New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-12
PRISONERS WE'LL TREATED
REFORMS SUGGESTED BY THE STATE
CHARITIES AID ASSOCIATION.

SHORT SENTENCES IN COMFORTABLE iDLENESs
DO NOT TEND TO CORRECT CRIME-scHooIs
FOR NEGLECTED CHILDREN-sUcCEss
OF THE "PRoyIDENT SAVINGS PLAN"
Trenton Feb. II (SpecaD.-The annual re-
port Of the Board of Managers Of the state
Charities Aid Association was laid on the DESKS
of Senators and Assemblymen this afternoon,
and IL makes rather interesting reading, es-
pecially that part relating to jais. These III
stitutlons, the Board says are managed credit
ably but complaint is made of the lenieh'
manner in which prisoners are treated.
The Board makes especial mention OF one
case illustration of the easy time SEN
fenced criminals have. The case referred to IS
that of woman, who is the mother OF hVe
small children. She has been committed SIX
times within the last year. The statement Is
made that there are men and women VINO nave
been committed a hundred times. ana their
punishment appears 70 have had no benenciai
effect upon their morals. The Board Is OF the
opinion that II those sent to jails were COM
PEELED to do hard work there would be raining
off in the commitments or drunkards anu
FOUNDERS. The claim is made that the Jaiis are
too comfortable and too easy Of access. IL IS
suggested that a reformatory for women.
modelled after that Of Sherburne, Mass, be
soon established in this State.
The work done by the Board on the elevation
OF the poor shows the performance OF VOTE
that has been extremely beneficial TO those
who. were 1t not for the efforts Of the Board IN
their behalf. would constantly be without
money. This work is carried forward under
the name Of The Provldent Savings Plan,
and it is for the encouragement Of those with
limited incomes to ay aside each week a few
pennies The committee has a collector, who
visits certain families each week, and gather
ing the money deposits 1t to the credit o. the
saver. The result Of this work is astonishing
In the Morris County branch, which has been
in operation eight years, nearly $4,000 has been
collected During the six months ending No.
vember / upward of sl,l00 has been saved
The Board suggests that school for neglected
and dependent children in almshouses De es-
tablished and argues IN favor Of the suggestion
that the condition Of affairs in the almshouses OF
Paterson and Hudson counties warrant it. 1t is
claimed that the State is at present educating
several hundred children each year as profess
sonal paupers The outcome Of the present sys-
TEN of educating these children is believed by
the Board u be the filling OF jails refOrniatories,
pcnltentiares and the State prisons The pres
ent condition is also great expense 10 the tax
payers. to say nothing Of the horror that sur
rounds the fact that the State is educating a
large number Of future criminals.
The Committee on Prisons and Penitcntiaries
suggests that the association take some steps
toward adopting a measure by which prs-
oncr at the expiration of his sentence, will have
"A portion OF his earnings with which 10 make a
new start in the world. They argue that. natu-
rally a prisoner will 60 back 10 his old haunts.
without money and without friends. unab BILE 10 Sc
cure employment because II his past Ire; often
lansing because Of want Of food. the unfortunate
released convict commits SINE offence and Is
convicted.
The committee points out that one Of the most
Characteristic features Of European prisons, as a
who'll. il that prisoners are allowed TO have a
portion u their earnings This system prevails
in France Germany, Italy, switzerland, Russia
sweden. Denmark and other countries The
amount earned by the prisoner varies consider
ably when n depend. upon piece-work IN
Franc. at the MaisOn Centrale at Melun. the
average salary OF d prisoner IS one franc seventy
cigi.. confines. or about thirty-hve cents work,
ing day. OF this amount the prisoner Is allowed
- spend o,.c- half while in prison for supple
meniary food and clothing. postage. etc, though
~ expenditure Il made without the approval OF
the administration. The other half Is reserved
until the tin" OF his discharge. A three years
prisoner has To his credit on leaving an avera &c
- $50 Il f,u- years prisoner $50 ana nVe
Years url.,ne. about 500 There j. great danger
wh.u a prisoner goes out that he Will waste his
Accommodations unless they are properly guarded
Whil. ir some countries the prisoner is left en-
sum il placed for him in bank under charge OF
some prisoners aid society or the Mayor or the
town in which he resides. In the United states
the, system Of giving prisoners a portion or their
earnings has long been In vogue IN the Eastern
Panltcntiary. and exists In Minnesota and WIS
c1nsin. 90,
The almshouses OF the state shelter 2Zob men,
wouen and children