New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-10
STRONG ON PHYSICAL sUAsIoN

.0wsr.
STRONG ON PHYSICAL sUASION.
This person IS called probation officer. The title
euggests something humanitarian and benevolent
n praiseworthy system Of reforming U1aiefactors
xnd teaching them how TO lead better NE IL
seems q beautiful and admirable activity. But the
evidence OF the Page commission shows that pro-
sstion IN practice is. rule, not an lcyi- Inc
snoraI influence Of q twilight spy compares Win
that OF prison trusty'' who has embraced religion
and who substitutes the chaplain with a strap
aEazfstrste Barlow admitted that physical sua-
sion'' is the strong card Of the probation oIhcer
! II is true that the evidence obtained did not hx
,yriminality upon those charged with reforming
sriruinels-for one thing, outside witnesses were
called to testfr-tut there strong odor or the
tainted courtroom and legitimate inference OF
'she decay that caused the door Given the conol-
sonz and the power OF the Individual II is fair 10
sssIrne that the average probation officer classnes
with the SINISTER or with the Headquarters men
whose intense chagTin when they found prisoner
st the bar had concealed 500 bill IN his wastcoat
aining-ncney that the detectives had Called 10 ma
an the searching process-was wildly pictured re-
,oeu1lv BY Magistrate Corrigan. II the probation
officer Classics with shyster and detective he is
On a higher ievel-that IS. his opportunities are
greater He can retire earlier and become a more
s-espectabie dealer IN real estate
rsr course y might be said that who hold
such close valetlike relations 10 the magistrates
cannot go wrong; they are men OF high character
Rud they imbibe morality from their supeiiors Inc
thai the
knowledge OF their activities half the time and none
ST al during the alternate two weeks vacation
IA great authority is delegated to them thelr yer
s,zI report in the magistrates ear, sometimes no
report is SUFFICIENT 10 deprive citizen Of his hb-
s-rtv Some OF them may possess a high charac-
.er II Is evident that many do not. Some OF them
NAV reform few criminals. II is testified that
snaTsy carefully keep away from the criminals put
On their charge which is, perhaps point in favor
xDf the moral guardians. decacy, in fact in
Ero6ing the appearance of evil was shown by
those probation officers who said they never called
ION the wives Of committed 10 their charge and
ptherwise most intrequently visited homes OF pro-
-tses
The probation oficer is not q graduate % any
school Of philanthropy. nor has he taken course
IN penal reform de is generally a patrolman de-
saied by TIE Police Commissioner TO be attached 10
"A magistrate and perform duties OF which he
szsaaIly has most hazy notion. A brilliant excep-
sion as TO literacy and brains seemed to be pro
Ration officer who thus defined his duties;
Technically, probation IS any proceeding de-
signed TO ascertain test character. ability or at
fsainrlents. But l look IT, ii IS great deal
fhroaeer. I consider It my duty 10 help any I'M
fortunate individual to lead more lawful and use
fxtil life"
-.Nor are these ideas OF yours your own" asked
fex-Attorney General Mayer, counsel FOR the com
mission ''or they the result Of conversations
with your magistrate
The result Of thought and Of observation and
conversation with people better equipped than am
70 nght The battles the world replied the wit
mess unctuously. He added that he had had the
Benefits OF a common school education
MY man Is very useful TO me in maintaining
s<Tde- in court" testified magistrate. Il cannot
Ar~atch al the eIits and cannot do lot Of things
sghat my mar can DO by circulating around. Pos
kzlbly that isn't probation work but It is good police
work
Mexsstra1e corrsEan averred that when he was
rEoIng OF the bench he had this chat with col
ssezgue:
DC you suppose win need a probation onicer?
y DON'T think 50. What would want che for?
can carry my own bag.
magistrate that the official body servant had uses
beyond carrying bags and running erTands. It was
fsntansted by counsel that without quarreng about
the usefulness u court valet. the function Of
fsfzte probation officer perhaps distinct
Each of the sixteen magistrates has his own
man." personal attache who circulates with him
from court court and is presumably occupied TO
an extent during the six months OF the year that
I his master spends on the bench When the nasis-
1rete Is OF duty. fortnight at time, the man
presumably recuperates from his arduous labors
while going through some technical motions TO
lis so patrolman's pay. Perhaps IN vacation
time he els IN the day By writing several letters
One testified that by several Ietters" he meant
Two letters" and when asked 10 recaptulate the
tc. oe the day in question he stu5bornly insisted
that ne had written several letters"
The magistrates themselves seem 70 be In doubt
as just what classes OF persons should be put on
probation -DsIned = / know" said one magis-
trate the writer. and he added that he used his
Judgment Perhaps the largest number who suffer
the ordeal husbands charged with non-support
and OF the street. the latter being assigned
10 officers OF their own sex. When a man or boy
charged with Some petty offence is put on probation
is case is practically transferred minor mag
3etrz.e-the vaiet-for a period ranging from
q few weeks six months If his conduct for the
oecifed period satisfies the cop he is presum-
sbIy 1rse from further supervision. Ills discharge
I - almost snvarsabiy automatic meaning that he
does ret see the magistrate again AMI that the pro-
bafion officer informs him That he has passed pur
4 Sztzfy or other snd. If he fails from grace
Il the eyes Of the officer any TIME within the
period ne likely 10 be hustled off Blackweii's
Is and his sentence. Some magistrates. II
ret al. permit their deiegstes TO hustle of men In