The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-12-25
POLICY NEEDED.
CONSTANT AGITATION AND CHANGE IN
THE PRISON POLICY DETRIMENTAL.
Some Timely and Sensible Suggestion
Looking to Permanent Results in
the Management of the Peni-
tentiaries.

Superintendent Goree, in his report
of the penitentiaries, has this to say
relative to stable and definite policy
in the control of the prisons:
A STABLE AND DEFINITE POLICY NEEDED.
One great cause of failure in peni-
Tertiary management in the United
States has been because of the tickle
ness of legislation in changing from
one system to another in response to
popular clamor.
Hon. Chas. E. FELTON,, ex-superin-
tendent of the Chicago House of Cor
rection. one of the most experienced,
practical and accomplished prison
men in the country, presents this evil
in the following vigorous language IN
his report of 1888:
"Upon crime and its punishment
public sentiment is often devoid OF
res son. 1t is irate, uncompromising
and vengeful 1t is noisy, demon
.strative and aggressive. 1t ia enc
tional, convulsive and gushy. 1t is
tickle, sympathetic and foolish. Onc
day it is affirmative; the following day
it is negative. 1t is riotous it is joy
Gus. When followed, it is disturb
ing, not healing. A crime hay
ing been committed, it cries, sc pture
the fiend and hang him!" When the
offender has been arrested, pity is sub
stituted for passion, and the drama
commences. The trial is in progress
was it the criminal, or his victim, or
the officer who made the arrest, who
was most guilty? Tragedy becomes
farce. and the farce continues. When
in prison, il the culprit goes there,
shall be earn the food he eats, the
clothing he wears, and contribute by
labor toward the expense he creates?
Public sentiment has said "No," and
it has said eyes," and it is now ring
ing in changes EYES," "No," "No,"
Eyes," and "No" again in Bahel-like
confusion. Years ago, idleness was
the unvarying rule. Later, industries
were established; and their influence
was excellent. At present public
thought is doubting-is divided-but
the opponents to prison labor seem to
have the greatest influence over Iegls-
lators. In this state the lessee system
was in vogue; then the public ac-
count; then the contract, and now the
public account Notwithstanding scenes
in prison management at the dlctum
of public sentiment or public clamor.
The arrest and trial of criminals, aud
their treatment while in prison, should
mot be controlled by tickle public SEN
timent. All such matters should he
conducted in q purely business way.
Sentimentality has little place in
courts and in prisons. Laws are Just;
Judges are honest; juries are humane;
and prison officers are earnest In their
wish to be of benefit to errjng man
kind, and if the latter are not able,
plenty of men can be found for the
nositions who are. Hence, legislators
should not embarrass prison managers
iby uniriendly legislation or unjust
criticism, in response to public clamor
or public thought, which is as tickle
as the wind" /
OF course this evil has not prevailed
to anv great extent in Texas legisl
ton. but there is a constant agitation
of the question, which is always more
or less detrimental and cripples any
penitentiary management in efforts
towards progress and reform.
TEXAS POLICY.
The legislature should, after careful
consideration, declare in no uncertain
terms what is to be the policy and sys
tenn in regard to the penitentiarieS
and conyjcts, aud thor /. !lo ga" :
agement OF penitentiaries press for
ward towards the accomplishment of
wins tever it determined on.
The end aimed at may not be
reached IN years, piG Nuen IL Is |
known where the destination is, it can
be kept steadily in view and no use
less steps taken to reach it,
In the determination of the proper
policy the object of punishment, as
defined in our criminal code, should
be the first aud principal consilera-
ton. Art. 2 of the criminal coie is
follows: "The object OF punishment
is TO suppress crime, and reform the
offender"
We reluctantly confess that hereto
fore not much has been accomplished
towards the reformation of criminals
in Texas. Even in the prison proper
not sufficient attention has been
given by prison officials to this i'm
portant requirement of the law, be-
cause their time is monopolized with
other duties. We are looking too
much after financial success rather
than moral reformation.
The chaplain alone must not be
relied on to make the depraved and
crooked grow straight and symmet-
- h,t axary nFfionr nj tho orisoY, !