The Washington herald., 1910-10-06
PENOLOGIST
REPLIES TO ATTACK
Declares TerrOrs of Siberia
Are SensatiOnalizcd.
RUSSIAN PENAL SYSTEM SCORED
Appalling Number OF Executions in
Empire ArraiEned by DIR. Fred
erick II. Wines, of Chicago. and
Causes First International De-
bate at Prison Congress.

The first international debate was pre-
cipitated in the international prison con-
gress yesterday. when bitter invective
was heaped upon the atrocities of the
Russian penal system by Or. Frederick
II. Wines, OF Chicago.
Without waiting for a formal oppor-
tunity 10 reply Mr.. Etienne de Khrou-
leff, chief OF the prison administration OF
the Cars empire. put on his war paint
last night and proceeded 10 demolish the
accusations Of cruelty and barbarism pre-
ferred by the Chicago expert, and de-
clared the terrors OF Siberia had been
sensationalized by the enemies OF his
country.
In no civilized country" said DR..
Wines, are the executions OF such APP
palllng numbers as in Russia. II is wei
calculated 20 excite our horror. This IS
the more worthy OF remark in view OF
the fact that the penal code limits the
application Of capital punishment 20 po-
utical offenders. Yet. IN virtue of the
system BY which offences not political
can be punished by martial law, even
In times OF peace, the number of exc
cuIiOns is truly extraordinary
Powers OF the Tribunal.
'The civil administration can at It's
discretion except any affair from the jur-
isdiction OF the criminal courts. and the
accused are brought before a military
tribunal which can return a sentence
II death which must be confirmed or
may be set aside by a higher officer. His
power In the premises is arbitrary and
absolute.
''Th exceptional laws OF Russia per
mir a death sentence by military trib-
unal for armed resistance 70 the author
titles. for wilful and premeditated homi-
eide. for criwinal assault. for brigand-
age. FOR robbery, for premeditated arson,
for inmdauon OF the property OF an
other. and for attacking certain railway
trains.
The official statistics show that, in
ls06-0S, 2,lOS persons were legally execut-
ed. Political offenders are hung. others
may De hung or shot"
II. De KhroUled's statement in reply 10
On. Wines was. in effect that Russia has
been In a state Of siege and terrorism
ever since tho japanese war. The forces
Of revolution have had to be held in
check. and execution Of ring-leaders was
TesOrtsd 20 only IN cases Of dire peril.
Russia felt that the enemies OF the Car
and OF her government were traitors. nc
said. and should be dealt with accord
ingly
Many Were Assassinated.
The Russian prison chief further said
there had been 1904 acts OF terrorism
in his land FOR the four years ending
IN 1863. OF which ISIS were assassinations.
In the same period the death penalty
had been melted out 2. s25 times, which
was conservative administration Of the
law, in view OF the condition OF the
country.
Accepting the principle Of conditional
liberation of prisoners upon parole. the
congress adopted the following resolu-
tons last night.
First. conditional release should be
given, not by favor, but IN accordance
with definite rules. Prisoners Of all
classes, including worzhouse prisoners.
should be eligible for conditional release
after serving for a definite minimum
period.
second, conditional liberation should
be given on the recommendation Of a
properly constituted board, but reserving
always the control Of the government
This board should have the power OF
recalling the prisoner IN case Of unsaus-
factory conduct.
.ssT-frT tho 7rrrvr o,-fv.r
dltionally liberated prisoners should be
undertaken by state agents, and APP
proved associations. who viii undertake
to befriend and supervise them and 10
report on their conduct for sufficiently
long period
Fourth. where the ordinary rules for
a parole are not applicable TO life prison
ers, their causes should be dealt with by
the supreme government as a matter of
clemeney."
Nagrant Colonies Approved.
Another resolution approved the estab-
lishment Of farm colonies for the treat
ment and reformation OF the vagabond
and vagrant Professional and accidental
.mendieants should he dealt with separ-
ately. and the problem Of the tramp
should be handled in more scientific fash
ion than heretofore, the resolutions added
NJ Sanagi. one OF the Oriental dele
gates. gave an interesting lecture on
THE present conditions Of japanese
prisons" last night at the New Willard
He elucidated the swift progress Of the
Island Empire. and said:
The social changes have been remark
able in our country. There is nothing
that has not undergone entire trans
formation and when we look back to the
times. more than two decades ago, when
the criminal law and the prison regula-
lions which We're in force up to 1908 were
established, we feel as if We were then
living in en- entirely different world Our
new criminal code IS, I think. fully
abreast OF the times and shows we intend
to keep pace with the rest OF the world"
The International Chaplains' AssOcia-
ton. organized at the Budapest congress
in 1895, was reorganized yesterday for the
coming five years. Rev A NJ Fish. of
Trenton, \. j., was elected president;
Rev. II CTessen NcHenry. secretary, and
Rev. d. Reed Imbrie, OF Pittsburg, treas
urer. The vice presidents are Thomas
Holmes, of London; Mr. Balfour, of
Droghrda. Ireland; Chaplain Alexander.
OF the Dukes Street Prison, Glasgow,
Scotland; and Rev, Z. Tnmeoka, Of
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