The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-04
REGARDS PRISON
AS A HOSPITAL
DR.. j. H. Dewart Advocates In.
determinate Sentences for
Criminals.

Some novelty was introduced into
the quarterly conference of the heads
of state public institutions yesterday in
the discussion of affairs of these insti-
tutions by person not connected with
their administration. DR.. j. FL. Dewart,
of Merriam Park, presented a paper on
the subject, AN End Toward Which
All Asylums and Penal Institutions
Should Aim.
Heretofore these conferences, which
are held in the Office of the state board
OF control have been confined to the
heads of institutions and the members
Of the board and the programmes have
consisted of papers and addresses by
the superintendent of the various in
situations in turn, and general discus
sion of the topics of mutual interest
thus introduced.
The plan has proved highly satisfac-
tory, and the superintendent all feel
that they have learned great deal
from this exchange of views, but the
members of the board believed that
there should be more variety in the
proceedings and invited DR.. Dewart to
prepare paper for this meeting.
DIR. Dewart strongly advocated the
idea of indeterminate criminal sem
fences. I'VE send man who is ill in
manner that we term insanity, to a
hospital to remain until he is cured of
the malady," said he, but one who is
morally diseased we send to prison for
a definite length of time on the pre-
sumption, l suppose that we can deter
mine the period necessary for his cure.
Regards Prison as Hospital.
DR.. Dewart argued that the criminal
is as much defective as one who is
mentally deranged and should be treat
ed for his disease. rather than punished
for his crime. The prison, he believed,
should be regarded as a hospital for the
| cure of criminals and reclamation to
society.
The speaker also addressed himself
with much earnestness to the desirable
| ity of accomplishing the purposes of
the various institutions, regardless of
expense in conducting those institu-
tions. He said he did not wish to be
understood as advocating useless ex-
travagance in the administration of in
stitutions, but he believed economy
should never be permitted to impair
the effectiveness of the states work in
these channels.
DR.. DeWart said he would favor
| board Of control of seven members, four
of whom should devote themselves to
| the work of visiting institutions and
the purchasing of supplies, and the
| others to studying methods of curative
treatment for criminals and other de-
fectiveS whose care devolves upon the
state. He believed that in every in
| stitution there should be moral in
/ structor, and this position should not
be filled by broken down preacher or
political hack, but by the strongest
man for that work whom the country
affords. He said that, in his opinion,
each institution should have an expert
| on criminology and scientific treatment
of the defective classes.
| The reading of this paper was follow
ed by general discussion in which
the most prominent participants were
DR.. Tomlinson, of the st. Peter hospi-
| tai; Supt Randall, of the reformatory,
| and Warden Wolfer, of the state pris-
on. These gentlemen, to a great ex-
tent, agreed with the main ideas ad-
| vanced by DR.. Dewart, differing from
him somewhat in the detail of the plans
(which he had suggested.
/ Favor Flying the Flag.
| The morning session Of the confer
| ence was devoted to what the members
| of the board of control described as a
| free for-alI discussion of matters of
| general interest. The question of rails
| ing American flags above the public in
situations was brought up, and it was
| generally agreed that it would be prop
| er and desirable that each institution
| should fly the flag, although no formal
| action was taken and no rule adopted
Some time was devoted to considera-
| ton OF the elements that should be in
| Guided in preparing statements of the
| per capita cost of the care of inmates
| OF state nstitutions-more particular
| ly patients in hospitals and asylums for
| the insane. 1t was pointed out by the
| superintendent Of these institutions
| that in published statements Minnesota
shows at disadvantage by comparison
with other states, though the fact that
! this state undertakes all expenses for
| It's insane persons In some states rel
| at1ves of the patients are required to
! pay for clothing and railroad fare and
even something for board, while Min
nesota houses, clothes and feeds it's
| insane and pays cost of transportation
| to the institutions. Thus the per capita
expense is greater by comparison.
| 1t was also shown that in some states
| fue{ for institutions for the care of the
insane is bought from special appro-
| priations for the purpose, while in this
state it is part of the current expense.
| No plan was definitely decided upon,
but the question was taken under ad-
| visement.
! Today the board, with the superin-
+! .tendents of institutions. will be occu-
| pied in the purchase of supplies for
the next quarter. The aggregate
amount of goods to be purchased at
this time is about $15O,OOO worth.