New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
fz8NEEFH BETTER TREATMENT FOR PRISONERS COMING
Strong Tendency Toward
Reforming Rather Than
Furnishing Them.

Recently a news paragraph announced that II
was probable tlat the state prison 20 repIace
the famous old Ct Sing Sing would be erected
sn the neighborhood Of Peekskin. while this report
was incorrect, as no decision has been made in
favor OF any OF threescore or more sites suggest
ed because further legislation is desired. yet its
publication recalls 10 mind what has been termed
by one penologst epoch marking occurrence IN
the history OF penology. II is epoch marking In
that an old prison IS to be abandoned because OF
.ts inhumanity TO convicted prisoners This fact
serves 10 draw attention TO the great changes which
have taken place IN the attitude OF society toward
The criminal
The criminal OF to-day may well be thankful that
be lives at the present time The blghting legend
amounting 70 q horrible sentence which confronted
the soul thst entered the great Florentines he'll
has no application 10 him, once IL did, for he
does not now leave hope behind. More and more IL
ss being recognized that the convict is a human
being, and imprisonment, instead Of being viewed
as a punishment IS being looked upon as a Pro-
lection to society," while the effort is being made TO
1t the convicted one 20 go forth at some future
period as a useful member OF society and no
longer fts enemy. The prisoner is looked upon
by many practical. as well as theoretical pencil
ogists as a person morally sick, who may possibly
be restored 20 health. The prison IS simply hos
pstRl for such.
Less than a hundred years ago Connecticut was
using an old copper mine IN the northern part Of
the state as a prison. u called Newgate. as
also the early state prison OF New York in this
city. In one year. slightly over sixty years ago.
the bloody score Of the lash found the backs
OF many OF the male inhabitants Of Sing Sing.
More than three thousand lashes were bestowed
sn that year. Ten years ago. according to the
testimony Of Mrs Maud Ballington Booth. Of the
Volunteer Prison League. men were still strung up
by the thumbs and the wrists IN New York State
prisons and one could see dangling from pillar
sn the chapel at Sing Sing the chain by which re-
sractory prisoners were thus brought TO terms
For many years sentence 10 Sing Sing has
somstimes meant sentence to death, for the damp
walls OF that antiquated pile have promoted the
development OF the germs OF tuberculosis. More
than half OF the deaths at that institution are
TO that disease. The feeling that this IS unjust
70 q human being, even If he has lost his social
rights has resulted in the passage Of measure
providing for the erection Of new prison In a
salubrious locality, with i've hundred acres OF
ground about IL When the site is selected a
building containing the best sanitary appliances,
cells larger than the proverblal hall bedrooms and
ntted with washbowls and toilets, enforce
Giation by which the air is changed every seven
minutes. and plenty OF sunlight. will be provided.
The acreage means that the health Of the inmates.
moral and physical will be further promoted by
setting them al work on the land as farm hands.
In this way they viii not only be helping them
selves physically, but supporting themselves, in
stead OF calling upon the public purse for manten-