The record-union., 1895-02-02

mend 1t to all fair-minded aud unpreiu-
diced people wno have given such sub
Jects even superficial consideration.
Enforced idleness to the innateIy
vicious are the conditions Sat5 ge11eriS of
crime. 1t is severe test even to the
well-disposed. This systom steps in
without any expensive burden to the
State, and provides by a natural and mex
pensive method what has hitherto pre-
sented an insurmountable obstacle at the
very threshold of criminal amelioration.
We Will say nothing of the safeguards it
throws around the prisoner good asso-
cation, adequate wages, the monthly re-
ports, ETC., all of which tend to bolster
up the man. AS an economical PROPOSE
ton, it demonstrates its superiority. The
| paroled subject is placed under the sur
yelliance of the proper authorities, and
money is deposited with the board to
| meet the expense of enforced return on
condition of the violation of such parole,
thus saving the State the expense of
conviction and recommittal in case of
| crime.
! 3 case in point illustrates the practical
and economic phase of this law. "A'
/ was recently dismissed upon executive
commute after thirteen years imprison-
ment. de had been drunkard and
! Killed man while in drink. He was
out scarcely one hour before he became
wildly drunk and painted San Francisco
red. lie was In jail before he had been
six hours free, and was thus, under an
inadequate system of pardon snd lack of
surveillance, practically licensed TO in
| augurate career OF vice and crime at his
own sweet will, without s single deter
rent or safeguard to operate as a check.
In short he was by temperament, by
habit and by disposition utterly disc uuali-
hed for the enjoyment of permanent
freedom, as was amply demonstrated by
his brief but brilliant career.
Now, l submit, as a reasonable con-
| cluslon, if, instead of an unqualified
pardon, this man had been conditioually
paroled under the new law, one of two
things would have inevitably resulted,
either he would have been placed upon
his good behavior and thus been tided
over the critical period of his restoration TO
liberty and possibly rehabilitated, or he
would have been Instantly and quietly
gathered into the arms of the police to be
returned to the prison whence he came,
| there to serve out the balance of his
time, without one dollar Of expense to
the county or 10 the State. The parole
system is a working feature in the penal
institutions of number of leading States
IN the Union, from whose latest pub
lished reports [ beg to quote as to the
! practical efficiency OF this law.
The Warden OF the Minnesota State
Prison at Saltwater, Minn., says: Il
feel confident that with judicious
management the parole system will
prove OF inestimable value as prison
measure. Through the possibility of
parole the prisoner discovers the hope of
liberty not distant. 1t. is the desire OF.
his heart, and IN the effort to attain the
conditions necessary TO remittance Of
his sentence he learns the lesson of self
control. He is obliged to assume the
governing power over his own evil ten
dencles. In so doing he unconsciously
passes under mental discipline that Is
likely to prepare him in no small degree
| Tor the battle of life after complete VIC
tory shall have been regained."
The Warden OF the New Jersey State
| PRISON at Trenton, n. j., reports: Il be-
Ileve the parole law, as being executed in
\ eW Jersey, the best parole system any
whore i'll the United States, and if faith
iul operation can DO continued it will
prove valuable factor in the reduction
OF crime" The keeper declares that it is
safer both to law and society to parole a
convict than TO pardon him, on account
OF the restraining influence which the
former plan entails, and that it is better
for the conyict's chances, for the knowl-
edge that he is under the hand of the
Furnishing power is conducive to good
behavior.
The Warden Of the Ohio State Prison
reports its workings in Ohio: "Ohio has
modlhed her parole law. No prisoner
can have parole until he has earned it
by good conduct inside the prison. But
Notwithstanding the unsatisfactory man
ner III which they were granted before.
we had 800 prisoners released on parole,
and, so far as the effect on the prisoner
himself went, it was admirable. Not 10
per cent of these who went out went
wrong. The prisoner knows if he goes
wrong out in the community he will
come back to prison and that holds him
up. tell you the effect of the parole law
is magnificent. The parole system prop
erly administered will be the salvation of
the prisoner" These are the words OF
none other than General Brinkerhoff, the
Oldest and most experienced prison.
keeper in the United States. They nsces-
aarily carry some weight.
L. Is. Patton, Superintendent of the
Pennsylvania Industrial Reforma-
tory. says OF the Pennsylvania
parole par baan law: a,tondhS dhe parole system
the most satisfactory character" To cer-
tain lll-tounded objections, he answers:
10 this we unhesitatingly answer that
the parole system Is not a failure, for
While there are violations, yet a large
number of those who serve their parole
IN satisfactory manner, furnishes the
undeniable proof of the excellent results
attained through the systen.''
The Warden OF the Colorado State
Retormatory says: 1.-The parole is the
keystone of the reformatory system and
most earnestly recommend it both as a
reformatory measure as well as subserv-
ing to the interest of good discipline.
The prisoner feels that he has some
thing to strive for and deports himself
accordingly. l do not think that any
system will make angels of any men, let
alone criminals; but / do firmly believe
the parole system is the means of reform
ing many who would otherwise become
confirmed criminals" Stronger testi-
mony than this from the most
experienced prison wardeus, many
OF them the oldest institutions in
the United States, should have
weight, ifhuman testimony goes for any
thing, and coming as it does in their par
ticuIar line of work.
Other evidence might be added. One
state (Michigan) where, through lack of