The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-19
FOR PRISON REFORM
Corner Stone Of the Railway
R%eformatory Laid
Yesterday.
SENATOR VOORHEES, ADDRESS
He Tells What the State Expects
to Accomplish by the New
Institution.
spseaa. to the jersey City geaus.

specsa! to the JERSEY City Teaus-
RAILWAY, Nov. 10, 1S96.-The corner
stone CT the new State Reformatory, now
being erected in this place, was laid yes
terday afternoon with fitting ceremonies
and in tae presence Of a large number
OF prominent men and women. Upon the
platform We're Mayohi Wanser, Mayor
seymour of Newark, General Donnelly
of Trenton, ex-Assemblyman Codding of
vTestield. A-ssemhiyynan C~oddington.
Mayor Holmes Of Railway, Keeper S. s.
Moore and Chaplain John Maddox Of the
Trenton State Prison. ex-Keeper Patter-
son. Major z. K. Pangborn of Jersey
Citys, the R~eformatory Commissioners
Are supervising the work: David NJ.
Chambers of Camden, President; Thomas
N. Gopsil of Jersey City. Secretary; ex-
Senator Benjamin A. Vail of Railway,
Rev. George S. Mott of Newark, Patrick
Farrelly of Morristown. John w. Fergu-
sen of Paterson, E. W. Hooper of Tren-
ton, the contractor; ex-Assemblyman
John c. Eisele of Newark and j. R.
Thomas, the architect.
The ceremonies were brief. The Rev.
John A. Liggett offered prayer and then
the tin box containing the names of the
members of the National and State gov
: ernments, the New York and prominent
New Jersey newspapers and others ar
ticles was deposited in its receptacle and
the huge block of granite bearing the
simple inscription, New Jersey Reforma-
tory was lowered into place. Senator
Foster NJ. Voorhees, was then introduced
and delivered the address. He said
The in which we have taken.
part IS one that challenges attention by
reason of its unusual character. Ii dis
tinctly marks q radical but a wise de-
paTture in the methods of prison manage
n.ent in this State. 1t signifies the be-
ginning of a kinder, a wiser and a more
humane treatment of the unfortunate
class OF citizens who are not hardened
criminals but who through heedlessness,
anexpe51ence or by mlschance nave trans
crossed the laws against crime. When I
speak OF them as unfortunate, / speak
adN5sedly. For all Intelligent observers Of
human character have come to regard tbs
class of citizens with feelings of pity and
sympathy. rather than with condemna-
ton and hatred.
Occasions like the present have rarely
called for observance in times gone by.
The ceremonies which we have just wit
messed are usually celebrated when build
1Egs designed for other and for different
purposes are erected. We are not about
to rear some religious temple whose m
ceptton and completion appeals to our
deepest m most sacred feelings. We
do not dedicate here some stately library
or museum wherein the results of mans
cunning or artistic Skill or the results of
MS mental efforts may find resting place
and in time TO come serve the purpose
OF instructing, ennoblsng and refining
those who may come within their subtle
Influence. Nor VIII these buildings when
completed stand as a monument to the
lavish liberality of some princely patron.
Beneath the sheltering roofs which will
here be spread scenes of tragedy of deep
est saaness and pathos viii from time
70 time be enacted, but such scenes Will
rot be witnessed by man. We dedicate
here no temple of amusement. And WITH
IN these walls there will doubtless come
10 those who are manned and sick and
70 lhcse who are suffering in mind and
IN body all needful aid and protection
and TO the dying there will not be want
irg gentle n.strations. But we erect
here no hospital or asylum for the bodily
or mentally sick. Grand and inspiring is
every occasion when, with solemn or
proper rite. we lend our aid in dedicat-
ing a building to any or all Of these pur-
poses And yet this occasion is none the
less inspiring and moving though such is
not the object or purpose of the strlc-
lures whose foundations have here been
laid. Theirs is the purpose-none the
Tess noble-to aid the weak and the fallen
ana heip them TO be better men and more
useful citizens.
"fhe Importance of the work here to be
done cannot be overestimated nor can we
-exaggerate Its far reaching results. The
people OF his State are about to abandon
IN large measure the cd methods of treat
ment OF some of its criminal classes which
nave falied Of their purpose, to wit, the
reforrnat on of the criminal and here
make trial of newer methods which are
full of promise.
The system here to be inaugurated
VIII bring to those who will be here con-
nned nope and encouragement and not
Despair 1t win give to them the con-
slant assurance that by their own efforts
retrieved and their lives saved from
wreck 1t will give to those here to be
confined a chance to become better men
ana once rnRTG fQka fhair n1oane ~. a.
their fellow men.
abundant experience has shown that
9noer the prevailing system of prison
GScipiine THESE opportunities are not af-
Iofaed; He who now enters the prison
walls loses all hope; He is deprived of
every incentive. and has no encourage
Inent 10 reform or become a better man.
Ihe associations there formed only serve
70 foster criminal habits and desires in
the young and inexperienced Our present
system has shown itself to be a nursery
OF crime. Too often the youthful Grim
ana, or tne nrst offender; ends his con-
ed, with no hope, with his shirts broken
and MS self-respect gone. Encountering
s gs alstrnsl OF everyone and finding the
gates OF Advancement closed against him
ne becomes %sullen. respondent and de-
spalrlng. and, yielding to the influences
winch have surrounded him in his prisen
life. he s~urrenders himself to a life of
CRIME and gradually, though surely. sinks
mo tne nabltual criminal. only TO return
~ lioiu Wmca ne went forth
offence. HSnioaS
experience Of other States shows
mar the system here to be followed in
large measure avoids these results Of
prison confinement. and eff the inmates
who come under its influence by far the
greater number go forth never to return
Or 70 lapse into their evil WAYS.
y 4 people Of this State do not fully
realize the Importance of the work here
70 ne done, AS to its general design and
scope there is a vast deal of mfsginder-
standing; The prejudice against a refor-
matory Il not well founded. The system
% pc followed ig not new and untried-
prlsing results, It has demonstrated thai
wayward youth can be reclaimed by dis
clpiine restraint and education. It is
not designed to make the punishment n