The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-17
REFORM IN THE PRISONS.
MEETING OF THE NATIONAL CON-
GRESS AT NASHVILLE.


Rutherford 3. Hayes Delivers the An
nual Address A Majority Rule In
Juries Advocated - Labor an Essen
tial Factor in Reforming Criminals.
Changes in the Criminal Laws
Advocated.
NASHVILLE, TENN, Nov. 16.-The
national prison congress was opened here
tonight, and Gen. Rutherford B. Hayes
delivered an address He opened with
review of ancient and modern methods of
dealing with the criminal classes compared
one with the other, and congratulated his
hearers that the brutal penalties of former
years have been abolished save in one small
state. Prisons specially for women we're
highly commended. Mr. Hayes continued
thus:
Among the obstacles to progress TO which on
other occasions l have called attention am
convinced that one Of the chief was named by
Gov. Seymour of New York in his admirable
address as president of this society fifteen years
ago at Baltimore. This was his emphatic state
ment: mo one feels that there is in the country
clear, strong, even flow Of administration OF
the criminal law" Wherever this opinion pre-
walls, and Co the extent that IL is found t stands
In the way of all reforms looking TO the amelio-
ration OF the condition of the prisoner
DELAY ExcITEs RESENTMENT.
Popular resentment toward convicts is ex-
cited by all unreasonable hindrance to their
speedy trial and conviction. No well informed
man can fail to see that such obstacles do in
fact exist In the criminal procedure of almost
every state. Technical rules In criminal cases
relating to 1uries, To indictments, to evidence,
and to rehearing Of cases after Judgment do
tend to shield the guilty, and to defeat
what Gov. Seymour calls clear strong.
mi frat
of Justice" We get this body Of technical
rules from England. In that country a few
generations ago. name judges invented and
employed these rules to protect the Innocent
from despotic power. Here we need no such
protection. II Is the innocent and law-abiding
people who are represented by the prosecution.
Lack or popular confidence in the fairness Of
justice of criminal trials begets crime IL en-
boldens the criminal classes and leads to lawless
VIC ence and an endless train OF other calani-
tics.
EFFEcTs OF LAX PUNISHMENT.
If justice fails in the courts, publ sentiments
Will justify. or at least tolerate mosEs and
lynch law. Delays in criminal proceedings in
these days when wealth has such power offer q
temptation TO oribe giving and bribe taking,
and thus the administration of justice is cor
rupted and loses public respect. IL is one OF
the specified objects Of this society to improve
the procedure by which criminal laws are
extensively modified.
Already in few states the technicality that
no man can sit on a jury who reads newspapers
has been expunged from the statute books and
rational rule has taken its place, viz: Any
citizen, Notwithstanding opinions formed from
reading newspapers Is qualified to sit on q
jury, IL he Is able TO decide q case with
out prejudice or partality upon the
sworn testimony submitted IL would
be far more reasonable ITO exclude
from iuries the men who do not read newspa-
| pers, aud who do not form, express opinions
from what they read. Ignorance, not intelli .
gence should be shut out from the jury box.
LET MAJORITY DECIDE.
One other example of unreason In our jury
system. Prof. Wayland dean Of Yale law
school, calls IL: "Tbe fetich of an uuanimoua
jury" II 1ve-sixths Of jury or three-four.hs
all aeree upon verdict of guilty, and if the
presiding judge approves the verdict, why shall
it not standf Under our republican system the
Rravest questions affecting peace and war, prop
erty, happiness, and lives OF millions Of human
beings are decided finally by bare
majority vote Of citizens. These reforms
depend at last upon popular judgment and
popular will As long as unjust advantages
under the law are given to the law breaker aa
long as trials are edless, expensive and at
tended with long delays and marked uncer-
toward the convict which will hamper all
humane and christian efforts for his reforma-
tfon and reinstatement IN the ranks OF good
citizenship. Let the laws relating
to criminal trials be such as will
secure prompt, economical and perfectly fair
trials, and the public mind will then DO able to
which the frien Is OF humanity wish TO present.
IN behalf OF reform OF prisons and prison dis
cipline.
THE CHIEF AIM.
The chief aim In the treatment of conviets ia
to protect society against its avowed enemy
the criminal Those who cannot be reclaimed
should remain under their sentence of cons
viction where they can support themselves by
labor and do no harm to society. Many, we
know, can be reel aimed and will lead honest
lives. Those who I'LL our prisons aud reform
atories are either accidental criminals.
or incipient criminals, who break the
law from some thoughtless impulse OF
from drink. This is especially true OF the young,
who constitute so large proportion OF all
prisoners. 1t is probable that a minority only
of tho g comm tied TO tails, reformatories, and
prisons can be properly clAssed as old and COM
firmed offenders.
LABOR AS A REFoRMER.
II must never be forgotten that an essential
and indispensable factor in the reform of a
criminal is labor. AS to It's application in
prison, SO many prejudices and pecuniary in~
terests are touched, or supposed to be-
touched by it, that the question has
interfered disastrcusy, while wholesome
prison discipline in some cases has been a source
OF great mischief, but discussion and experi-
ment are disposing of it. There s nothing that
honest labor outside OF prisons will gain by sup
porting in idleness convicted criminals Is now
rejected in quarters most infiuent al on this
subject. We have learned by experience that.
educa ion-training In correct. .habits of mind,
body and Character is our best reliance for re@
claiming the faian