Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-11-10
OUR PRISON PROBLEM.
Timely Address by Rev. Frank L. Masseck
Committee to Present Memorial to the
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timely Address by Rev. Frank L. Masseck
Committee to Present Memorial to the
Legislature.
The first meeting of the Brattleboro
professional club for this season was held
I'm the Brooks House Monday evening,
and after a supper the paper for the
evening was read by Rev. Frank L. Mas
sock The subject was Our Prison
Problem" which was particularly timely,
in view of the recent revelations brought
out by the committee appointed by the
legislature to investigate the state insti-
tutions.
In opening Mr.. Masseck said that one
reason for bringing this topic to the
Professional club was the fact that the
masses of the people look to such men
as are presumably members of this club,
those who have enjoyed a liberal educa-
ton or its equivalent, for wise leadership
in public affairs. Here then was the
very place to begin a discussion of an
important topic, looking to the creation
Of a public sentiment which should secure
needed legislation looking to the improve
ment of the treatment of criminals and
the conditions of our penal institutions.
This was the purpose in mind. The paper
dealt with the whole problem of crime as
we face 1t in this state. 1t is an important
problem first of all, because It costs the
state such a large sum, the last report,
covering the years 1908 and 1904, showing
that the cost of supporting our penal
institutions was $39,67S.69 and the admin
istration of justice costing $212, 42S.79, a
total of 1852, 1074S.
But more than this, as says the late
eX-President Hayes: '1f we forget the
outcast and criminal our whole society
will suffer from the faint of human de-
gradation." In the last century there
has been great improvement in the treat
ment OF those in confinement. The shock
ing conditions at Windsor were the COM
mon thing not many years ago. They
shock us now because they are excep-
tional and we expect better things.
Beginning with the sources Of crime,
we have a problem in all our country
communities. whole families living in
isolation, moved by no lofty impulses,
feeling no contact with the civilizing in
huences, after they leave the district
school. Many of our local lock-ups are
a disgrace to our civilization. Our county
iails are a constant menace because here
persons held for trial are idle. and the
totally depraved are in close proximity
to the young, and criminally ignorant,
under which the latter are corrupted
Some plan should be formulated by which
such persons could be kept apart, and all
given some employment
More use of the probation system was
advocated, and the indeterminate sem
tence, both of which tend to uplift the
fallen, and incite them to do better. Our in
dustrial school seems to be a good thing.
but both the house of correction and the
state prison, because of a false economy
on the part of the legislatures are not
accomplishing all they should 1t is a
mistake from every point of view to
put two prisoners in one cell as Is done
in both of these institutions. The legis-
lature should be urged to appropriate
money for the enlargement of these
places. The state prison should adopt
the graded system with clothing denoting
the grade which would inspire the men
to do better. The shocking revelations al
Windsor would never have occurred II
the legislature had proided adequate and
proper accommodations for the female
prisoners. Better hospital facilities should
be provided The officials of these insti-
tutions should be sent and their expenses
paid by the state, to attend the congresses
of penologists, which would inform then
as to what the best institutions are doing
The superintendent should be trained
official. conVersant with the best methods
In the discussion that followed District
Attorney Martin said that the great
trouble had been the false economy Of
the legislature in not providing more
accommodations, and higher salaries fol
the men in charge of these institutions
He emphasized particularly the bad in
fuence of the county jails c. H. Daven'
port thought the trouble had not beer
in spending too little money, but II
spending it unwisely. There are toC
many boards, commissions, etc, who use
up money that could be better spent II
perfecting the Institutions themselves. DR.
II. D. Holton suggested the appointment
of a committee to investigate further, anC
to formulate a memorial to be sent to thu
next legislature. Judge E. L. Waterman
felt that this was the point upon which
we must bring influence. Nothing coult
he done until the legislature had pro
vded proper accommodations. The fol
lowing committee was then appointed t.
consider the subject: Rev. Frank L. Mas
seek. Judge Waterman, District Attorne!
Martin, Dr. Holton and Mr. Davenport