The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-12-17
DEPARTMENT OFF JUSTICE.
SOME observation-disclosures.

oOmG EGJAMENDAIlON e#
The conduct of the department. Of Justice for
the last fiscal year Is fully detailed In the re-
port Of the attorney genera, and / invite the
earnest attention Of the congress- to the same,
and due consideration of the recommendations
therein contained. In the report submitted by
this officer to the last session of the congress he
strongly recommended the erection of a peni-
Tertiary for the confinement of prisoners con-
victed and sentenced in the United States courts:
and he repeats the recommendation in his report
for the last year. This Is a matter OF very great
Importance and should ut once receive congress
sionaI action. United States prisoners are now
confined in more than thirty different state
prisons and penitentiaries situated in every part
of the country. They are subjected to nearly as
many different modes of treatment and dis
cipline, and are far too much removed from the
control and regulation OF the government, so far
as they are entitled to humane treatment and
opportunities for Improvement and reformation.
The government is responsible TO them and So
ciety that these things are Forthcoming, 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 most beneficial results on the
question of prison reform. The general gov
eminent should be in q situation,
since there must be United States prisoners. to
furnish important sid in this movement and
should be able to illustrate what may be prac-
tically done in the practice of reform and to
present an example In the treatment and I'M
pr0vement or Its prisoners worthy or 1m1ta-
tion. With prisoners under its own control. the
government ceald deal with the somewhat
vexed question of convict labor. so far as its
convicts were concerned, according to a plan OF
it's own adoption, and with due regard to rights
and interests of our laboring citizens instead of
sometimes aiding in the operation Of q system
which causes among them irritation and dis
content. Upon the consideration of this sub
ject it might be thought wise to erect more than
one of these institutions, located in such places
as would best suit. and subserve the purposes of
convenience and economy in transportation.
The considerable cost of maintaining these con-
victs as at present in state institutions would
be saved by the adoption Of the plan proposed
and by employing them In the manufacture of
such articles as were needed for use by the gov
ernment, quite a large pecuniary benefit would
be realized in partial return for our outlay.
A NEEDED CHANGE
/ again urge a change in the federal Judicial
system to meet the wants Of the people and OBJ
viate the delays necessarily attending the pre-
sentation of affairs in our courts. All are
agreed that something should be done. and
much favor is shown by those well able to adj
wise to the plan suggested by the attorney gen.
eral at the last session of the congress. and
recommended in my last annual message. Yhis
recommendation is here renewed, together with
another made at the same time to such a change
In the manner or compensating district attorneys
and marshals. and the. latter subject Is COM
mended to the congress for its actfbn in the in
serest of economy. to the government and hui
manity, fairness and justice &c our people.