in
soluble problem. Everything turns upon
the character of the Board of Directors,
and nobody can offer any guarantee that
they will be competent for the work, or
that they will administer it in the spirit
of the law.
It is possible to secure trained pencil
ogist for Superintendent, but however able
he might be he would be at the mercy of
the Board, and if it was ignorant or per-
verse, or friendly to the spoils system, it
would soon drive him away. As the case
stands, therefore, we do not see our way
clear to the successful Inauguration of any
such enterprise. We recognize fully the
need that exists for it. We realize that no
question of expense ought to be considered
fatal objection to it. We know that the
existing conditions are steadily and rapidly
turning our hoodlums into habitual and
| hopeless criminals. We are aware that the
State Prison is no place for young offend
ers. But until and unless some assurance
can be obtained that the blighting hand of
greedy office-hunters shall not be laid upon
the proposed institution, and until some
guarantee can be secured for the fair and
unhampered trial of scientific reforma-
tory methods, we are compelled to say that
we cannot view any such proposition with
hope, or recommend it as a possible rem.
edY for the evils We deplore.