Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-11-22

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From Every Direction BASIS of Legisia-
lative Action This Winter-A County
Worhhouse Needed.
The gathering of members Of the
Union for Public Good at the New,
Century Club Monday evening, was
quite large. Chief Justice Lore pre-
sided. Previous to the open meeting
there was brief business session, when
several reports were read. Daniel w.
Taylor reported the following nnmi-
nations for officers for the ensuing year:
Chief Justice Charles B. Lore, presi-
dent; John G. Higgins, New Castle
county, first vice-president; y. b.
Whiteley, Kent county, second vice
presidents; Ebe w. Tunnel, Sussex
county, third vice-president; the Rev. F.
b. Cabell, treasurer; Miss Il. P. Bissell,
recording secretary; Mrs. A. D. Warner,
corresponding secretary; Miss M. >.
Hilles, Miss. II. S. Garrett, Mrs. N. b.
Smithers. Mrs. Lafayette Marks, Mrs. j.
Frank Ball, ex-Sheriif William Sim
mons, and Lewis Q. Vandegr;ft, mem.
bers of the executive committee.
BY the time of the opening Of the
public session the following were
noticed present: Mr.. and Mrs. William
r. Bancroft, Rev. S. B. Mceser, Alfred
Gawthrop. Daniel w. Taylor, Mrs. L.
P. Warner, Miss Bissell, Mrs. Frances
Garrett, Miss Garrett, Mr.. and Mrs Lea
Pussy, Judge j. Frank Ball and Mrs.
Bali, Mr. and Mrs. Berlin, Miss Emily
Stroud, Rev. Philip B. Cabell, Rev. A.
N. and Mrs. Keigwin, Lindley Kent,
Rev. A. Il. Bowser, Aubrey g. Thatcher,
ex.Sherif William Simmons, Thomas
McCorkle, Rev. w. J. Nichols, Dir. N.
NJ. d. Ball. HowellS S. England, Jonathan
Rhoads and others.
Before the public meeting commenced
| tho chairman, Chief Justice Lore, read n
recent report made by special inspec-
| tor sent here by the Federal government
for the purpose of investigating New
| Castle jail for the purpose OF ascertain
| ing whether 1t is proper place for the
incarceration oil United States pris-
| oners.
The report was very adverse one
and strongly animadverted in many
ways on the county Jail and its manage
ment.
The inspector stated that at the time
of his visit there were II Federal prison
ers in the jail. He expressed his surprise
at such a marked lack of cleanliness.
He found total of 1870 prisoners con
fined and the bill of fare, in regard tic
feeding, was very light one. He ex.
pressed his regret that the State OF Della
ware maintained such apoor institution
He said that New Castle prison is not q
fit place for United States prisoners. i
is neither secure nor healthy. The re-
port closed with the recommendation
that the prisoners, at least all the longe
term ones, be sent to Kings county
penitentiary in Brooklyn, L. |.
AT the close Of the reading the chair
man remarked apparently Uncle San
does not think well Of the Deiawar
style"
Chief Justice Lore then introduces
the first speaker of the evening, tn
Rev. w. ]. Nichols, Of Philadelphia
who spoke on the subject of "Moderl
Prison Methods"
. The speaker made a remarkably inter
Testing address. Many of the points h
made were very novel and at first sigh
rather startling. Apparently, however
he is a student Of the subject of prise
reform, far above the ordinary kind. II
Sentured the statement that unles
society, or the individual who has sui
. fered by the prisoners ill.doing, can b
bettered by the punishment it would
much preferable that the prisoner z
scot free. The paramount question
how can society be protected?' He wa
: rather in favor of the Delaware CATO
: nine.tails. He did not join others i
! their criticism of it as an old-fashione
= useless custom.
Chief Justice Lore-"That is for wife
. heaters anyhow"
The speaker asked how Massachuseti
!, which annually practices castigatlo
!. upon hundreds of thousands of childre
speak harshly Of the Delaware institr
y ton? He is in favor of corporal put
ishment as valuable deterrent for til
!. criminal himself and to Others. w
should not be in the position to say "
/. is unjust to punisha man So" when "
4 do it to protect society.
!. Another novel assertion of the speakt
!. was that he thought the court should
4 sentencing criminal leave the qucstio
of term undetermined. 1t should be
subsequent condition dependent on tt
n recovery of the prisoner from his Grim
nal possibilities knowledge Of whiC
q under, it was gathered, asystemo of clio
i and reliable watchfulness, could
gained. Then the jury that condemns
or possibly the court, may determine Il
further punishment or the pardon.
the prisoner develop worse, the senten
l. may be cumulative. The speaker de
nitely stated that there is no logic
, letting bad man out of jail. The So
;. tary system is best for long term pri
y oners. On the contrary for the youl
~ and for the short and first term prisone
/ the natural state of life, that of congr
eating and not of separation is bette
Y For the young there should be an ed
y cational institution.
PRISON CONTRACT SYSTEM.
!. Mr.. Nichols critises as the extreme
70 kind of demagoguery to assert that co
=. wet labor hurts the workingmqn (aut
ii bic assent all around the room.) III
IA speaker wanted to sec all the work do
Al in a prison disposed of outside. /
81 asked what is the difference, if the mi
is we're outside the prison the result
A. their work would be sold all the san
of Begging and all kinds of mendicant
10 the speaker considered one Of the me
n, direct steps towards crime. He want
n. 10 see Delaware establish q workhous
Id not for tramps, that is, place with
stigma against it, where men out of CT
I'd ployment could so and not be ashanI
he to work.
he The next speaker was Dr. N. M.
re Ball of the Eastern Penitentiary
te Philadelphia. He condemned the col
10 mingling of the young and the G
prisoners. Ile great requirement is