New-York tribune., 1884-03-01
TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.
THEIR RECREATION AND INSTRUCTION.

VIEWS or oPFICIALs-THE PROPERTY OF cHARGs
ING VISITORS FEy
After short session at the Fifth Avenue II0-
tel yesterday morning many members OF tho conferences
OF prson wsrdens and officers visited BackwelPs Island
They we're shown through the Pencntiaryhe workshops
aud the Charity Hospital by Commissioners Porter ana
Brennan, Warden Fox and DIR. sesInsn, and luncheon
was served for the visitors at tho Charity Hospital
At the afternoon session the principal questions dis
GUESSED were recreaons and holidays for prisoners VIA
ors prison schools and discharged e0nyies j. u Tsys
Or of the Connecticut Society Tor the Aid OF Discharged
Convicts, gave Of tho Sunday morning feb
services OF the prison. and the exercises In the sfeS'
noon, when there singing, instructive talk, ana
other modes Of entertainment These exercises had
greatly improved the discipline OF the prson. Many
wardens said that they had conycts employed in difcrcn
clerical capacities telegraph operators, a.
sistant librarians and bOokkeepers, and Ia
other ways Warden McClaughry. Of tie Joliet.
Illinois, Prison. said that he charged fifty cents fof ths
privilege Of visiting the prison. On the Fourth OF Jwy
the prisoners turned loose In the yard, where thes
played foot ball. races, aud induged in daorent
games. Chrzmas Day they aimed to give the conyics
good minstrel theatrical entertainments They en-
eaeed a good outside company for the Pnrp0ao
at the expense OF the State. Sometimes 500 or S@V
was spent for company Mr. Wines thought that thcrs
was toe much visitation Of prisoners by their ftienhs
especially In city prisons In Chicago the scenes wors
often extremely revolving visiting DAYS In the city
prison. In Europe that matter was managed better haa
In this country Warden Brush, Of Slng Sing, Thoughts
that visiting between cells shoud not be allowed undef
any circumstances, though it was done constantly at snug
Sing. He thought also that il was an outrage agars'
civilization to charge admission fee TO the prison for
eah,- -seers. He didn't think the State had arg
right tO exhibit prisoners Ike animals aEs
make bear garden Of the prison. Dr.
Wines said that IN Michigan formerly charye OF 10
cents admission made 10 visitors lhe pilco Hss
|
Mr. Brockway thought that the best school for priso
was The graded kind graded after ascert2ning the anih
ties Of prisoner The whole school shoold be DIV deo
into two sections. In the lower section elementary
branches should be taught In the upper section VIZ M
stracOn should be By lectures On 0 poi'isSS aS
topics OF similar importance. ExanininohS sp0u,d %
held often and the prisoners % g1oa 'g snJ b,d ~ io
be class in practical morality There were lago ara
snccessful classes English history and drawing Mt tho
| Elmira Reformatory All instruction should be crsL
Every prison school should have printing press Ins
cost more this year. Warden Brush said that no sing
Sing they started school January for prisoner wne
They ali could now read WELL add and subtract aud say
the multiplication table backward. They could all wrie
On the subject of discharged oonyics, J. c. Tsylof
thought that should give each one GOOD SUIT
OF e1ons rb itse should furnish money %
CesT SveIcoh o nav tbe mans board aud buy tools un
he could get work DE Dr Byerin sno 'Gs GicharssS e
ronyct aud in many eases spcnt before ne leit
town Warden Brush suggested that ali ths money gwen
bv the state disehar ed prisoners should ne put IN mo
hands Of Ihe state Prison Association and each prsoner
shoud be given a r.ilrusd ticket Drug him 10 the as
sooIafiou Mr. Cutter OF the New York Prison hhsccid
tnn Thought It would a good plan 10 establish largo
hone of Industry discharged cOnyics similar 70 tse
one vhich Michael Duuu managed in Tins CIV, an ne
tE0ught the Ney-Y0rk Prison Association should START
such an institution. . A..
resolution was adopted calling the attention of the
Federal government the International Prison Congfess
10 be held ~ Rome next October esre a expressed
mat ths country be officially represented In 6ist Con
Iess aud M Wines requested 10 ly the ma'tSi Oe
tore the President - =, ..- -, .h.
Cleveland Wnrknouse and BOuse or Correction, Siheisr
TOusey al Wiucs, Mir. kiichen Of New ORR baS9t'
OF W0shugton Mr. Found. T.. h. Pond OF Michigan MI
Adams of Colorado anu others took part IN tne dscts
Dped,sd themselves 10 secure tYeny members for
tbe National Prison Association. Several others prom
eed to brSne In new members. OD0noyan Rosa wrote
10 the conference asking be heard before as pret-
| cal convict"