St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-20
AT MINNEAPOLIS.
Driven About the Cify..PrisOn
Topics Discussed.


At o'clock in the afternoon the confer
ence, in body, boarded the Milwaukee
train at the union depot and went to Min
neapolis, where a reception committee,
composed of Messrs. c. M. Loring, John S.
Pillsbury. A. II. Young, ID. c. Bell, Albert
Shaw, Nelson Williams, George A. Brack-
EFT, Rev. James McGolrick and Dr. w. n.
Leonard, awaited them at the depot. The
whole party was furnished carriages, of
which 100 were required, and taken on a
pleasant drive about the city. Passing
down Washington avenue to Tenth avenue
SOUTH the party crossed to East MinneapO-
lis, drove around by the state university
and the Exposition building, crossed the
suspension bridge and rode out Nicollet
avenue. The residence of Gen. Wash
burn was surrounded and the party driven
to Central park and thence to Plymouth
church. Here a substantial supper was
served, the large party being we'll and
easily served, after which an hour was left
for social intercourse.
THE EVENING SESSION.
The evening session convened at 7:3O
o'clock in Plymouth church, and prayer
was offered by President Bridgman of Ham
line university. The report of the committee
on labor in prisons and reformatories, pre-
pared by Hon. 4. r. Brockway of Elmira,
n. Y, was read by DR.. A. q. Byers of
Ohio. A summary of the report is as fol-
lows:
Legislators are puzzled over the economic
effects OF labor in prisons. 1t would be bet
ter for society to release prisoners on their
conviction than to treat them as they are
treated in many penitentiaries. Prisoners
are habitually low bred, and they cannot re-
form at will, even if willing to reform Extra
neous treatment is required, which must be
had in reformatory prisons. The period of
| detention and its nature should not be fixed
| but be left to competent board. Work
| school and behavior, even enforced
constitute lever on the prisoner
On the whole, the Industries which
make the prisoners connection with
| the prison that Of slave are
fundamentally wrong. The first necessary
| change is to reorganize so the relations of
| prisoners to their subsistence may be consist
ent, the prisoner receiving what he earns and
paying what is expended for him. He will
| soon perceive the effect of law and order on
his prosperity. A few dollars hard earned is
lar better at prisoners release than any
| gratuity OF the state. There are some gener-
| Gus contractors who conduct an honorable
business for profit The state is in honor
| bound to use all means for the contractor to
succeed The state, therefore, becomes guard
Ian OF its prisoners in another sense The
| state cannot serve two masters. The i'm
proved plan is not likely to be soon adopted
on account of the expense to the state, the
political and other risks. The ''peace-price'
| plan can can be adopted at little expense
There is no perceptible competition, if
PRISON PRODUCTS
are supplied at full price to the public. and
IT at a lower price everybody ought to be glad
OF the public benefit. If the public profit by
the employment of prisoners, then the few
ought TO ADAPT their business to it as they do
now to the demands of trade. The ststn bas
authority, If it is public benefit. to employ
prisoners as it sees fit. It might be wise for
the state to have prisoners pursue but one
| industry, but the main object of the labor is