New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-30

KIN M pIiSOH S4'o1'N ~ -O -
oratory'--
u "A laboratory"
"Yes-a laboratory where problems are
solved-problems of industrial education
labor, public efficiency and eugenics!'
Pooh, pooh; hardly"
There are good many persons who
would unthinkingly disagree in just that
language with the philosophical idealists
who are not only dreaming but beginning
20 believe that an affirmative answer may
be given 10 that question. The latter act
ually think the time may come when men
will be more anxious TO get into the peni-
Tertiary than TO stay out, owing to the
comfort and excellent opportunities to be
found there. That this danger is not so
fanciful as It appears is not beyond demon
stration. Tramps are such proveroial fire.
uuen,ers Of workhouses-where there is no
work-and county jails. in the winter sea-
son, that the custom has become subject
for Jokes I'm the funny column!
This story is told of an occupant Of
poorhouse in the neighborhood Of Milwau-
kee while the city government was in con-
troll Of the Socialists: The food served at
tho almshouse was so bad that he deter
mined to change his bed and board. He had
heard that the workhouse. under the So
c!alist regime, provided lodgings and
table that were superior in character, and
ene day he shook the dust Of the aims
house from his feet Entering the city he
approached a policeman and made HIS
wishes known.
You'll have 10 be arrested" said the
protector of the peace
All right; arrest me-"
Il can't. You haven't committed any
crime"
The victim OF the poorhouse stopped
down. clutched clod OF Garth and threw
It at the heArse of passing funeral
There = said he. have done enough to
be arrestedo"
It appeared that he had, and ultimately
he found himself in the woTkhouse, where
conditions were much more TO his hkins
There are many reasons why such a pro-
gramme as that mentioned seems TO not a
few persons the fantastic dream Of an IDEAL
istic penologist. There are so many prac-
tees attached to the management of prisons
and jails which must be sloughed off, Sc
many persons whose attitude toward crime
and criminals must be revised. that II IS
difficult to imagine that some day penal in
situations may be transformed into socta
laboratories
One Of the persons who must be .indoc'
trinated with the new idea is the sheriff
A sheriff is not necessarily bad, but sc
long as he has been placed in that once
in return for political work and is compen
stated by fees and receives stated allow
ance for feeding the inmates perhaps he can
not be expected 10 advance rapidly in tbs
field of progressive penology. 1t Is the nat
ure of some men TO make allowances from
rublic funds go as far as possible towarc
their own pockets, especially when the per
son for whom the allowance is made is th'
football of society, only a drunkard or
criminal outcast 1t has become almost
platitudinous to say that personal Interest
in the duties attached does not always &C
company election TO political plum. There
are a great many sheriffs in the United
States, and that some Of the condition:
which Pickwick found in the Fleet coulo
be duplicated was illustrated recently In tn'
Jail in a large industrial city in Alabama
In the county in which the city is located
II is said the sheriff sometimes receives IT
fees in the course OF year sum equal &c
the salary of the President Of the United
States.