New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-18
WOMEN HEAR ABOUT PENOLOGY.
INTERESTING DISCUSSION OF THE TREAT
MENT OF CRIMINALS BEFORE CHAR
rry orc ANIMATION COMMITTEE.

The monthly conference Of the Central Auxiliary
Committee Of Women Of the Charity Organization
Society held yesterday in the assembly-room
OF the Charities Building at Twenty-second-st and
Fourth-ave. The conference was well attended. the
room being nearly filled. The theme for discus
sion was The Indefinite Sentence" meaning those
sentences in which definite terms fixed. as in
the cases OF FIRST offenders and offenders In whose
cases reformation is considered impossible
The first speaker was william F. Rounds. an
officer OF the Prison Association. He dwelt on the
ncapacity OF criminals after serving a sentence to
for themselves and said that while In the
criminal work they engaged In they appeared TO
exhibit unusual shrewdness and acumen. yet GRIM
nals helpless when II came TO earning an
honest livelihood The Elmra Reformatory was
built for these. Its aim was TO teach criminals
some useful trade and to ,nstn into them industry
and ambition along legitimate and lawful lines.
Charles Dudley Warner spoke at length on the
need Of a real indeterminate sentence system or
, reformation for criminals Penology was a pro-
,sressivs science. Mr.. Warner said. although 1t had
mot been a science long, and was still largely
matter OF experiment. There really isn't an In
Neterminate sentence law anywhere In the world.
he continued. although the popular mind Is
Srusged and soothed into thinking that something
d the kind Is now being practised Nowhere In tho
World s man sent to a reformatory for an in
dtterminate time. What Is popularity supposed to be
stch system In use here began in Ireland In an
Experiment known there as the ticket-of-leave sys-
ten." by which q prisoner when he showed docil-
is and disposition to behave himself was allowed
TO- go large with ticket. with the proviso that
II he misbehaved he could be rearrested and
bri ugnt back 10 serve out his time. About the
saBe system Is called here in the United States the
pal ole system Our present system In dealing
wifi the defined criminal class does not stop crime.
II Keeps It going. We have police, kept at great
expt nse. magistrates and judges. and in general
way we want TO do away with crime. stu, we
don!t do anything definite. and there Is kind or
feeling that these criminals making use OF only
anotler way OF making living. and It's all In
lifetime.
Il believe from observations OF several years
that,the proper method Is to say to a man at his
first fnence, This is the last felony you will com,
nit :, Burglary is an interesting life I've talked
10 mp ny OF those fellows. and know the interest
they axe In their profession. II has zest some
thing, like hunting, or war, or any competitive
game, II skill They look upon II as career, ana
they I'VE large number OF relatives and hangers
on. a me Of these cheap lawyers. who thrive
on prs ctice connected with such crime. All VIII
oppose an ndeterminate sentence as an Intrusion
on thu rights of human liberty. But II we want
to stoh crime and society has the right TO protect
itself, De must teach a man at once that there is
chance for him along such lines. Keep him
under Treatment till he is cured Of his disease II
he can't be cured for a long time, keep him under
treatmeRt: II he is ncurable. the reformatory ls
the pade where he belongs for life for the GOOD OF
sOcietyf