Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-14
CLAREMONT'S GUESTS.
Prison Congress Delegates Inspect
the County WOrkhOuse.
SOME UF THE CAUSES OF CRIME
And Police Troubles Discussed at the Morn
ing Session.
IE UF THE CAUSES OF CRIME
THEPRISOS WORK DONEBY Thee. LS.C.


the Prison Congress, the afternoon having
been taken up in a visit 10 Claremont. The
delegates were the guests of Superintendent
Hill. and he made their stay at hi, institu-
tion decidedly more pleasant than the more
numerous and common guests. Caterer
Kennedy served an elegant dinner, which
was thoroughly discussed by the delegates,
who considered it A No. prison fare. The
Institution was visited and inspected in its
every department. Superintendent Hill re-
ceived many compliments upon the manner
in which he keeps the workhouse going
At the morning session the congress dis
cusSed the causes of crime. The subject
came up because of the report of the Stand
ing Committee on Police, composed of the
following gentlemen: Chairman Charles
E. FELTON,, ex-Superintendcnt OF III House
OF Correction of Chicago; benjamin Muir
ply. of Jersey City; Chief of Police r. w.
McClaughrey, of Chicago, and Joseph
Golden, of Charleston, S. C.
SOME OF THE CAUSES OF CRIME.
The committee stated that politics,
women and gamblers furnish the most
trouble for the police officers and are apt to
corrupt all police management in large
cities Crime is most prevalent where they
are the most encouraged and it is in
creasinC IN this country beyond the public
belief, and statistics are not sufficient to de-
termine its extent In this country other
causes favoring the increase of crime are the
case with which habitual criminals avoid
arrest: the lightnesS of sentences; laxity of
discipline in prisons: the present senseless
views of the public and the acts of legisla-
lures as to systems of prison labor and its
ease 10 the prisoner: the comfortable quart
crs and quality of food: their easy access of
visitation, and the readiness with which a
sympathetic public accepts as true the CON-
plants Of prisoners.
Captain !. w. Pope, Commander of the
United States Military Prison at Leaven-
worth, kas., read an interesting paper on
"Crime and Criminals in the American
Army" A resolution was adopted that the
French Government be asked to give dis
play of the workings of the Bertillon sys-
TEN of identification for criminals at the
Worlds Fair in Chicago. An attempt was
made to change the name of the Warden's
Association of the United States and Can
ada TO the international Association, but it
failed
THE CHAPLAIN'S ASSOCIATION MEETS.
In the afternoon there was a meeting at
Carnegie Hall of the Chaplain's Association.
The visit of the latter TO ClaremOnt left but
few chaplains to attend the meeting, those,
however, who remained were amply repaid
bv foregoing the pleasures of the trip. Miss
Kate T. Kimball. Secretary of the National
Chautaugua Literary and Scientific Circle
made an admirable address relative to the
work of the Circle as an aid to prison re-
form.
She reviewed at length the work of the
Circle from its earliest attempt at work in
prisons This was in 1886 and the objective
point was the Massachusetts Reformatory.
The circle was introduced as feature OF
the prison school system, q general Office
was established, circle formed and the in
mates were given the advantage of higher
course Of study.
The second development of the circle was
at Canon City, Col, Rev. Mr.. Humble, of
Emporia, Kan, being the chief worker.
Boise City, Idaho, followed and in turn
came Sing Sing, n. Y, Lincoln, Neb.,
Charlestown, Mass, Bismark, Oak, and
her places. After dwelling upon the
nature of the Circle work and the results it
has accomplished, Miss Kimball said:
ASSISTING THE PRISON SCHOOLS.
know that many of our prisons are sup
piled with goods schools but it seems to me
that the work of the c. /. S. c. can be of
great value in supplementing the work of
the schools. The c. L. S. c. provides def
mite four years course OF reading. 1t intro
duces the student to wide field of good
literature, opening up courses of study
which he may continue for years and at
tacheS him to an organization entirely apart
from the prison and to which he may turn
as to friend whether in prison or out of
1t.
The c. L. s C. is a great fraternity and
am sure it is difficult for US to realize what
this lnay mean to many mortified, heart
broken man committed Tor first offense
and longing for some share in the work of
the outside world. 1t is one more
link to higher and better things
20 he a member of great fraternity which
trusts its honor to the keeping of its men,
DerS. which embraces young and old rich
and poor, those who have had college ad-
Vantages and those who are trying to make
up for the omissions OF youth. and the spirit
OF the ChautauQua Circle Look Up and
Lift Up" which has done so much to lift
men and wemen ont of their own peculiar
trials and disappointments and throw them
into work for others, this too reacts upon
the prisoner and sends him out better fitted
TO serve his fellow men.
A letter was read from Rev. NJ. L. Cor
don, returned missionary from Japan, who
spoke Of the reforms being made in the
prisons of that country.
PLENTY OF TINE FOR DEBATE.
The night session of the congress. in the |
lecture room OF NafDegle Hall, was well |
attended Ex-PreSderN HAYES presided.
Mr.. Spaulding offered resolution that |
hereafter the time for reading papers be |
limited to 20 minutes each. The resolution |
was referred to the Executive Committee |
with the expressed desire of the congress
that ample time for debate be allowed at
the next congress.
Secretary AIilligan announced that the |
paper on Paying Prisons" by Charlton !
r. Lewis, of New Jersey, and the "Historv
Of Prison Architecture" by j. r. Thomas.
of New York, would be read bv title onlv
and would be printed in the report of the
proceedings.
w NJ. F. Found, of the Committee on
Discharged Prisoners, stated that the re-
port of the committee would be compiled |
from such information as had been gathered !
bv a series of questions addressed to the |
Prison Associations of five States, and would
be printed in the report of the proceedings
The first paper read was by Mrs. Ellen c.
Johnson Superintendent of the Reforma-
tory Prison for Women, of Sherborn Mass.
1t was on Discipline in Female Prisons"
The prison Mrs johnson has charge of has
from 200 to $50 inmates. Mrs. johnson
opened by stating that the question of the
aim and scope of prison discipline is vex-
ing one. Numberless theories have been
advanced and the tide of sentiment has
swayed from one extreme 10 the other; but
present opinion tends to make reform the
objective point in prison work.
WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE
The question is: Where shall the line be |
drawn between the Justice which makes the