The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-14
"ITIs NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND"
Stillvva ater Minn., Thursday, Feb. II, 1889.

arrangements determined upOn can be en-
tered INTO" Now here seems an easy way
out of this dilemma. and one which VIII
not necessitate the expenditure of an eX-
travagant sum Of money. The Warden
further suggests one particular industry,
against the establishment of which there
has not been raised single objection, ana
which, if deemed necessary. would give
constant and remunerative employment To
the bulk of our population, until provision
could be made for the introduction of other
industries.
Does it not seem strange that of all the
states that have succeeded in ridding them
selves of the contract system, Mime
sofa should be the only one that cOntem-
plates a return to it? In this connection. |
will give the views of a gentleman who has
tried both the contract and state account
systems, and one who. it should be pre-
sumed, knows whereof he speaks. This is
Warden Durston of Auburn. N. Y, he
says: Il am firmly convinced that the state
account system is the one most beneficial to
the state. and makes the prisoners self sup
porting. Under the state account system the
Warden may use his discretion in assigning
men in trades. and when he finds a man
bright and willing to learn, he may assign
him to various branches. and so, when the
convicts terui expired, he would be in
position to 20 into the world again and
earn an honest living. or course there are
men who are born thieves. and never will
be anything else. But there are many men
who are willing to reform and who deserve
all possible encouragement to turn them IN
to honest ways of living" l could, il time
and space permitted. quote volumes of such
testimony as the above, which should serve
to convince the most skeptical. but will
have to content myself, by referring those
who are really desirouS of being informed
on this matter. to the report of the U. S.
Commissioner of Labor for 1886, which is
the most complete and reliable work on
this subject that has ever been issued. At
ter reviewing the advantages and disadvan
tageS of the various systems under which
convicts are employed. the Commissioner
has this to say of the public account sys-
tenn: This is the ideal system of prison re-
formers, workingmen. manufacturers and
legislators. as rule. The advantages
claimed for it are: that whatever profit is
made in labor and in sales goes to the state;
that no individual secures any advantages
in the production of goods, not &C
corded to all manufacturers; and that the
convict works under it with better spirit.
because he knows his labor is for the state
which he has offended and not for the ben
eft of any single individual or concern.
The penologist likes it because prisons are
placed under state control entirely. and the
fOremen and instructors are officers of the
state; the system offers the best OppOrtun-
ties for refOrmatOry efforts" Speaking of
the public account system as carried on by
hand labor, the report says: ''This plan Of
fers many advantages over any other that
has been suggested to the Bureau. The
cOnvicts could be constantly employed un-
der the supervision entirely of the prison
officers. None of the objections or dsad-
vantageS arising under other systems. can
be raised against this plan. The adoption
of it would leave the state free to under
take the very best and most humane efforts
for the reformation of prisoners and this
consideration alone is of the most vital i'm
pOrtance. The experience of the Eastern
penitentiary of Pennsylvania proves con-
clusvely that goods made in this way
find market at fair prices. By the adOp-
ton of this plan the state would be relieved
from the necessity of securing manufac-
turers of skill and experience as wardens.
Any man fit to be warden of a priSOn-and
this in itself requires men of highest quail
ties-can manage prison and conduct its
industries, under this system. The dis
advantages of this system are trivial, and
of no great account. The objection to this
plan involves the abandonment of the idea
that prisons must pay. 1t cOntemplates the
adoption of the principle of securing the
maximum reformatory results. The objec-
ton in regard to expense is one which the
American public will probably meet in the