Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-11-05
General Bell Approves Plan to
Utilize Prisoners for War Work
Eu Special Correspondent.

Iii Special Correspondent.
TRENTON. Nov. 5-Major General
J. Franklin Bell. who commands the
Department of the East at Governors
Island, New York, has approved of
the plan of State Commissioners of
Charities Burdette G.. Lewis for the
utilization of the man-power of the
correctional institutions of New Jer-
sey and the United States In the con-
duct of the war.
This approval is interesting in view
of the fact that recently General Bell
objected to the action of Judge Rosal-
sky, OF New York city, in sentencing
a criminal to service In the army in
stead Of sending him to a corrective
penal institution.
AFTER carefully studying the plan
of Commissioner Lewis, I find myself
In most cordial and thorough accord
with everything contained therein"
said the General in a statement made
public here today by the charities de-
partment. II am unable to make
any suggestions for Its improvement
simply because without further expe-
rience in the practical application
thereof I cannot think of a single
thing that 1 could suggest to improve
1t.
81 believe hat such a plan might
not onl yresult in gerat meneit from
a purely military point of view, but I
am certain that putting it into prac-
teal operation could not possibly re-
suit otherwise than in accommodating
an immense amount of valuable prac-
teal experience and in demonstrate
Ing the value of new methods of deal
ing with the whole subject of GRIM
inology and p%enology throughout the
nation"
Discussing the action of Judge Ro-
salsky in a letter to Commissioner
II auyto p Gnnarn1 Dali 1Aa.A 49,
such people as Thomas Mott Osborn,
TO rinstance, who has spent his life
In the close study of penology and
who naturally possesses greater SYM
pathy and interest in the reformation
of criminals than in anything else,
would be perfectly willing to adopt
any plan they considered best calcu-
CARELESS of what effect 1t might have
upon other interests certainly as
worthy of consideration as projects for
reforming criminals"
1T. on the contrary. have spent my
life in the army" said the General,
and am naturally so greatly inter-
ested in its welfare that its interests
come first in my mind and 1 am, there
fore. naturally disinclined to see it's
welfare sacrificed to the interests of
criminals OF those of any other class.
The General said he objected to
Judge Rosalsky's action because ii
was based upon the theory that by
having a culprit sentenced to the army
he would gain experience there that
might have the same effect upon him
as would Incarceration In n penal re-
formatory. IT am naturally opposed
to using the army for such a purpose"
he declared, adding hat he could see
no objection. however, after such q
prisoner had served a probationary
period in a reformatory and had DEM
onstrated by his conduct that he had
undergone a real regeneration.
The objection to Judge Rosalsky's
plan" he continued, was that it con-
templated putting the United States
uniform, n badge of honor. upon an
unregenerate criminal and sending
him to enforced close association with
honorable men, regardless of incl
dental consequences to their interests
and preferences, in the hope that such
duty and association might result in
his reformation.
Your plan expressly provides for
not only furnishing such men ppor-
tunities to reform and demonstrate
their worth, but also requires a pro-
stationary period and experience sufi-
extensive to prove their regen-
GRAFTON n demonstrate that they are
worthy of being afforded further OPP
portunity for earning restoration to
complete citizenship"
General Bell promises full coop
Grafton for the plan of Commissioner
Lewis.