Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-12-10
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

A Government F~AltentiaFy Needed
The Subject of Convict Labor.
The conduct of tho department OF justice
for the last fiscal year is fully detailed in the
report Of the attorney general, and 1 invite
the earnest attention OF the congress TO the
eane. and due confederation Of the
recommendations therein contained. In the
report submitted by this officer to the
last session of congress he strongly recon-
mended the erection Of penitentiary for the
confinement Of prisoners convicted and SEN
fenced in the United States courts; Al 4 he
repeats the recommendation In his report or
the last year. This is 4 matter Of very e.. at
Importance and should at once receive con-
gressio1al action. Gnited States prisoners
are new confined in more than thirty
different state prisons and penitentiartes.
situated in every part of the country.
They are subjected to nearly az many different
modes of treatment and discipline, AID are far
too much removed from the centyOl and regQ-
lation Of the government. SO far as they are
entitled to humane treatment and opportunity
for improvement and reformation. the govern
ment is responsible to them; but this duty can
scarcely be discharged without more absolute
control and discretion that is poesibleunder
the preeent system. Many of our good citi-
zens have interesrod themselves with the
question of
PRISON REFORM.
The general government should be in
situation, since there must be United States
prisoners, to furnish important aid III the
movement, and should be able to Il.
lu.trste what may be pfac5l'
callv done in the practice of reform,
and Improvement Of its prisoners worthy Of
imitation. With prisoners under it's own con-
troll, the government could deal with the some
Whist vexed question of convict labor. 60 far
a. ito couyictr we're concerned, according to .
plan of its own adoption and with due regard
to the rights and interests Of our lab0ring citt-
zens, instead of sometimes aiding In the
operation of system which causes
among them irritation and discomfort
Upon consideration of this subject, it might
be thought wise to erect more than one Of
these ina. itnrons ]oca' ed in -nch places as
~onld best >un-erve the purposes OF conven-
itrc- and ECONOMY in transportation. The
cons ,de,anlc cort Of maintaining these con
>icte, as ut present. in eta1e institutions.
would tie eavcd by the adoption Of the plan
proposed. and by employing them in the
manufacture of such articles as were needed
for by the government. Quite
a large pecun'ary benefit would be
realized in partial return for our outlay.
THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
Iagafn uyge change in the federal Judicial
system to meet The wants OF the people and
obviste the delays necessarily attending the
presentation of affairs in our courts. All
are agreed that something should be done,
and much favor is shown by those we'll able
10 advise to the plan suggested by the attor-
ney general 1T the last session OF congress
and recommended in my last annualmessase
This recommendation is here renewed,
together with another. made at the
same time, to such q change in the manner OF
compromising district attorneys and marshals.
and the latter subject is commended to the
congress for its action in the interest Of econ
omy to the government and humanity, and
fairness and justice to our people.