The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-17
NATIONAL PRISON ASSOCIATION
Meets In Boston-Important Matters
Discussed ut Length.

NATIONAL PRISON ASSOCIATION
Meets In Boston-Important Matters
Discussed ut Length.
BosToN, Mass, July l0.-Nearly 200 per-
sons were present at today's session of the
National Prison association in the hall of
the House OF Representatives. Frederick
III. Wise, secretary, read n list Of all per-
sons registered, 1863 In all, the largest at
tendance Of delegates ever seen at prison
congress. The States represented were:
Alabama, colorado, Connecticut, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Mas
sachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New
Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Ohio,
PENNSYLVANIA, Rhode Island, South Caro-
lima, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and the
provinces. The paper OF the forenoon was
by Joseph Nicholson, superintendent of
the Detroit house Of correction aud presi-
dent OF the Wardens' association. lie said
that the Bertillion system for registration
and Identification OF criminals when in
general use by reiormatory institutions and
police departments under proper restric-
tons will prove a strong factor in repress-
ing crime. The question OF how to deal
with tho criminal class must ere long be
met by the application more potent rcme-
dies than are now applied, in order that the
cause OF moral deformitcs may bo reached.
Several questions ere long will arrest tho
attention Of thinking men. Among these
will be the inadequacy Of the penal laws
and the uncertainty OF their administra-
ton; the demoraliZing effects Of powerful
corporations aud trusts; the bartering away
Of public domain and the enforcement OF
idlencss caused by labor associations
Changco Of program was made in order TO
discuss the ONeil bill, word having been
received that il would come up in Congress
Wednesday. A paper on the labor ques-
ton was presented by Charles FELTON,, OF
Chicago. lie said II hostile legislation TO
prison labor continues, all prisoners in the
country will soon be idle. The power Of
labor agitators is great They elect mem
beers OF city and State governments in their
interests. hold secret meetings and are we'll
organized. Public officials, both elected
aud appointed, try 10 curry favor with
these powerful organizations and even
labor bureaus are open 10 the charge Of
fawning TO them. But labor must ulti-
mately be chief feature in the reiorma-
ton OF prisons. FELTON, Hketchcd the his.
tory Of the O'Neil bill and read il. lie
gave the statistics presented 10 Congress az
a reason for the hill, saying they were large
| ~ magniied in the interest Of labor. He
read the minority report against the bill,
charging that its real purpose was 10 de-
stroy all prison labor. He gave an analy-
sis Of statistics showing how only 10 per
cent Of the amount 10 be produced by
prison labor was really produced, and that
| - per cent. was for raw material, free
| labor and skilled supervision. lie argued
that the method proposed 10y the bill
would not protect labor, aud that II was
wrong TO lock up prisoners In idlcnoss.
| The destruction OF tn labor system would
| prevent the opportunity Of earning ~
lease by good conduct The proposed bill
Is not In the interest OF honest working
men, prison reform nor good government.
EX-Gov Bullock, Of Georgia, said th,
O'Neil bill would compel the abandon
mcnt Of the whole system Of leasing con.
victs In vogue In the south. lie predicted
that southern members Of Congress would
vote against the hill when they saw Il
would compel the support Of prisoners IN
| idlcncss.
G.. X. Brockway, Of the New York State
reiormatory, said that IN no country was
! convict labor more than q small part OF
per cent. Of free labor In this country
onc-iifth Of per cent represents the i'm.
poriancc Of the competition Of prison
| products.
The Yates bills Of New York and the
| O'Ncill bill IN Conqcs- are examples Oi
the legislative tendency to discriminate in
favor Of one class at the expense of the
Others.
Mr.. Bockaway's proposition was Ia
hold a conference thif fall, representing
all the States, II possible, 10 consider the
| prison labor question aud 10 nid by legis,
lation an organization II the prison labor
Of the country ON sound principles. lie
| suggested that the conference bccomp0scd
/ Of three members from each state besides
/ the representatives Of the National Prison
association. Mr. Brop kaway presented a
resolution, which VIA adopted, providing
/ that the executive committee OF tho aaD.
citation confer with the Governors Of the
States throughout tho Union with view
/ 10 calling such conference.
Prof Wayland, Of New York, offered
| the following resolution
Resolved, That In Tie Judgment Of this
| association productive prison labor IL an
| indispensable factor IN The work " prison
| reform, and that any scheme which has n
tendency 10 promote or permit the idle.
ness Of prisoners will infict irrcparablc In.
jury upon the phsonen, the workingman
aud the state.
Dr. Baird, Of Virginia, said that the
| O'Ncil bill contained Two monstrous prop.
ositions that conyicis compelled 10 live IN
idlcncss shall become physical aud moral
wrecks, and that the poor people Of the
country who pay most Of tho taxes shall
support all tic conyiciF In idlcnes.
Warden Patton. Of the Indiana ponitcn.
tiary, said the O'Neil bIll was a piece 81
political dcragogucism. but Il would do
no harm, aud u was bcy ond the province
Of the association 20 nitack Il.
Prof wayland's resolution was adopted,
Adjourned I'LL evening.
. -