The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-20
TIE PRISON CONGRESS.
The First Business Session-Mrs Collins Plea
for ReformatOries for Women Convicts.

DETROIT. Oct. l9.-The first business session
of. the fourth National Prison Congress assem-
hled this morning. Rev. DR.. A. G. Byers, secre
tary Of the Ohio State Board of Charities and
Corrections, opened the session with prayer. The
chairman announced the subject of the morning,
and A. A Bush, warden of Sing Sing, n Y,
prison, conducted the discussion of the topic,
Prison Labor" The first proposition he brought
up was, ''The necessity of productive labor in
prisons" the reasons given being disciplinary,
reformatory and financial
General r. Brinkerhoff, of the Ohio Board of
Corrections, was the first to take up the general
discussions. He announced his belief that Ohio
had about solved the prison labor problem, not
withstanding the recent opposition to it. He
described the pece-price plan of prison labor,
which, in his opinion, was the solution of the
prison labor question.
T. R. Brockway, of Elmira N. Y. suggested
many questions for consideration, but believed
in the organization of labor in the prisons to
allow the prisoners to engage in labor in much
the same way as if they were en-
ployed outside of prison walls. The
government should pay only for the
expense of prisons as a means of suppressine
crime. and all additional expense should be paid
from tho product of the diversified labor of the
prisoners themselves. In answer to question,
he explained his idea to be the selection of men
for that kind of work for which they are best
adapted.
Mr.. Massey. of the Central prison of Toronto,
reclted the different kinds of prison labor in his
place, favoring the piece price plan.
Messrs. Anthony and Stephen. of New York
gave their views of reformatory methods the
latter denouncing the present contract labor sys
tenn and telling of the work done in the Protect
DRY in charge of the Christian Brothers.
few others opposd contract labor.
Professor Francis Wavland. of Yale College.
stated his position favorable to the contract
system. IL is his belief that the complaint
against 1T is due to the abuse of the system. He
believed that it was not yet time to pronounce
the condemnation of the contract system.
Charles E. FELTON,, of Chicago said he had
never favored any one system, but that he be-
lieved that different systems were practical I'M
der different circumstances. He considered the
various systems and their good qualities. believ
ing that the government should have sole con-
troll Of all prison labor. The morning session ad-
journed at o'clock
AT the afternoon session Rev ]. L. Millgan,
of the Western Penitentiary of Pennsylvania,
presided over the discussion of the topic of
prison Statistics" opening the session by speak
ing Of the different causes for crime, and depre-
eating the loose and inexact methods of gather
Ing statistics now in vogue Accurate statistics he
considered as lying at the base of all reforma-
tory theories.
Henry Warner. of the Allegheny county, Penn
sylvanla, work-house, presented the report of a
committee of the association. submitting blank
form for the uniform collection of prison sta
tistics, and, after discussion, it was adopted.
The following resolution. offered by ex- Presi-
dent Hayes was read by the secretary:
Resolved. That committee of three members of
the association be appointed for the purpose of bring
fo% Iao IL
collection of statistics of the prisons of the United
States and of the sever States by the appropriate
department of the general government
Rev. F. H. Wines. of Illinois. gave an illustra
tion of the inaccuracy and incompleteness of our
present statistics, urging the necessity for care
fully-colected statistics.
Mr.. Charlton T. Lewis, of New York, fol-
lowed with similar argument.
M. j. Cassidy believed the cause of crime was
sometimes hereditary, and that often the par
ents should be held responsible for the crimes of
their children. Neglect of children ne con-
demDed heartily.
The resolution was unanimously adopted.
Chairman Hayes announced the subject of
'Womens Prisons. which was opened by a paper
by Mrs. B. Coffin, of Chicago on ''Reformatories,
Police. Matrons," etc. She considers the general
question of womens' prisons of vital Importance.
affecting the life and vlgor of the Nation. The
history of reformatories for women and girls be-
gan In Indiana, and the success there encouraged
similar and successful efforts in Massachusetts.
With these two exceptions, female convicts
are confined in the State prls-
ons for men. in separate department.
genera ly adapted to rpformatory measures
The matrons of these separate departments are
usual appointed for some favoritism. and have
little authority or opportunity to develop any
plans for the reformation of convicts. The
thought of reformation does not come to these
prisons. She referred to the terrible results i'll
many cases where the guards have free access to
the women's cells, stating that what she spoke
of was not simply II probability, but statement
of facts. She holds that men cannot reform de-
based women. and argued for woman's and
girls reformatory, to be entirely under the SUI
perNision OF women. AS it now is, only
the worst criminals are sent to prison,
the limited quarters allotted them compelling
this None are sent for reformation, but rather
for punishment. She favored institutions for
women where all the surroundings would be
elevating. and maintained that bad women can
he reformed. Station houses were termed
places of almost unmitigated evil" and the
speaker believed the employment of matrons in
these police stations was step in the right
direction She described thu work of a matron
in one of the police courts of Chicago. She de-
nounced country ais as being. in many cases, a
disgrace to civilization. She spoke briefly, in
conclusion, of the work for discharged prisoners
which is but just begun.
After the conclusion of Mrs. Collins paper the
session adjourned.
In the evening large audience came out
through the rain and paid close and appreciative
attention to the addresses
President Hayes announced the following
committee to secure from Congress measures for
securing statistics of the United States and State
prisons: F. H. Wines of Illinois, Gen. r. Brink
erhoff, Of Ohio, and Charlton T. Lewis, of New
York.
Parnell Meeting at Boston.
Boston, Oct. 19-An enthusiastic meeting
under the auspices of the Irish National Land
League. was held at Fanieul Hall this evening
for the purpose of giving encouragement to