Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-13
PRISON CONGRESS.
Several Papers, Containing Advanced
Thoughts, Read.
THE PROPER METHOD OF PAROLE
Entsrtainingly Discussed by the Warden Of the
New Jersey State Prison-A Short Talk
on bow Prisons Are Conducted in
England, Ireland, France
and Belgium.

PSTTsBURG, PA, October 12.-It was
long after 10 o'clock when Hon. r. b.
Hayes called the National Prison Con-
gress to order. The attendance was
very large. Rev. Father Voight, Of
New Jersey, lead in prayer.
After miscellaneous business had been
transacted Judge Francis Wayland was
introduced. The subject of his address
was, "How shall the children Of vicious
or cruel parents be prevented from be-
coming criminal criminals?"
The immigration laws should be so
amended as to bring only the better
class Of foreigners; the certainty Of pun
ishment; reformation within the prison
and the selection of labor suitable to
reformation, and making the term de-
pendent upon the moral fitness Of the
criminal to be at large. Education
is most effective which Is earliest.
Any warden will affirm that his
etes of reform schools. The early edu-
cation Of the young in associating with
youthful criminals is of the worst sort.
The permanently dependent poor should
never receive outdoor relief. They
should be seLt to aims houses. Mar
rlages should not be permitted unless
the parties are morally and materially
fit.
Short addresses were made by Col.
Gardiner Tufts, of Warnersville, Mass;
Judge Nicholson, of Detroit; G. w.
Round, of New York; Rev. Father
Boyd, OF New Jersey; Chaplain Howell,
~ Nabroelyo ond DaU Dr Roaohnr Of
Elmira, n. Y, against the incarcera-
tion OF children.
This evening the Congress reas-
sembled Michael J. Cassidy, Warden
of the Eastern penitentiary, Philadel-
phia, opened the session by reading a
paper on his impressions of the prisons
of England, Ireland, France and Bel
GUM. He said the prisons OF the four
countries were distinct in all respects.
The physical makeup of the people
of these countries is different. Habits,
dipoSitions, manners and language
mark them as peculiarly distinctive.
While every provision is made for the
care and detention of the prison in
mates, there is little or no consider
alton given to the individual peculiari-
ties of the criminal, or no thought man
ifested how best they can be directed
away from the causes that placed them
In this present situation in life.
In each Of these countries the laws
and penalties for their violation are
different. In Ireland and England the
inmates of the convict prisons in physi-
cal appearance are much the same.
They are mostly below thirty-fve years
OF age, many of which are first convic-
tions and not of the ,crime-class. These
facts don't seem to be considered, or
any means employed to rescue individ-
uals from the accommodating crime class.
The principle adopted is to reform all.
John II. Patterson, warden OF the
New Jersey State Prison, at Trenton,
followed in an interesting and compre-
hensive paper on tho parole system. The
system should be graded system, In
which from the first step upward the
criminal should be trained to an appre-
citation of, and fitted for the use OF his
freedom, and made to comprehend what
society has q right TO expect from him
in his newly acquired relation to it. No
romance should be INDUCED in as re-
CARDS the parole. The release Of the
prisoner should be conditional on a
practical manifestation Of his determin-
alton to change his course, and should
not be left dependent on the interven-
tion OF political influence in his behalf.
The right to return to society, vio-
laters of its peace and order should no
doubt rest with its credited representa-
tlyes, legislative and judicial, but this
right should be exercised with the ex-
tremest caution, lest they should heed
lessly undo what has been happily &C
complished in returning to q field ripe
for crime, those who are not only unfit
to perform the duties of honest citizens,
Int who have never manifested any
willingness or intention to reform. The
session closed after the reading Of a pa
ner on criminal statistics by DR.. Roland
p. Falkner, Of the University of Penn