The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-07-21
) $l.C0a year, in advance
iGnMo' oiA Aao.,,i.-, . csn.s.
international
Prison Congress
Will Convene in Washington in Oc-
tober to Consider Important
Pathological Subjects.

To preserve the peace, and in deal
ing with crime, Massachusetts, spends
some six million dollars year, or
tenth of all the money raised by tax
alton for all purposes. If that ratio
applied to the country at large all
the states would be spending about
a hundred million annually for the
purposes mentioned. But the direct
money cost, whatever it may be, is
the smallest item in this b d @ ct.
Prisoners produce little and consume
much. Sometimes their families be-
come public dependents. Probably
seven times out of ten imprisonment,
even for short time, takes something
from man-leaves him less able to
make his way; less a man. The total
social cost, therefore, is large. The
necessary cost of dealing with crime,
whatever it may be, society y must
meet; but those who have studied the
subject most intelligently agree that
a good deal Of the present coet is un-
necessary; that, on the whole, we deal
with crime wastefully and ineffect-
ually.
In 1904 nearly two million arrests
were made in the United States, but
of those arrested less than a hundred
and fifty thousand had done anything
bad enough to merit imprisonment
under the law. A great many more
were locked up, but | y because
they could not pay fine as though
locking them up would help to pay
it! What credi nowadays, ex-
cept the State, says to debtor, you
cannot, at the moment, pay this fifty
dollars and costs which you owe me;
therefore | will shut you up in idle
ness, make you lose your job and put
a disgraceful brand upon you, there
by destroying or diminishing your
power of paying it in the future?'
Next October the International
Prison Congress will meet at Wash
ington-its first convention in this
country, although an American, Doc
tor Wines, look leading part in or
ganizing it thirtyeight years ago.
The subjects it will discuss -crimi-
nal law and procedure, prison adj
ministration, treatment of criminals,
prevention Of crime, juvenile delin-
| quency-comprise great c ial
movement to which intelligent ma
tions pay increasing attention Sat
urday Evening Post.
The pathological problem before
the people is primarily Of the pro-
foundest importance and is being SO
recognized by the press and pulpit.
Crime against property is,
stealing was formerly punished by
death, but the world has advanced
whole lot since the time when such
drastic measures were used to en-
deavor to stop it.
Germany offenders guilty of lar
ceny are permitted to make good be-
fore being prosecuted. Safeguards
are thrown around til e defendant,
enabling him to prove his innocence.
Workedup cases are unknown.
In the Uuited States it is claimed
crime costs the Nation from six to
eight billions Of dollars annually.
This is vast suln-almost incon-
ceivably vast, and therefore reforma-
tory legislation is necessary to the
welfare of the body polite.
The meeting of the International
Prison Congress at Washington in
October, will be most noteworthy
one and it's deliberations will be of
great interest to all the world, for
progress is certainly necessary in
pathological affairs as well as in other
matters.