Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-26
AID OF CONGRESS ASKED
Secretary Root Requests Appropria-
ton of $50, 900.
MEETING TO BE HELD IN 1910
Movement Started in This Country
Nearly Forty Years Ago During
Grant Administration.

IranC ADMINISTRATION.
Secretary Root has asked Congress for
an appropriation of s50.o 900 for the en-
tertanment of the International Prison
Congress. which will meet in this coun-
try in 1910 The prison congress was
organized nearly forty years ago. the
United States standing sponsor for the
movement. Congress passed resolution
authorizing the President TO send abroad
a commissioner to secure the co-opera
ton of European governments in hold
ing great international congress for
the discussion of all matters relating 10
the prevention and treatment OF crime.
President Grant appointed to this task
the late F. c. Wines. the distinguished
American penologist.
Idea Warmly Welcomed.
DR.. Wines was warmly received in
Great Britain and on the continent. not
only by government officials but by lead
ers In philanthropy and penology and
Jurists. Here Was the opportunity for a
new international alliance which did not
concern questions of boundary terri
Tory or naarkets-an international ALI
ance for war against crime The dis
tnsuiShed leaders OF thought and ac-
tlon representing their countries in this
alliance knew well enough that this war
could not he carried on merely with the
old instruments of repression merely
by drastic instruments of torture such
as till the museum at Nuremberg They
Knew that ii meant something more than
simply better prisons: they knew that
IL meant better laws. reconstruction OF
criminal codes. better police and a
strengthening of every form Of social
OF course the new associa ton did con-
Germ itself about the Improvement Of
prison construction and prison discipline
1t turned houses of punishment into
houses of correction. All over Europe
the pathway Of this congress can he
seen. from Sweden to Italy. from France
to Russia, in a newer and better type
of prison.
Reform of the Criminals.
But it's work is just as distinctly re.
corded in a more practical and more
philosophic attitude Of society toward the
treatment OF crime. 1t has encouraged
the study of the criminal himself. as
well as of the law and the act which,
together make him a lawbreaker: it has
studied heredity, environment. alcoholism
and crime: the structure Of codes. the
administration Of courts. the treatmept
of the offender without Imprisonment II
has revealed and emphasized the social
conditions which produce crime: ii has
extended protecting hand over child
hood and motherhood. Economic ques-
tons. such as prison labor the assign
ment to the prisoner of a portion of his
earnings: questions of probation and con-
ditional liberation: questions of jurisdic-
ton and eXtradition involving problems
in international comfy and international
law have all come within the field OF
research and discussion
Though the United States called this
congress together il was deemed adyis-
able to hold its first meeting i'm London
rather than in the United States. Tho
part our government took in its crca-
ton was recognized by making Dr. Wines
it's first president. The meeting was a
success. 1t was fostered by the govern
ment. patronized by the nobility and at
tended by jurists prison directors and
students of social science
Permanent Commission Established.
The second congress was held six years
later at Stockholm. under the patronage
of Oscar II. Then it was decided to have
a permanent organization and that meet
ings of the congress should be held once
every five years. An executive council.
called the international prison commits
sion, was formed. composed of one OFF,
cial representative from each government
The adherfng nations engaged also to
pay small annual subscription based on
gress has held quinquennial meetings III
Rome, st. Petersburg, Paris. Brussels amt
Budapest making, with those held at
London and Stockholm, seven interna-
tional congresses. Always held under the
patronage of the governments at whose
capitals they met. their meetings have
been distinguished by royal elegance and
dignity, brilliant discussions and new i'm
pulses toward social improvement The
proceedings have furnished a valuable
literary library nf
The duty and the opportunity of the
United States in this respect were first Of
cially presented to the Department or
State by the American commissioner.
Fifty-fifth Congress. Secretary Hay COM
municated them to Congress with his
cordial recommendations BY Joint res
olution of the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives, approved March g. 1895 the
President was authorized and requested
to invite the International Prison Con
sress to hold its eighth meeting in tho
United States. The invitation was ac-
cepted at Budapest, and the meeting viii
be held in Washington some time in 1910.
Advance in Penology.
In these nearly forty years the United
States has made some interesting and inn
portant contributions to pathological
science. 1t has introduced the indetermi-
nate sentence. developed a reformatory
system for adults, shown through sus-
pended sentence and probation the posi-
tbility of correcting many thousands OF
offenders without Imprisonment. Finally
it has established chldren's courts. .
Chicago idea which is rapidly spreading
over the United States and Europe.
The program of questions for Washing
ton while dealing with matters of world
wide interest. will be especially attractive
to Americans. A prominent feature will
be the attention devoted to crime-pre-
ventive and child agencies.
To Interest Latin America.
Now that the United States has the Coz
operation % European governments in
this congress. Secretary Root Is seeking
to secure the cooperation of the Central
and South American republics. Under the
plans the Secretary and the American
commissioner have made for the congress
il will be spent in ways which will give
European representatives some ideas OF
the best things achieved in the United
States.
The hospitality of the government VIII
he greatly reinforced by that of the