New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-01
prrnpuArIoY TILT REFORMS.

II is impossible TO pcriSe the annual report
Of the Elmiia Reformato,y without realizing
tina, that institution is performing gfea' anu
benefcent work. Indeed. il would not he an
extrayagant statement to affirm that there are
few If the distinc;ively Christian or philan-
thropic organizations in the state which are
achieving larger or better results. some OF our
penal institutions whatever may be their merits
from certain points OF view, do not iehd' IL y
10 be feared. 10 reform their inmates. But inc
system which is pursued at Elmlra can scafcel!
fail TO improve tho young offenders whose no
crty il restraints For many years the manage
ment of the Rcformaiory has been studied by
those interested in penaogy. and they have
found that it met the best expectations start
ing from the already recognized principe TO
quote from the report" that occupation should
usurp the sway Of idleness among those III prison
peni the next step was 10 effect llniied occ''pl-
ton of the head and the hand. Il union oil inenia,
and physical effort. and practical Application
of present advantages with view TO future
usefulness" Tha, was the plan upon which
the Reformatory was founded, and upon when
it has always been conducted.
The history Of the Reiormatory during the
last year. that is, for the year ending September
80. 1890. attests that the institution is moving
steadily forward The Legislature OF 1889
passed an act authorizing the managers 10 en-
ploy the inmates with almost exclusive refer
ence 10 fitting them 10 maintain themselves by
honest industry after discharge nom impnson-
ment. and without much expectation that their
| employment would result in any considerable
earnings" Accordingly. in selecting trades Tor
4. A
| instruction regard has been had we are told, to
| the varying capabilities OF the inmates. to the
| industries carried on in the places 90 which they
are likely to return when pafOled and 10 such
| occupations as their relatives are engaged IN, TO
the end that when released they may find ready
entrance upon their several employmenis. Dur
| ing the year LII inmates have received trade
| instruction among twcnty-six distinct trades.
either graduating through the course taught or
advancing far enough TO add 10 their desisl-
| bility as apprentices in the lines in which they
| have shown proficiency. il is further stated in
the report that ~ 32i inmates parolcd during
the year us went directly 10 employment at
the trade learned At the Reiormatory, 127 were
provided with situations at other occupations
expecting tina. they would after while engage
| i'm the trade (which they had learned. while ~
were temporarily placed in paid employment 1T
the Rerormator,t II would seem that no nan
in his senses could sec anything TO criiicisc in
this treatment of youthful malefactors Any
scheme of punishment which does not look to
their reformation is radically defective. is nm
worthy Of the state. is an insult to civilization
and to Christianity. il on leaving the Ieforma-
tory they are not to become members OF what
is known as the dangerous class they must be
protected against idleness and the trade which
they have learned is the shield. They need such
a shield for their own salles and the State must
insist that they shall have it for the sake of
the common veal.
These are elemental. considerations il would
seem that there could not be two opinions in
regard to the point involved. Nevertheless, the
fact remains that The Journoymen Plumbers
Union of Boston lately became indignant and
demanded legislative interference on leaning
that plumber who did not belong to the union
and who lad learned his tiaie at the Concord
Reformatory Industrial School had the assur-
ance 70 endcavOr to earn IN honest living by tho
sveai of his brow at that trade Judging from
the published accounts of the way the union
took on" over It's discovery Of this poor
Number one would ihinl; il held that penal in
stitutions ought 10 be managed in accordance
with the mott, Once conyic. always a con-
vict'' that they had no right 10 adopt measures
wi.Ich were calculated to enable their inmates