The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-10-23

makers to the following editorial clipped
from late number Of the Weekly Scots
man, of Edinburgh, Scotland:
A pleasing and interesting chapter in the
story of social progress is furnished in the
report to parliament by the directors of
convict pri ons. One ca S of the COM
munty appears to be dwindlng in numbers
with surprising rapidity-the occupants of
the cOnvicts' cells. At the present moment
the number of persons in custody in Eng
land and Wales, under sentences of penal
Servitude, is the smallest On record.
Twenty years ago. with population of al
most seven millions less than that of to-day.
our penal Servitude cOnvictS numbered
l.. ego. To-day. the number is about one
half OF this, 944. Between March 1884
and July 1904 period, roughly speaking
of only six yearS--the convict prison popu-
laton decreased by 1000 persons. or by no
fewer than $50 persons per annum; and
last year the number of penal servitude
sentences was. with one exception, lower
than in any previous year in our history.
These facts are the most important when it
is remembered that the decrease of the con-
vict prison population has not been accom-
panied by any increase in the number of
those who occupy the ordinary prisons.
Crime, unhapply, is and will be long with
us. and the records of the cOnvicts tell only
too plainly of the frequent recurrence of
cases of serious crime. But a vast improve
ment has taken place during the past
twenty years; and if the prison records of
that period may be accepted as an indica-
ton of the future. the prospect is most
hopeful and encouraging. 1t is interesting
to note that fluctuations in the number of
convictions for serious crime have invara-
bly, correspondent with fluctuations in the
number of adult paupers. Pauperism and
crime go hand in hand. and the most recent
returns OF the former are as satisfactory and
promising as are those of the latter.
The rapidly diminishing record of serious
crime has compelled the directors of con-
vict prisons again to discuss the desirable
ness of making one alteration in the GRIM
inal law. At present the maximum SEN
tence is two years. and the minimum SEN
tence of penal servitude is five years. No
intermediate sentence is allowed The d.
rectors certainly make out strong case for
an immediate change in the law. 1t may
be said that their whole argument tends to
show that extreme rgOr in Furnishing crime
has never been followed by beneficial re-
suits, and that improvement in our criminal
statistics has grown concurrently with the
passing of less severe sentences-with the
tempering Of mercy with justice. The di-
rectOrs strongly urge that sentences of three
and four years penal Servitude be reintrO-
duced. on the general principle that cOndi
lions have wholly altered since 1868; that
the Prevention of Crime Act. 1871, which
allows of police supervision after the expiry
of sentence. supplies the requisite for the
safety of society which transportation and
long sentences used to supply: and that the
punishments which it is necessary to inflict
should not subject those on whom they are
imposed to any greater amount of misery,
discomfort. and degradation than is re-
quired to effect the object in view. They
proceed in a commercially sympathetic
spirit 1.-The family of prisoner, though
innocent. suffer as we'll as he; the disgrace
affects them. perhaps. more than him. and
they are subjected to discomfort, arising
from being deprived of the advantages of
his labor and protection. It will be ad-
mtted, then, that every year to which a
prisoner is sentenced beyond the necessity
Of the case entails much unjustifiabe suffer
ing, and those who assign the periods of
sentences which are intended to cure moral
maadies should not be fettered by rule
which absolutely forbids the adoption,
under any circumstances. of certain partic-
ular periods, any more than physician
should be precluded from administering his
dose for the cure of physical maladies."
There is the pecuniary consideration also.
The directors calculate that if only 300 of
the prisoners who are now sentenced to five
years received sentences of four years or
three years in equal proportions, the prison
population would ultimately be reduced by
$50 prisoners, land, putting the saving at
925 per head, the public would be relieved
to the amount of Ell. $50 per annum. No
doubt all this will receive. as it deserves,
attention in the proper quarter. 1t is
favorable sign of the times to find prison
officials coming forward as the advocates of
even greater consideration than this SUI
premely humane age has adopted in the
Furnishing of our criminals.