The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-18
THE PRISON CONGRESS.
THE PROCEEDINGS OF YESTERDAYS
SESSION.
"The Lease System Must Co." Says N.
r. II. Dawson. of Alabama-How
Il Works In That State.

BosToN, Mass, July 1.-THE session OF
the Prison association today began with
the address Of Il. II. Dawson, OF Alabama,
Ex-Presdcnt Hays being in the chair.
Dawson said il was the first time Alabama
had been represented in the association,
but the issue Of prison management is
agitating the State from end TO end. The
lease system must 60 where slavery has
gone, and where tho dram shop must go.
I Applause. No man should have charge
Of convict labor who has a nickers interest
in it. The present Governor is in full
sympathy with prison reform and the
penitentiary is being thoroughly reno
delcd. Convicts are worked in the coal
mines and days work is two.thirds Of
ircemans days work. They work over
time for pay and many send money 10
their families. They have schooling from
too o'clock In the evening. The NOR
tality has been irighiiul. One year II was
Al TO 100, and the best lac could do was 10
make Il TO 100. The average for tho last
five years is 8 20 l00ior colorcd people, and
2 in 100 for whites. Forty-seven per cent.
OF the conyicts are sick when received, 80
per cent. being incurable.
Dr. J. A. Scoullcr, superintendent Of the
Illinois State reform school, presented the
report Of the standing committee ON pre-.
ventiye and reiormatOry work.
He said that classification is the ilrst
necessity in reformatory work, and that
there must be room and money enough.
To put the corrigiblc and incorrigible TO.
gethcr Is n crime. Criminals are distinct
class, not windialls from humanity. The
way TO stop having them is 10 stop breed
ing them.
br. scouller's address was full Of spirit,
of courageous work for reform, and was fe.
ceiyed with warm applause.
q. II. Reeve, Of plymouth, presented
paper on the care Of dependent children.
Mr.. Reeve said that the class OF depen.
dent children Is largely made up oi found
lngs, illegitimaies, orphans, Of the very
poor, with a few better born, who become
waits from various causes. In the cases Of
nearly all Of them, except this last, there
Is more or less mental deficiency or de-
formily in the brain substance. This Is
inevitable, because Of the very conditions
from the inception Of the child until u be.
comes n public charge. Mr.. Reeve at
tackled the civil marriage contracts, saying
OF the State that no matter who comes for
n permit, the strong or the weak minded,
the sound and healthy OF the doiormod,
the millionaire or the hereditary paupor,
all are given permit alike, and this civil
contract IL thus fully completed by sane
tons Of law. II man wants 10 run lo'
comotiye or practice medicine or plead In
the courts, he must submit 20 a rigid ex.
animation a. 20 his fitness for the position,
and be- able 10 pass one. But when
one comes forward TO get a permit 10
enter into q contract the nsst sacred
that can bo assured that yitally affect the
bodies, social aud polite ~ well ~ cor.
poral, not word Is said. All are licensed.
The church regards marriage a. holy
covenant. II makes little or no inquiry as
10 candidates. Here We have q shocking
view Of marriage supplied by church aud
State. A constant Increase Oi paupcrIsm
and crime must follow. The energies Of
each succeeding generation are exhausted
In making plaslen 10 cover the sorcs
created by their predecessors. The usagcs
Of church and State regarding divorce are
moral and social ulcers. Mr.. Reeve said
the State should rear the neglected children
together, but should bind them out as foon
~ good places can lie found, Laws should
be passed 10 prevent the production OF
paupcn and criminals as at present under
our lax marriage laws.