The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-09-27
NATIONAL PRISON coNGnnss.
The Presidents Address Deals with the
Working of Criminals.

The Presidents Address Deals with the
Working of Criminals
Milwaukee. WIS. Soptembtr 80 The
National prison congress began It's meet
ing nero tonight. EA-Mnyor j. G. Koch.
az chairman Of tho local committee. called
the meeting to order and introduced Rov.
Mr. Sinkham, chaplain Of Maryland state
prison. baltimore. who Invoked the divine
blessing.
AdJutnnt General Charles King. on be
half OF Governor upham Mayor Rausch-
cnberRo ana John 4. Spencer Of the Mcr-
chants ana Manufacturers association.
Inad" addresses Of welcome. after which
Precedent Brnlierhom delivered HIS ANIMAL
address,
Altei responding to thn address of wei.
GpIi| ny boNrtupr tplum ana Mayor
l'uhhcuhUrEnr, General Bnnkcrhofi de.
hN'lrd Iia annual address, which was In
purl as follows:
This Importance OF eiic prison question
'pn not weh hc overestmatcd. since IN 10
."iHtion the vary existence OF FREQ lnati-
tut ohb ~ az stake. fCV II safety 10 per
Sons ana property can not be maintained
sWohk FORM of government becufn"+
a nr"cNsltS. Ia lhiS question every citizen
ought 10 b. actively interested, for uule ~
no ia pro "chvi he H. al this mercy OF the
cilmihll 10 secure this protection an
array of policemen larger than tho army
OF me United States IA constantly on
guard AMI must bo paid. In Addison All
tho machinery of the criminal cour.s
must BIO malpthinet, penltcntiaifcs los
an average of 1pi.0DV oonvic,s must b.
supported, md IN every county ph,ae vs.
u Jail, so ta1t thr money expenditure
alone count into the millions every year
IN tdn1llng with mo crmual. society
should have bus one object IN view, nnd
that ~ the protection OF It's meinbcrA
from hle unlawful ac'H.
II thc protection Oh society is tine funda-
mental principle, % follows that mere are
but two ways that VIII certainly accom-
push mat result information or lmpra.
oitmrni for lfc. Experience shows that
"a ihlR, majority OF EisunorB convicted
% tit,ir rIrHt cffense arc rut couflrraoi
criminals. lhey ar the victims Of IN
Sronnent OF "A bad h-rodlty, OF II spc.
cal temptation. or Of soiueih M else for
when. pornaps, society ithtlt IS o. blame,
aud 4 lhcy are properly cared for they
can bs cured no Ffnd "a criminal 10
life Is as san.altss az II would b. 10 80
~ Z" mad dog FOR a crrlain number at
DAYS anu then turn nm .oOa@ ~ the fun
ilcuGE Of his madness.
ludcr all prison systctns, II discipline rs
to be mAinauiuHt al It's best and rofofnh-
ton promoted. and health preserved, rouc
fsfm Of labor " absolutely essential. I'm.
fortunately IN recent years fhere has boon
d preJudico against prison labor. which
has crystal zrd Into legislation IN n mum
her Of States TO Huch an extent az 10
ma he II difficult TO provide cirployuent
for prisoners, and the result Il that they
ore 10 "A large extent Kept In idleness.
Men IN idlenets fdpiily deterlDfate, buth
physically and mentally. Same 20 10 tho
hospital for the want ~ cxcrCine. some
70 10 the insane nsylum through loss al
reason. ana all uuOn discharge 20 out
Impaired TO such an extent us 10 render
4 difficult aud often impossible TO earn
an honsst living. even n they had tho oy-
rDriunity 10 DO So. The entire prison Ia
Dor of Tho country, az compared with the
game Kind Of labor outside. amounts oliy
10 ~ pes cent, aud in the nature OF
things can nct affect prices or wnGes TO
any apprcc.abie extent Prison labor. as
ailh all kinds OF iabor outside
Is shown by invest lgltio OF the oensis
ard labor bureaus to BE- only 5i-lO OF ]
per cent Of prices and wages. Doubilsss
locally. In rare Instances II may cause
Injurious competition. bat this can easily !
he reniedied by suitable legislation. In
the larger fields OF the country. as a |
whole The composition is not worth con-
sldering |
The greatest hindrance to the Improve