Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-15

| the penitentiaries alone was only q per
cent. The greatest increase was in the jails
and minor prisons, and indicated only an in
| crease in vigor in dealing with crime in its
minor stages
The number of foreign born prisoners is
| only 20 per cent of the entire number, but
| add to it the prisoners who are children of
| foreign born parents, total is given of
1878. Next Mr.. Wines compared the
severity OF sentences in the different States
The average sentence on penitentiary con-
| victs was wears 270 days. The lowest
average was in Rhode Island, 2 years 356
| days, while in Mississippi it was 12% years.
In States contiguous to each other, where
the social and financial conditions were the
same, there were wide differences
in the extent of the sentences.
1t all, he said, proves that the
general conclusion that there is no such
thing as a measure of guilt is correct From
this he argued that the only correct meas
urement of punishment was the indetermi-
nate sentence and the parole system based
on the previous good conduct and repent
anee.
DECREASING CRIME IN EUROPE.
Charles c. Coffin, of Chicago, read the
next paper 1t was on "BritiSh and Amer
ican Prisons" He gave number of figures
to show decrease Of crime in England. In
1869 the daily average of prisoners was
1888, in 1879, 16, ,38S, and in 1889, 12,099
In 1S40 there were committed for trial in
the United Kingdom "a, 892, of whom -, ,030
were convicted. In 1889 there were COM
mitted for trial 16, ,514, of whom IL, 296 were
convicted. The circumstances leading to
this result were that the judges have adopted
the habit of passing sentences of shorter
duration, and that acts of Parliament have
larpnlV Crh fnfa cd
He said it was unquestionable that crimes
of violence have decreased. Mr.. Coffin next
spoke of the increase of crime in this coun-
try The ratio of cOnvicts as shown by the
census, was 709 to 1,000.0 900 in 1880, and 100
to /, ,000 900 in 1890. The causes of the in
crease, he claimed, were that this country
is The receptacle of the criminals of all
lands and our wretched systems of county
jails in which prisoners of all classes are
promiscuously thrown together, making
them schools of crime.
Captain Massie, of Toronto, Canada, in
dorsed all Mr. Coffin had said. He attri-
buted the diminution of crime in England
TO the christian workers of the middle
classes who are lifting up the lower strata.
Education is also doing its work.
Mrs. Dorcampbell, of the Home of Dis
charged Prisoners, of Detroit, spoke of the
wo k at her Home. She said that 60 per
cent of the men who were helped by the
Home were put on the way to make an
honest living. Rev. Mr.. Wines here Of
fered the following resolution:
THEIR FAREWELL BOW.
Resolved That we would do injustice TO |
our own feelings, were veto separate with |
out expressing our gratitude for the many |
agreeable courtes1es EXTENDED TO US during |
our sojourn in the twin cities of PttUsburg |
and Allegheny. Especially we desire to
thank the committee of Councils in charge |
of Carnegie Hall, our place OF meet
Presbyterian Pre- Church Pfttsburg, and
OF Christ's NJ. E. Church, for
the use of their place of worship for our Sun
day services; the Rev. DR.. Purves and the
Rev. DR.. Beecher for their inspiring SER
mons; the managers and wardens of the
Western Penitentiary, the Allegheny County
Workhouse and the State Reformatory |
School for the pains taken to interest us on
the occasions when we visited the institu-
tions under their charge in body: the war
den of the County Jail; the Department
Of Safety and Bureau of Police:
the Postmaster of Pittsburg: the newspapers, |
the agent of the Associated Press and the
of the News Agency; the steam
railways including railway companies and
the p, c., c. & st. L. r. r.: the Exposition
Society of Western Pennsylvania, and all
persons who have contributed to our pleas
nre and comfort, collectively and individ-
1ally; but befora ana above all the local
Committee of Arrangements, who have neg
ected nothing and forgotten nothing which
could make our visit memorable in the
annals of the association.
Resolved, That we leave the people whose
we have now made with deep
'egret that our stay is necessarily so short,
md in the hope that we may meet again, and
We extend a cordial Invitation to them to
-isit us at our homes or to meet with us
wherever we may go hereafter.
The resolution was heartily seconded by a
arge number of the delegates, and adopted.
On motion of Warden Wright the con-
-ention then adjourned sine die, with the
inging of 'tAuld Lang Syne."
NTar-;.ca TiceDses Issrad vo.4o-5