The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-16

gree, at times of outdoor liberty. In Vermont there is one county jail daily work being done outside. In Colorado there is a state prison empty day and night, the cOnvicts being in working camps outside, almost un- guarded, except by their own parole, or word of honor These prisoners they earn above what they cost.
 'The question is whether we have gone far enough in these directions. I suggest to this conference that they might well take up the study of this question in such manner as may best bef1t it's importance and it's delicacy.
 If the state is losing money, when she might be making money, and if in thus making it, the health and gen. eral welfare of our tonvicts could be improved, We ought to change our policy for one more accordant both with the economic and the humanitar- Ian spirit of the twentieth century" K K. Scott, warden of the New
 Hampshire State Prison, spoke on Work at State Prison," as follows: The gradual evolution of prison methods during the last decade has civilization. Vfndictive punishment no longer has a place in the general plan of imprisonment of violators of law, but instead, out age in the ad- ministration of penal institutions is marked by a standard of justice and humanity. We no longer regard our prisons as places of detention only, in which men and women should be made to submit to methods of personal chastisement and denied the means Of even self elf-amendment, but rather public institution in which we contem
 plate, in a broad sense, the building up of the convict in body and mind, fitting him if possible to take his place iE society upon the termination of his sentence, a se1f-supporting law abiding citizen. That we fail to do this can in many eases be charged in a large measure to the man him self, but it bears evidence toso of the all along the line to improve social order and environment, make more effective our laws against crime by fn tellfgent and systematic improvement of our criminal laws, thus securing greater safety to the individual and, our children and minors. Individ- ualism Is the key with which the war den opens the door to his prisoners heredity his physical and moral make up and his emotional compartment. Tn treating upon this subject 1t should be borne in mind that degen- eracy, which presents itself to a very considerable extent in the general population of our prisons. is clearly mental defect that has to be reckoned with in any plan of prison reform that may be adopted.
 The public often criticise criminal lawyers who enter pleas of mot gufl- ty by reason Aof insanity for their cli- ents, but I believe too few such pleas are put forward and too little atten- tion given to the mental condition of men charged with crime, at the time NE oiv fvio hofn io imposed.
 Another class or element in society that we need to keep both eyes upon are those who are only partially held in check through fear of the law, and even though they live in such fear are a positive menace to society when at liberty. They are absolutely unres- ponsive to any sort of good influence. It would seem as though there ought to be some way provided to reach these men and put them right, but none has yet been found so far as my knowledge goes, and in the light of my experience, am inclined to be- lieve none will be found and we shall entirely escape their assaults upon our persons and property only when they are safely locked up.
 Labor for prisoners is essential to their moral and physical development and absolutely necessary to their men tai welfare. It should be of pro- ductive kind. At the same time the work should be of kind that will serve the greatest gdbd to the prison CTS? Some criticisms is heard from those who seem to believe that alto gether too much is being done for the prisoner, and that prison reform is be- ing carried too far. but you may safe ly conclude that our prisons can nev- CT be made so attractive that men will commit crime for the express purpose of being sent to them because they en- joy the life.
 The afternoon session was devoted to papers on detectives. Prof E. K. Mitchell, of the Hartford Theological Seminary, Mrs. Alice B. Montgomery of Northampton, Mass, H. H. Laugh lin, of Cold Spring Harbor, L. I. and David F. Weeks, of Skillman, N. J., were among the speakers.
 Last night a reception was rendered the conference by it's president, Arthur Reed Ki1nball.