New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-03
ular needs and ambitions and circumstances OF
particular people

Mr. Warmers article ON "Prison Management" In INC
North American Repsw proceeds on the Assumption nA'
there is very little difference between our WORST sA
prisons and our best in the effect produced upon con-
victs reformation or reduction OF the cri"".'
classes" The State Prison at wethersheld, Conn, u
altogether gloomy and depressing place." while inc
State prison at Cranston, r. L, Is " new nahosomo
granite building with the modern imprevements New
erthlcss, Mr. Warner testiHes the two prisons might
change inmates and visitor would know inc snoi
The coDvcts in both are In appearance
aud degraded Can any improvement In prison manage
ment be suggestedi In lieu Of q direct answer MI
Warner gives toeraby full account OF the management
of the Reformatory at Elmra in this State This nsti
tuition ia provided with sch0Olrooms sufficient for the
accommodation of all its inmates The education Ia COM
pulsory the cOnvicts sentence terminates wheh no
sufficiently reformed. The discharges are MADE only ny
the Board, who consider the convicts record III tho
prison and the probabilities from all the evidence con-
corning him. that he will behave If set at liberty Inc
system justified by its results for Mr. Warner reports
that so per cent of the going from the Reformatory
are reformed The article is worthy OF the attention OF
all who arc interested in the prison problem MT warner
emphasizes his points with a penetrating humor oo
serving protestaton against the coddng SYSTEM thae
selfrespecting murderer obliged to write upon MS
cards, No flowers"
Theodore Roosevelt gives in the April Century an In
terestng but dsheartenng account OF the Oh
New York. Mr. Roosevelt was memDer Oh Assempy
for three successive and writes one having au
thory He calls his paper Phases OF State Legisa-
ton" Some these phases creditabe more OF them
are dscredtable The ancient observer who exclaimed
Behold my son, with how little wisdom the world Is
governed" might have spoken with increased emphasis
could he have been afforded provision of this intelligent
and experienced ex-Assemblymans testimony Take
this paragraph for instances
In each Of the last three Legislatures there were num-
Der of who were interested III ge,uns
through certain measures which we deemed to
certain to be strongly opposed, some for poca ana
some for pecuDiary reasons BelOre takng any
active steps we had size up" fellow legislators
TO find out their past history and present character ana
tiers acting under the directions OF else
whether they bright or stupid, etc, etc AS re-
suit and after very careful study conducted purely VIII
object of learning the TRUTH so that we might WORK
eectually we came to the conclusion thst ABOUT
third of members open TO corrupt influences III
form or other In certain sessions the proportion
was greater, and in some less.
Mr.. Roosevelt argues that citizens who selhshy de-
cline to bear part in practical politics are largely
responsible for this disgracefu of things and he
doubtless is right. In conclusion and by way OF reas
surfing his readers he expresses the opinion that there
no cause thinking that it is hopeless to expect I'M
provement at Albany:
On the contrary the standard OF legislative morals Is
certainly higher than |. fifteen years ago or twenty
five years ago. and Judging by appearances 1t seems
improve IN the future keeping pace exactly with Tue
gradual awakening Of the popular mind to the necessity
OF having honest and intelligent representatives In the
State Legislature.