South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-10-01
Charities and Corrections Con-
ference Hear Splendid
SpeakerS-War and Its
Problems Theme.

News Times Special Service
LAPOETE, Ind. oct 1.-The
state OF Indiana was brought before
the bar today o. the Indiana con-
ference on charities and corrections.
Judge James a. Collins judge Of the
Marion county criminal court. who
presided at the session on Courts
and Prison, spoke ON THE State
An offender
During the day leaders I'm state
institutional work delivered address
es devOtiug much time 20 subjects
made more acute by the war. Sew
eral hundred delegates from all parts
OF Indiana were present
state an offender.
Whenever the state suffers and
permits wrongs and abuses 90 exist
within the borders or the common
wealth then the state itself becomes
an offender" saws Judge Collins.
Notwithstanding our wonderful
growth and material development as
state. vet we have never fully In
terprcted the spirit of our constitu-
uou and enacted the legislation il
enjoins ne continued.
The constitution of no state con
taius more sublime injunction than
that ~ Indiana The penal code
shan le founded upon the principles
IF reformation and not OF indicative
Justice"
The speaker declared the estab-
lishment of the state penal farm for
petty offenders was the greatest step
the state has taken along this line.
THE Jail was never intended 10
serve as prison" he declared, and
So long as the state permits the iails
90 Zoe used as prisons. so long Will
she continue 10 be an offender And
the Jail problem will remain with MS
SO long as the state cOuntenances
that piece of petty political graft
paving sherins 40 cents q day for
feeding prisoners. Every prisoner i'm
county Jail is n state prisoner The
state should furnish him his food
and not the sheriff ] am in favor
OF sherins receiving a proper com
pensatfon for their services i'm caring
for prisoners. but I am unalterably
opposed TO the system that permits
them 90 profit upon their misfor-
tunes"
Contract Labor Wiring
Judge Collins declared the state
was an offender if il confiscated the
labor Of prisoners. He denounced
the contract-Iabo r system which will
be abolished i'm 1920, and for which
he gave GOV. Goodrich much credit
The system OF giving a discharged
convict 50 and a railroad ticket
home was decried by the speaker
Judge Collins declared that the
convicts should be paid for their
labor behind prison walls. should be
given "A chance to support their de
pendents and 20 save some money to
help them start right ;,hen they get
out.
Every governor and legislator
every Judge and prosecuting attor-
ney. every warden and superintend-
emit has known OF the misery and
poverty flowing to dependents
through our present prison system.
How ann . going 20 support myself
and children Or YOU send my hus-
band to the peuiteuuary is the
pitiful question that has been asked
OF every judicial officer i'm every state
in the Union They could only an
swer it 10y directing the poverty
stricken wife 90 the nearest char
ity"
Judge Collins praised Warden
Fozarty for developing the binder
Irvine plant ~ the Michigan City
prison and praised the development
If the farming system no state insti-