Evening star., 1901-02-25
A FARM FOR DRI INkARDS.
Suggestion of the Prison Com iOn-
ers in Massachusetts.

ers in Massachusetts.
From the Boston Transcript.
In closing their thirteenth annual report.
the body of which has been treated in
these columns. the commissioners of prls-
ons summarize a series of pertinent recon-
mendations. 1t is pointed out that the
average age of officers of the state prison
and the reformatory is forty-eight years.
and legislation establishing an age limit is
recommended.
The statutes provide that prisoners may
be sentenced to the state prison who have
been convicted before any court of the
United States within the district of Massa-
chusetts. In all other prisons throughout
the state the law permits the Imprisonment
of United States prisoners without regard
to the state in which the United States
court is held. The commissioners suggest
that the law be amended i'm such manner
as to make II uniform in Its application 10
all the prisons in the commonwealth, IN
Guiding the state prison.
The commissioners regard as an inad-
vertence the legal requirement that the list
OF prisoners transmitted to the Boston
board of election commissioners before
state and city elections shall include the
names of minors and women, and suggest
a perfecting amendment rendering the law
requiring such report applicable only TO
legal voters. They wish also that women
may be sent to Sherborn under indetermi-
nate instead of definite sentence, thus
bringing the system into uniformity with
that of the reformatory. 1t has been de-
monstrated the commissioners state that
the actual average time served under the
indeterminate sentence does not differ
greatly from the length of sentence for
definite time; the great advantage being
the moral restraint which the supervision
by the state authorities eXerts over the
person set at liberty prior to the expiration
of his sentence.
thar panr SNSfa Tlay
be established regarding the ticket-of-leaye
feature of penal administration, it is recon-
mended that the commissioners be given
authority to require Of probation officers
reports concerning prisoners who have re-
ceived permits of release prior to the ex-
piration of sentence, and whose home Is
within the jurisdiction of the officer.
Referring to the treatment OF common
drunkards the commissioners say:
by reference 10 tabulated information
upon preceding pages of this report con-
cerning the character OF sentences imposed
for drunkenness, ii will be observed that in
compliance with the statutes, either fine
and costs or sentence of from eight to
thirty days in prison is the penalty usually
imposed. That the drunkard is any less
drunkard at the expiration of his sentence
no pretends; on the contrary, repeti-
ton of the same action is generally antici-
pated- If the purpose OF the law Is to pre-
vent a recurrence of the offense, its made
quacy must be apparent. Remembering
that the object to be secured is the preven-
ton of crime, there would seem to be but
one rational course to pursue, viz, to place
the person addicted to the use of intoXicat-
ing liquor TO the extent indicated where 1t
is no longer possible for him to procure it.
with such a course in view. It is recon-
mended that the laws be so amended that,
after. given number of commitments for
drunkenness, any person convicted of that
offense be regarded common drunkard,
and that he be committed for an indefinite
period, with the distinct understanding that
it is to be for very much longer time
than is now provided by law. The develop
ment of unproductive land by convicts is
no new thought; Its application in connec-
ton with this class Of offenders is believed
to be thoroughly practical. The legislature
of 1885, in chapter $685. authorized the gov
ernor and council to purchase otherwise
take in fee any parcel of waste and unused
land, not exceeding LOCO acres in area; and
the same act also provides that the gov
ernor may establish on said land a tenn
Dorary industrial camp for prisoners, and
that prisoners held at said camp shall be
employed in reclaiming and improving
land with the law relating to sentences
amended in such a manner to provide
for holding the class of offenders referred
to for decidedly greater length of time, 1t
is believed that the provisions Of the stat
utes quoted above could be carried into
effect with advantage to the common
wealth.