The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-22
TIE PRISON CONGRESS.
1he Last Day of the Session-The Next Meet
ing To Be Held at Atlanta, Ga.

DETROIT, Mich, Oct 26-The last days ses
sion of the Prison Congress was opened with
prayer by Rev. Dr. Wallace Radcliffe, of De-
troit
President Hayes announced, from the board
of officers and directors that the next meeting of
the association would be held in Atlanta. Ga.
Charlton T. Lewis, of New York, reported
resolutions expressing the results of the present
congress; returning thanks for their hospitahle
reception; recommending the general education
of the youth of both sexes in productive indus
try as a preventive of crime; advising changes
In the laws and their execution for speedy aud
equitable trials; demanding that wardens be
empowered to appoint or discharge their subor-
dinates; affirming the principle of reformation
of large percentage of criminals; calling Tor
radical changes in county iails as necessary Tor
the prevention of the increase of crime; recon-
snending female prisons in charge OF Iemaie
officers; and indorsing prison labor which
should be solely refortnatory and disciplinary.
A committee of five appointed Tor the SO
curing of new members in Michigan
The subject of the morning was JAMS ana
worLbonese which was opened by Charles II.
FELTON,. of Chicago, with a paper ON "Iramps
and Drunks."
After the conclusion of Mr.. Felton's paper,
which received heartily the subject was
Charles +. Coffin of Chicago spoke for more
careful legislation and better execution of the
laws ir regard to Migrants, and gave an account
of the present condition of the county jails
throughout the West.
Elk President Hayes was called on to talk of
county iails, but excused himself by introducing
General r. Brinkerboff of Ohio, who explained
the system in vogue for the Improvement or the
county jails in Ohio Some difficulty is found
in dealing with self-sufficlent county officers.
but many model jails have been built. plans of
which are on exhibition at this meeting OF the
association. The prisoner sees no other
inmates of jails, and in consequence winter
boarders are more scarce. He spoke of the Mans
field iail. which he considered the best in his
State, and it is the only one where the prisoners
are kept absolutely separate. The object gener-
ally ia TO make the county jails places OF deten-
ton. An explanation was also given of the gem
eral prison system of Ohio.
Judge Francis Wayland of Connecticut, told
of the method of dealing with Migrants IN Lon
DON and described the New England system,
which now makes 1t safe for women and children
to 90 out alone after night.
Chaplain Morse. of Blackwells Island, told of
the tramps who end up with the penitentiary
Secretary Rounds Endorsed the idea of the pos
sible reformation of the dirtiest and vilest.
After the discussion, resolutions were passed
IN memory of deceased members.
During the morning there was womens
meeting held to consider reformatory work for
women.
r.
with Warden Brush, of Sing Sing, New York,
presiding the object of the meeting being the
further consideration of the unfinished topics of
the previous sessions. The discussion embraced
statistics of the ratio of criminals to the popula
ton. question was asked on the basis of the
statistics of 1880, in reference to the proportion
of coored criminals in the Northern and South
ern States, the indications being that in those
parts of the country where the negro has educa-
tional advantages the ratio is very much greater
than in the Southern States. The questioner
was snubbed uncivily, although being plainly
and avowedly in search of information; but after
time the question was considered, tho discus
sion being as to whether education and increased
crime went together There is more need of
skilled labor than skilled brains
Juvenile Reformatories" was the regular
subject OF the afternoon, and it was opened with
a paper bv &. A Goner, of the State Reform
School at Lansing, Mich on that subject. He
holds that the great work of boys reformatory
should be to give him new and better purposes,
the whole effort being for permanent results.
j. G. Hte of the Ohio Reform School, at Ian
caster, followed with a paper THE Ad-
vantages of the Cottage System. The plan of this
system is Triumphant in the boys seif-respect, by
treating them with some degree of confidence.
The boys are placed i'll families of forty or fifty.
Pleasant surroundings, as in a home, are pro-
yided. Motherly matrons look after the conduct
of boys. He finds that the cottage system IS
better as healthful and disciplinary measure.
''Prisoners Aid Associations" the topic,
over the discussion of which DR.. John Morris,
of the Maryland Prisoners Aid Association, pre-
sided, opening the discussion with talk in wnlcn
he gave an account of the kind and method of
aiding ex prisoners. In the general discussion of
the subject, the manner of working in different
parts of the country in aid to those released from
prison, the employment that has been secured
and the homes provided. were prominent topics
The question whether released prisoners should
be given money and clothing caused some de-
bate, the majority favoring it, when it is part of
the fruit of his labor in prison. 1t is best to
furnish work. Nothing has yet been done to
take care of the prisoners families while they
are in prison.
1t was decided to appoint committee of three
to examine into the aid for prisoners and prison
Srs' families, and report at the next meeting
The session then adjourned