The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-07-25

Prisoners. Population
Census

If we were 70 accept shis as a reliable
measure Os the quantity Of crime, We
would be forced to eoneede that crime
is on the increase in the United States
That these figures are not trustworthy
as a measure Of the criminal tendencies
Of the people is shown by Roland P
Falkner in the July Forum. Mr.. Falk.
ner demonstrates in the first place that
there was no approach to accuracy in
gathering prisoh statistics until 1850
and hence no value can attach to tn,
comparisons made in the above tables
Massachusetts,. Michigan, Ohio and
Pennsylvania are the only states fur.
nishing approximately accurate records
of the commitments to prison. In
Massachusetts, the statistics show that
penitentiary offenses gained on the
population up to 1889 and have since
failed to keep pace with it; that in
Pennsylvania the progress of popula-
ton and crime has been uniform. while
in Michigan offenses have outstripped
the population in growth.
But suppose the statistics were accu-
rate, would they necessarily indicate
weakening Of the moral character of
the people? Does a larger prison popu-
lation in each state show beyond ques-
tion an increased criminal propensity
in the community?
As matter of fact the attempt to
measure criminal tendencies by prison
statistics is futile. If We applied this
rule to some Of the mining communi-
ties in the early days Of the far West,
where many crimes went unpunished,
it would have revealed a condition Of
advanced morality and respect for law
and order that would have shamed the
New England cities.
A heavy increase in the number Of
penitentiary inmates in a state does not
necessarily mean a deterioration in The
moral tone Of the people. On the con-
trary, it may prove the opposite. For
it must be remembered that as civil
zation advances the new statutory def
nitions Of crime" necessarily increase
the number Of punishable offenses,
and this has decided effect upon
prison population. 1t was only few
years ago that Massachusetts adopted
more rigorous measures for the pun
ishment Of drunkenness. In that state
drunkards are committed to penal es-
tablishments. the same as all others
who commit crimes against society. In
1885 the punishment for drunkenness
was doubled. AS a result the commit
ments were fewer, but a year after
ward the statistics for any one month
showed larger number Of inmates in
the penal establishments than for the
month Of the previous
year.
Would it be safe to conclude from
this that drunkenness is increasing fas-
ter than the population in Massachu-
setts? On the contrary. the statistics
show an awakening Of popular alb
horrence Of drunkenness and great
er determination to punish offenders
of this class.
The word crime" moreover, does
not mean the same thing to the NOR
alist and the statistician. The latter
includes all classes Of punishable Of
fenses. There is no doubt slight in
crease in all offenses punished by law,
because a quickened public conscience
demands a stricter enforcement Of law.
But there is little doubt. as Mr.. Falk-
ner says, that crime in its deepest
moral sense. as we are apt to picture
it." has decreased.