The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-18


gress which is to convene in Paris,
June 80. some fifty propositions and
queries are enunciated for debate, of
which some are, to say the least, very
broad. ''Are prisoners entitled to a
salary is one of the questions to be
debated. and will, perhaps, create
greater amount Of discussion than any |
other subject, particularly if the par
ties interested in this phase of penal
work are sincere in the matter. There
are, however strong reasons for and
against the payment of salaries to the
convict. The most important is, would
these salaries be uniform? that is,
would the man who is serving his first
offence and who is an exemplary con-
vict doing valuable work for the state,
be entitled to no more than the second
or third termer, who is the reverse OF
good or valuable? Again would man
be paid according to the value of his
services and ability in freedom, or up
on the value of his work to the prison
in which he is confined? We think
either way this could be adjusted, it
would be a serious bar to true
reformation, in that, it would create
spirit of jealousy among men who
could not place proper estimate upon
the value of the services rendered by
their higher paid brother.
;r1y h,,f ,,Cff of
the convict should be paid for his
services to the extent, at least, of being
able to contribute. in some small de.
gree, to the support of any one who
may be dependent upon him, as we'll as
to give him proper start in life when
his term has expired: for it seems an
almost impossible task to reform man
while depriving him not only OF liberty,
but the fruits of his labor. COnfine-
ment behind walls, with its attendant
disgrace and humiliation, should satisfy
the most eXacting demands of justice
and a man should be made to feel that
while undergoing this punishment, he
is at the same time of some use to him
self and family by deriving some
benefit from his labor. Still we do not
believe stipulated salary should be
paid for the reasons above stated; il
would create discOrd among men
and the man who is jealous of hi:
brother is in no condition to be success
fully operated upon for reformation
Another reason against a stipulated
salary to the convict generally is, II
the light of the vast number who re
turn the second, third. and fourth time
without pay, the number that WOul'
actually break into prison if they wer
sure of steady remuneration for thei
services would be astonishing, for tn
simple fact of being behind walls ha
no terrors for many men. 1t tn
country ever again experienced sue
hard times as the past year and hal
has been, there are not sufficient pris
ons on earth to contain the number G
men who would try to get inside the
walls, assured as they would be, {
steady work, good wages and thre
square meals day. A hungry stomac
would not hesitate to take advantag
of such an opportunity even if thel
was little disgrace attached to it.
humanitarians are in earnest in tn
matter, why not let the state set asid
for each convict, a certain sum {
money of sufficient proportion to Ell
able him to make a good start in Iii
when at liberty, the amount to
guaged by the number of years he h;
served, it's payment conditional upo
his worthiness as convict. At tt
end of each month, or quarter, if h