The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-19


ed by fire, as it undoubtedly would be in
case of an ACCIDENTAL explosion, the neces-
sary work of the prison would be most
seriously interfered with. We would re-
spectfully suggest that the urgent need
of an appropria ton sufficient to replace
this building with modern fire proof
location, and large portion of the work
on which could be done by the inmates
of the prison. The necessities for in
creased repairs to the buildings is obvi-
are very old; are not well adapted for
the purposes for which they are being
used, and having been built by contract,
are rapidly deterora ting. We respectfully
recommend an annual appropriation Of at
least $1,000 to keep these buildings in
necessary repair. We also believe that
to purchase within reasonable distance of
the prison few acres of land which
could be used as garden. There ate
constantly in prison, as shown by our
reports, a considerable number of old men
and prisoners partly incaracitatsd for
doing an ordinary days work, who could
be employed with benefit TO themselves
and profit to the state during the. sum-
mer, at least, III the cultivation of d
garden No valid objection could be
raised to taking these men a reasonable
work. as Maj. McCIaughry, the warden
of the military prison at Fort Lsaven-
situated two and one-half miles from the
prison proper. We heartily concur in the
recommendations of the prison physician
OF the absolute necessity for a new and
more commodiouS hospital building.
RELIGIOUS WORK.
The religious work Of the institution
receives that care and attention which
it so highly merits. Under the direction
of the two chaplains, services have been
held by each on alternate Sundays. ana
tention is called TO the reports of these
officials In January, 1899, Rev. ]. H.
Albert resigned his position as prison
chaplain, owing to removal from the city
His place has been ably filled by Rev. S.
J. Kennedy.
PRISON SCHOOL.
The prison school has been well at
tended and the scholars have made
satisfactory progress. The Chautauqua
Circle has large and Intelligent mem
befship. It's meetings have been ,eplete
with interest, and the papers there pre-
scented show evidence of the careful ana
discriminating study pursued by the
members.
INSANE CRIMINALS.
We believe it is our duty. as guardians
of the welfare OF the prison, to again
call attention to the necessity of a proVi-
sion for the treatment OF insane crlm-
ipals. While we are aware of the re-
luctance felt by the officers of insane
and while we concede the justice of thIir
prejudice against such wards, we, at the
same time respectfully submit that
prison Is not the place nor are prison Of
Gals the proper persons to have the yGs-
tody of the insane. Diseases Of the mind
are those d proper understanding OF
which requires the most intelligent study
on the part Of the specialist, and 10 the
care Of the ST ecialist, not to the general
practitioner, should ell such cases be en-
trusted. While it would be possible In
some prisons TO construct ward Tor in.
sane criminals and by special approL ria
tor provide for their proper care under
suitable medical attendants, the space
within the enclosure here is altogether
too circumscribed to permit of any such
building
J{EFOKMATORY METHODS.
While the results of the parole law
have proved satisfactory, as will be seen
by the following table, we most heartily
concur in the earnest efforts being made
by many OF the leading prison Officials
OF the country, supported as they are by
the ablest writers and thinkers on the
subject of criminoIogy, in favor of IN
indeterminate sentence law. The argu-.
merits in favor of the indeterminate sen.
ttence. are many and powerful, and cannot
! oe given at length IN the limits of an
ordinary report. But it may not be
] am1ss to state some Of the most inpor-
| t&nt ones:
| 1T has been amply demonstrated nv
| experience, in nultitudes of cases, that
an offender committing comparatively
/ trivial ofense, which would lead to the
| hiking OF a very short maximum term,
| regarding the Imprisonment as a mere
| penalty paid for the offense, is. nevertha-
less, person of such a character ana
| so deficient III education that a very con-
| siderable period of disciplinary training
! Is absolutely essential to yield any prac-
/ teal results in the way of permanent
reformation. Such an offender, by com
/ hitting the cffensc and by conviction of
: crime, has forfeited his liberty for the
| period fixed by general law. Can the
| question whether this period should be
/ abridged possibly be determined before
! hand as e1Ticaciousiy by criminal mag
/ 1strate, in the hurried dispatch of court
| business, as in a board of managers
charged with the special duty Of thor
t cughly investigating all the circumstan-
| ceS. and with an opportunity by actual
! Jest 10 discover the character of the Of
fender: II, however, the criminal magis-
| tIate were to fix the maximum terms
there can be no doubt that in multitudes
! OF cases enc of the dominant Incentives
! to good conduct or the part of the in
mates OF an institution would be gore.
namely, the Incentive by such good CON
! duct to shorten the term of 1nprist1l-
+, Inent. ConcediIlg crime to be crime the
| idea Of the indetermindte sentence resfS
F! upon the demonstrated truth that GER
tam classes or convicts can, as matter
! Of TACT, DC reclaimed by disciplinary
methods, The utter impossibility Of pre-,
determining what length of time is re-
cured to accomplish for prisoners the
changes Of character to be wrought 0uf
by educational and disciplinary training
should be apparent on the SIMPLEST state.
ment. This fact is especially impressive
who plead guilty and who are before the
court for trial and sentence from i've
| TO thirty minutes only"
The committee appointed bv the Amer
! lean Ear association to investigate the
parole and indeterminate sentences Of
prisoners concludes their report made to
the Bar association Aug. 1S 1885, as fol-
! lows:
1T is gratifying to learn that the idel
that penal sta tutes are purely punitive
is Passing away, and that with the
growth of civiliza ton has come the be-
lief that for the protection of society
against offenders. more is to be gained
by parole and similar acts which lead
| the convict to expect speedy liberty. and
if he is true 70 himself, reorganization in
| confinement. That Hope springs eter-
nal in the human breast is as true of
| the convict as any other person, and 50
long as hope remains there is chance for
! his reformation''
1t affords us great pleasure to be able
t. say that in the conduct of the affairs
| Of the prison the utmost harmony has
Prevailed q the various meetings Of the
board of managers. 1t has been our en-
deavor to administer the affairs of the