The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-19

ST. PAUL, Mimi, July 18-Several ministers
attending the conference of charities and correc
tons preached in the city churches this morning.
The only session Of the conference was that at
Plymouth Church tonight. on the subject of
prison reform. OF the two regular papers. the
first was report by the Rev. ]. L. Milligan. of
Allegheny, Pa, delegate from Pennsylvania to
the international prison congress held in Lon
don in 1872, and also to the second congress. held
in Stockholm in 1873. He said President Cleve-
land as well as the National Prison Association,
commissioned him to the third international
prison congress- held at the close of last year in
Rome. where it met ON the invitation of the
King of Italy It's sessions opened and
held in the Palace of Fine Arts. Prime
Minister III. Depretis was made the president
and spoke tho welcome of Italy to the Congress-.
The numbers of delegates from Europe, Asia,
England and America was large, and made up of
experienced men. The reception and hospitality
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. The congress
was divided into three sections for morning
work. and in the afternoon it met in general con-
vension to hear ana pass upon the work of the
sections. The questions treated and the con-
clusiens reached pertained to criminal inrispru
dence prison discipline and preventive measures.
The proceedings will make two large volumes,
and can be secured through our Secretary of
State. These only can give fair idea of the
breadth and Importance of this congress The
next one will convene in ST. Petersburg.
The second paper was one by General Brinker
hof, of Ohio 1t embodied such principles of
prison reform as are recognized as axioms
by all leading penologsts. The old doctrine of
retaliation or vengeance is not tenable under the
Christian dispensation, and experience has
shown that it is not effective. In the reforma-
ton of prisoners ths requirements
First-Cassfcation Reformation of pris-
oners for all offenses in association with other
prisoners was as hopeless as publication of
fountain with cess-pool dischargng into it.
For this reason American jaifs, with less than
half dozen exceptions, are schools of crime,
and our penitentiaries are not much better. In
jails every prisoner should be kept entirely sep
arate from everyt other prisoner, and peniten-
tiaries should be regarded and classified under
the Croton and Elmira system.
Second-The indeterminate sentence under
which criminals are sent to prisons as moral
hospitals. from which they are not to be dis
charged until they are cured.
Thrd-Industrial employment in which labor
should be privilege and not punishment, and
in the earnings of which prisoners should receive
share. The old slave system of contract labor
should be abolished, and the best substitute, in
most cases. would be the piece-pri plan.
Fourth-No prisoner should be discharged
until he has been fully tested under parole or
ticket-of-leave, with police supervision.
Fifth-In prison, school is just as important
as workshop. and no prisoner should be dis
charged until he at least read and write.
Sixth-Prison punishments whichinflct bodily
torture should be abolished. These are injuri-
Gus to instead of helping discipline and degrade
manhood.
observation-disclosures instruction, and especially
a Christian spirit and example. are indispensable
for the best administration of prisons. Prison
reform is child of Christianity, and will always
need its fostering care.
A general discussion followed, in which num-
Der of delegates spoke briefly