New-York tribune., 1915-03-23
SEES PRISON CURSE
in DEFINITE TERM
Warden Osborne BegS for
Indefinite Sentence as
Reform Aid.
SAYS PRESENT LAW
MAKES MEN WORSE
II Kept Beyond Minimum Time
Prisoners Only Leave Sore
with Society.

To turn out prisoners better men
when they leave Sing Sing than when
they went in
Thus Thomas Mott Osborne. speak
ing under the auspices of the National
Committee on Prisons and Prison
Labor, at Columbia University last
night. summed up, in discussion on
the "lndeterminate Sentence" the pur-
pose of his administration of New
York's penal colony.
THE existing condition of the law
relative to length of imprisonment is
the greatest obstacle to improving
prisoners" he said "Our so-called in
determinate scntelce is really mini
mum maximum sentence, with the
prisoner firmly convinced that his real
sentence is the minimum.
"lf he is held over the minimum, he
leaves with a grudge against society.
He is out for revenge. Instead of COM
ing out better, he comes out incom-
parably worse.
"A real indeterm sentence would
change the whole atmosphere of the
prison. There would be real incentive
to good behavior, as the price of liber
~. Under the present system the most
dangerous criminal can get out at the
a menace to society. II is "a foolish as
sending a patient to a hospital for
definite period.
"The deterrent effect of an indeter
inmate sentence would be far greater.
A man would think twice before EN-
bracing a life of crime which, except
he reform, he would have TO pay for by
permanent imprisonment.
Cbance Eayora Rich Crook
"Under the present system its
good sporting chance TO be a crook.
I'd take il any time il my mind ran
that way. The chances OF getting
through, if YOU have a good bank roll,
are on your side after all. With an
indeterminate sentence meaning that,
if convicted, reform is your orly
chance of getting QUIT wouldn't be
worth while.
Right here ! want TO say that re-
form isn't a garment that the warden
can put on a prisoner. It's state of
mind-as Boston is. according TO some
people. The present system Is bad IN
every way, and the indeterminate sem
tence is the only cure, with comHe-
tent board of parole TO pass on the FIT
ness of the prisoners to resume the re-
sponsibilites of life.
81 can't understand why the Legis-
lature won't see this. unless it is
they're 50 busy playing politics that
they can't
Katharine b. Davis. Commissioner Of
Correction, followed Mn. Osborne with
similar plea. urging the appointment
Of Il city board of parole, with power
20 release prisoners when sufficiently
reformed. to be composed of the Com
missioner of Correction, the Police
Commissioner and three appointees OF
the Mayor.
Mr. Osborne denied he was trying to
make the prison so attractive that per
sons would want to break in in an ad-
dress before 500 members Of the Par
ents' League at the Berkeley Theatre.
in West Forty-fourth Street, yesterday
afternoon.
"If you hear ii said that we have too
many moving pictures at Sing sing,
you will know il is true" he declared.
ave have too many; but since you
have not given us money enough to
institute night classes, we have to put
up with moving pictures. They were a
gift, and. anyway, the men had better
be looking at movies than brooding IN
cells three feet six inches wide and
getting tuberculosis because Of the
damn"