St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-07
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
A Discussion OF the Treatment OF
Prisoners.-The j JUDICIAL System.

A Discussion OF the Treatment OF
Prisoners--The Judicial System
The conduct Of the department of Justice
for the last fiscal year is fully detailed in the
report oil the attorney general and ] invite
the earnest attention of the congress to the
same and due consideration of the recon-
mendations therein contained. In the report
submitted by this officer to the last session of
congress, he strongly recomme lded he erec-
ton of a pententary for the confinement of
prisoners convicted and sentenced in the
United States courts: and he repeats the rec
concentration in his report for the last year.
This is matter OF very great Importance
and should at once receive congressional
action. United States prisoners are
now confined in more than thirty diff
ferent state prisons and penitentiaries
situated in every part Of the country.
They are subjected to nearly as many differ
ent modes OF treatment and discipline, and
are far too much removed from the control
and regulation Of the government. So far as
they are entitled to human treatment and OPP
portunity for improvement and reformation,
the government is responsible to them; but
this duty can scarcely be discharged without
more absolute control and discretion than is
possible under the present system. Many of
our good citizens have interested themselves
with the question of prison reform. The gem
eral government should be in situation,
since there must be United States prisoners,
to furnish important aid in the movement,
and should be able to illustrate what may be
practically done in
THE PRACTICE OF REFORM,
and to present an example in the treatment
and improveme Mt of its prisoners worthy of
imitation. With prisoners under its own con-
troll, the government could deal with the
somewhat VeXed question OF convict labor, so
far as its convictS are concerned, according
to plan of its own adoption and with due re-
t0 IN ,sicr
ing citizens, instead OF sometimes aiding in
the operation of q system which causes
among them irritation ana discomfort. Upon
consideration OF this su ject it might be
thought wise to erect more than one Of these
institutions located in such places as would
best subserve the purposes of convenience
and economy in transportation. The consid-
cradle cost of maintaining these convicts, as
at present. in state Institutions, would be
saved by the adoption OF the plan proposed,
and by employing them in the manu- facture
of such articles as were needed for use by
The government. Quite a large pecuniary
benefit would be realized in partial return fol-
our outlay.
THE JUD ICIAL SYSTEM.
again urge change in the federal Ju.
dNlal system to meet the wants OF the people
and obviate the delays necessarily ate nding
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
TO advise to the plan suggested by the attor-
ney general at the last session of congress
and recomm ended in my last annual message.
This recommendation is here renewed, to-
gether with another. ma lie at the same time,
to such change in the manner of compen-
sating district attorneys and marshals, and
the latter subject is commended to con.
gress for its action in the interest of economy
10 the governmt nj and humanity, and fair
ness and justice to our people.