Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-11-14

of Supervisors in the different .unties.
After amending the resolutions 50 as to
give the Commission sixty instead of thirty
days in which to select and appoint the
committees referred TO, they were unani-
mously adopted.
The evening session was devoted to a
general discussion of prison management
and reform by a number of ladies and gen.
men. The number who desired to speak
was so large that the Convention adopted
rule confning each speaker to five min
utes time, but In attempting to enforce
this rule come confusion and considerable
loss of time was experienced.
Mr.. Wo6dwor. h read a paper on Prison
Education" by DR.. G. G. Cummins and
| DR.. Leavenworth discoursed on the neces-
sity of early Christian training. Then DR..
Cummins, late Moral Instructor at San
| Quentin, stated that he was satisfied that
many innocent men are confined in San
Quentin-in fact, the men themselves had
so informed him.
Mrs. Laura de Force Gordon wanted the
law regarding prior convictions changed,
because nine boys pleaded guilty to steal.
ing watermelons in Calaveras county, and
all had to pay fines except two she de-
Tended.
Mr. Nelson had been appalled, at what
he had seen at San Quentin, and throughs
the ''infamy of that miserable spot dis.
grace to the State"
Miss Addie Ballou urged that, as there
are only L women and l 200 men in San
Quentin, the superior moral status OF wo.
man was demonstrated, and therefore
prisons and jails should be supplied with
matrons.
Mrs. Gordon interrupted her with the
remark that Judge Darwin had told her
that female suspects " are searched,
even to their stockings, by masculine off.
GERS.
The last speaker was Captain I. W. Lees
of the detective force. Having expressed
himself pretty plainly on his experience
with prisoners, he said he thought good
trade should be taught the prisoners, SC
that when they are discharged they will
have ne excuse to commit crime. He un-
derstood what that meant, and he thought
that this bag manufacture that was pro.
posed was q poor employment for men
whom they expected TO walk in the path
Of reform after their discharge. There
was n6 bag factory outside for them to
work in. A trade is what they want Mr..
Hsggerty, Mr.. Healey and others piled the
questions thick and fast to the Captain on
the moral effect OF teaching coEvicts use.
full trades, and he answered all readily and
unequivocally. Mr.. Haggerty asked if il
wouldn't be better 10 support convicts in
idleness than to drive free men to crime by
forced competition. The Captain was
puzzled for an instant, but he speedily an
swered !" No good mechanic fears that
competition"
On Saturday the Convention was ad-
addressed by Rev. Albert Williams. Secrc.
tary Woodworth, Colonel Zahriskie and
Mr.. Healy, on the subject of establishing
technical classes in connection with our
public schools The following resolutions
we're then read by the Secretary and
adopted
Besolred, That We regard the Young Mems Chris
| tian Association one OF the important agencies for
| the promotion cf prison reform; that we heartily
second It's Efforts for the rescue Of young men and
others from the danger TO which they are exposed
and that We bid It God speed in its laudable work
Resotved, That We hereby express our belief that
| the entire penal system of our State including
methods Of treatment in all of prisons and re-
| formatory institutions, by whatever name called
lit eds careful and thorough revision and that we
commend this subject to the attention OF our Lesis
lators, Boards OF Supervisors, and other persons
having any official connection Herewith
Resolced That while We gratefully recognize the
and great practical value OF the different papers
read before the Convention, we do not assume re-
Fponsibiity for every sentiment they contiin, but
enly hold ourselves responsible for the principles
and acts formally indorsed by a vote of this body
The Secretary read translation of a
communication from Ferdinand De Porter,
Secretary of the National Prison Reform
Society of France, approving of move.
ments such as have called this Convention
together.
A resolution, submitted by Robert
Thompson, declaring the use of alcoholic
liquors to be the source of three.fourths Of
the crime committed in our midst, was
adopted.
A paper was read by S. Robert Wilson
or 1.-THE Causes Of Crime from an Indus
trial Standpoint.
After the reader had concluded his paper
and left the stand, Judge Freelon blandly
remarked that the Convention had adopted
a resolution disavowing its responsibility
for or Endorsement of the sentiments ex-
pressed in papers read before it, except
such as it formally indorsed. The paper
just read. he said, would be placed on file.
Thomas Hagerty read a very lengthy
paper on "The Prevention of Crimes by
the Establishment of New Industries. .
NJ. L. Fsrlsn read brief speech on the
evils of non-a apprentice system. Colonel