Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-10-12
ANNUAL CONGRESS-
OF the National Prison Reform AS>o.
citation.

PIrTsBuRG, Oct. 1.-THE annual CEN
gress uf the National Prison Reform Asso-
| ciston convened Saturday evening in Car.
nE gle Music Hall. Gen. Rutherford B..
Hsyes, president Of the association. made
the annual address. In the course Of his
remsrLs he said:
Although the phrase ''prison reform. and
the general facts and arguments relating 10
il are we'll understood. the need for more
knowledge, more investigation. more dis
cussion does not grow lees. The bene fcent
i, tiuence Of local, state and national ocieties
upon prisons ard prison discipline and man
agement are plainly visible 10 PennsylvAnis,
Massachusetts, New York, Maryland aud
other states; but, after all. il is safe to say
that large majority Of the prisoners &C
cused or convicted Of crime in the United
States are dealt with 10 defiance of jast sld
wise principles in these four vital partic-
ulsfs:
First. The young and .houghtless, the
beginners in lsw-breakiDg, and the acct
denial crimiDAls, suspected Of guilt, are
arrested and lodged in city prisons or county
jaiis, and there detained for trial, huddisd
together with old and hardened offenders.
TO be educated and trained In the whole art
and mystery Of ctiminal life.
Stc11d. Professional criminals are seo-
teLcsd for short terms according 10 the
supposed enGrDity Of their respective
crimes, and at the end Of their terms are
sent forth 10 prey again upon society, and
to te empt and 10 instruct others to lead lives
Of infsmy, and of hostility to the welfare
Of the public.
Third. Prisoners are discharged at the
ends Of their terms under such circam
stances that the imminent chances OF ex-
convicts, with all the world against them,
are that they will be compelled to make q
living by sreturu to their evil ways, aad be
copf'm,d In their enmity to the well being
and good order Of society.
Fourth. Our prisoners in many, il not
most cases, are under wardens and other
prison officers. who hold their places as
political sppoir tmen's. liable to be removed
without regard to qualifications or expert
ence, on merely partisan considerations.
These four pregnant facts, eve1 il no
other ciuses were in operation, would
suffi cientiy explain the increase O. crime in
the United States
Gea. Hayes srgued thai the Inmates Of
prisons should be kept separate, and that
habtusl criminals be kept in isil until re-
formed. He confined;
What has society. what has the law, what
have individuals done TO protec ct ard en-
courage the * convict on his discharge
from i'm gfisonm-ui? lie there no human
obligations, is there no Ctrittian duty to
shield, il possible, these vi Tins of the lsw
from the perils which threster them on
every hand? To meet ,hs demand. and to
do what is needed, is beset with dfli culties.
ny,f st.y Vft m mr. mar ns.h a
chief difficulty is no. in the way, but in the
will to acc mplish the desire result
There were, il 1888, about 20 discharged
prisoners d societies in Eogland and
Wales. The government distributes an-
nuslly about $4,000 smorg the English
discharged pris 1ners' agency, oa condition
that an amount equal to the sum granted
In each case shall be contributed by local
private benefcencs. 1t is believed that
the q 1rts put forth ia Great British, Of
late years for discharged prisoners have
materially contributed TO reducs he mum
Der of criminals.
Merit. ability, experience, ought to be
the controlling considerations In all appoint-
ments of prison eff i3ial,, Mere partisan
appointments corrupt the prison and add
no strength or prestige to the party that
makes them A good warden, with smpe
power, will make = better prison, even
under bad sys.em, than = poor warden
under the best system. The spoils doc
trine is nowhere more out of place than
when it controls the sppnintmen. Of prison
officials.
When prison reform begsn its work in
Europe snd Americs, no ~ords could ade-
qustely d scribe the co'dition of the prs-
ons, even i the most enlightened natl ons.
1t wss horrible and shocking beyond the
power Of language to tell. The prevailing
sentiment with those who questioned the
necessity for reform was that the valid
motive to deter the guilty from crime was
the fear Of punishment To doubt the
dread hf punishment is an element to be
regarded in all prison discipline. but its
power has been in the past, and still is,
grestly overrated.
Gen Hayes concluded as follows;
Society cannos safely neglect its criminals
The cost OF crime is a burden upon every
public treasury and finds its way to every
mans pocket. Its cslsmities are DO re-
speciers Of pers ons. They reach the pu'est
domestic circles and the happiest homes
The golden rule 10 IS sou nd in the eye Of
true public and private self-interest ss it is
religion. The dcctrine Of Cain 10 no greater
force in religion than ii is in philosophy
and common sense. We are indeed our
br1,hers' NeepeYs