New-York tribune., 1922-01-05

dustries on an industrial basis and T.
compensatc the prisoners for tbeir
labor. Compensation shop'i, Of courss
be measured by the work actually dono
and deduction should be m Al. for me
cost Of maintenance and for any fns.
imposed to enforce discipline. Any sur
plus should be saved for the pr. gone
on his discharge or Transmitted to 4.
pendcnts. The success OF such plar
Will, OF course, depend in the las
analysis upon the prison management.
l believe that it may prove 10 be mora
economical in the end 70 the state and
cHat H. may serve 10 create self-respec
and to incuicate habits Of obedience
regularity and industry in the innate.
OF the prisons. Certainly the presen,
method has not succeeded recon.
mend the passage Of an act which vii,
enable the prison superintendent =
inaugurate such system at sus
able time upon the approval OF ths
Governor. The new buildings undo
construction al Sing Sing ars nearinr
completion, but no provision has Desr
made for prison wall, which isind,.
pensable and which ! am advised VII
require two years to construct. / recon.
mend that provision be made for start.
ing that work at once, and | am advise
that It can be done with inmats labo,
(c) INSTITUTIONS FOR
MENTAL DEF FECTIVES
There are certain classes ot mental
detectives who have to De cared fo~
in institu tions. Provision was mad
last year for the segre CATION at Naps
noch Of the criminal type. There are
of course, many others Of varying
types which have to De segregated in
institute ons, but l am convinced TIA.
the great problem is to avoid az far d.
possible notwithstanding n. fAeni..
minded. Under the present method
many Of them graduate from the
schools into institutions for juven-
lie delinquents, from them 20 the re-
prisons, while others find their way
into other institutions. am advised
that Impressions made on mental de-
fect.ves c remarkably lasting. Ins
problem is to make the right instead
of the wrong impression, 70 develop
the right instead OF the wrong habits
and, Of course, the time to d. that is
during childhood. The law already pro
vides for special classes for backward
children in the public schools. Iha
development Of these classes should Is
progressed and special courses snoul5
be given in the normal schools for TIE
training OF teachers for such children.
That work should be supplemented b.
effective field work, home visitation
and supervision 80 as TO direct those
mentally deficient into suitable homes
and useful employment rather than
into reformatories. prisons and institu-
tions for mental detectives.
recommend that adequate provision
be made for continuing the develop
men5 OF the clinical and field work In
augurated by the Commission for
Mental Detectives.
The colony system az adjuncts to Il.
institutions for mental detectives mas
proved successful both econ omicall.
and as means of helping mental de
fectives to lead more useful lives.
recommend that provision be made 70
continuing that work. The population
Of the present institutions IS 4,723. J
am advised that our irstitutiors-
capacity will probably have to be il
creased to 10000. The construction
work at Letchworth Village should be
progressed, and consideration should be
given to the selection of site for one
other institution for feebls-minded
which should be accessible to the met
ropolitan district.