The Portland daily press., 1886-07-19
PRISON REFORM.
The Friends of the Movement In
Conference.

ST. PAUL, Mimi, July 19-The session O.
conference of Charities and Corrections was
held tonight to consider prison reform. Two
regular papers were read, one being the re
port by Rev. J. L. Milligan, of Allegheny
Pa, the delegate from Pennsylvania to the
International Prison Congress, held in Lon
don in 1872, and also to the second Congress
held in Stockholm in 1879. He said President
Cleveland, as well as the National Prison
Association, commissioned me to the third
International Prison Congress, held at the
close of last year in Rome, where it met on
invitation of the King Of Italy. Its sessions
were open and held in the Palace of Fine
Arts. Prince Prime Minister M. DepretiS
was made president, and spoke the welcome
of Italy to Congress. The number of delegates
from Europe, Asia, England and America
was large and made up of experienced men.
The reception and hospitalities extended by
the King and Queen in person, and by other
high officials of the government, were most
charming. The sessions continued eight
days. The display OF prison products OF
every conceivable manufacture occupied nine
large halls in the Palace Of Fine Arts.
Models of twenty-eight cells from various
countries, made after the actual dimensions
and style OF occupancy, were built in the
grounds of the palace. Massachusetts and
Pennsylvania each furnished one cell. The
Congress was divided into three sections for
morning work, and in the afternoon it met
in general convention to hear and pass upon
the work of the sections. Questions were
treated and conclusions reached pertaining
to criminal Jurisprudence, prison discipline
and preventive measures. The proceedings
will make two large volumes, and can be Sc
cured through our Secretary of State. These
only can give a fair idea of breadth and i'm
portance of this Congress. The next one
will convene in ST. Petersburg.
The second paper was by General Bunker
hoff of Ohio. 1t embodied such principles
of prison reform as are now recognized as an
axiom by all the leading pentologists. The
dominantidea in the creation of prisons
should be the protection of society by refor
nation or permanent detention OF the prls-
oners The old doctrine of retaliation or
vengeance is nottenable under Christian dis
pensation and experience has shown that it
is not effective in the reformation of prison.
ers. The requirements are first, claSsltica--
ton; the reformation OF prisoners with all
offenders in the same association with other
prisoners was as hopeless as
the publication of fountain
with cess-pool discharging into it.
For this reason American jails, with less
than half dozen exceptions, are schools OF
crime and our penitentiaries are not much
kept closely separate from every other .prl--
soner, and penitentiary. should be provided
and classed under the Elmira system.
Second, the indeterminate sentence under
which criminals are sent to prison as moral
hospital from which they are not to be dis
charged till they are cured. Third, industrial
employment in which labor should be a
privilege and not a punishment and
in the earnings Of which prisoners
should receive a share. The old slave sys-
tenn of central labor should be abolished and
the best substitute in most cases would be
the piece price plan. Fourth, no prisoner
should be discharged till he had been fully
tested under parole or ticket of leave with
police supervision. Fifth, in prison school
is just as important as work shop and no
prisoner should be discharged unless he can
at least read and write Sixth, prison pun
which infiict bodily torture should
be abolished. These are injuring instead of
helping discipline and degrade manhood.
Seventh, religious instruction and especially
Christian spirit and example are indispensa-
bile for the best administration of the prison.
Prison reform is a child Of Christianity and
will always need its fostering care.
A general discussion followed in which
number of delegates spoke briefly. To-mor-
row forenoon the care of dependent children
will be discussed. The evening session will
be held in Minneapolis.