The morning call., 1891-10-11
QIla2|;;s
W MURPHY BUILDING,
Market and Jones Streets.
PRISON REFORM.
4 Change Which Is Said Not to Be for The
Better.

For fifty years philanthropists have been
trying to change the old system of prison
management by substituting reformatiye
for the purely punitive method. 1t is
natural TO suppose that the change has been
for the better. But the author of the strik-
ing art icle OF prison reform in the October
Forum, Mr. William P. Andrews, who has
been for more than forty years Clerk of the
Criminal Court of Salem, Mass, and is,
therefore, an authority on this subject,
thinks that this change has been step
backward. Mr.. Andrews puts in sharp
contrast the two systems.
From the report OF the AttOrDey-Gen-
eral for the year 1882, he says, lit appears
that in the dark ages of 1868. when the
punitive idea was still esteemed as valua-
bic and in accordance with the immutabe
law. England aud Wales. with population
of Il, 600, QUO, had but a. I'll prisoners, or one
TO every 94S inhabitants; New YORK, with
population Of 100000, had 1856 prisoners,
or one to every POPS Oho reformer was not
then active in New.York); Massachusetts,
with population of 100000 had $50 prison
ers, or one to every 800 inhabitants. The
last report of the Commissioners of Prisons,
which has continued this portion OF the re-
ports of the earlier Attorney-General, shows
that this proportion OF prisoners TO popula-
tion has vastly changed. The population
has only trebled, but the number of prison
ers has increased ifty-fold.'
This is a serious showing and one that
must needs make the prison reformers stop
and think whether they are or are not really
working in the interests OF society. Surely,
there is danger in making prisons too at
tractiye.
That Massachusetts has already expert
enced this danger is proven by tho cases
which MI Andrews cites Of the Old gar
deuer who has had himself committed to the
House of Industry more than hundred
times, and of the Salem youths who wished
to have their sentences increased from four
to eight months, as well as by that of the
physician Imprisoned for malpractice. who
remarked one day that he enjoyed prison
life so much that he should not be sorry if
the pardon for which he applied was re-
fused him. When such condition Of
affairs as these indicate can exist in our
prisons, 1t Is time to reform the reformeTs
who have brought it about
"Several times the prisoners have conf
planned to the writer that the officers have
made mistake in copying their mittimuses
and not given them time enough. Here is y
complaint of this character last made to
him: have got but two months, and | am
entitled to four Again, meeting in u
county prison physician sentenced for two
years for malpractice, the writer was
astounded with the conversation. The
prisoner was man who had been noted for
his enjoyment of the luxuries of existence.
He said: 1t is great mistake you fellows
make In thinking you are intlicting punish
ment when you send men here. | have been
here year, and can truly say have enjoyed
it so much that l shall not feel sorry if my
pardon is not obtained. You see it has been
vacation, with just enough to do to amuse
me. The novels in the prison library are
entertaining, aud l am very fond of dom-
noes and checkers, and fad some tirst-rate
players among the men. Now, IL it strikes
me in this way, who have BEEN accustomed
to every luxury. how must it be to the poor
devils who never have square meal out
side? Do you wonder that they flock by
hundreds and thousands to the jails in win
ter? My only surprise is that you can keep
any OF them out at ALT This is the opinion
of an educated man who has experienced
the benefits Of the system in his own per-
son, and finds them 'delightfnP-a life from
which he is loath to part. But it is evident
that it is far from the 'austerity and sever
ity' which once did 'pervade the prison
place. and it will be hard from this to real
ize the good mans desire of 'lmpresslng the
prisoner with the idea that the way OF the
transgressor is hard.