Evening star., 1922-08-13
TO MAKE USEFUL MEN
OF FIRST OFFENDERS
Proposed Government Shall Erect Re
formatory Instead of Another Old
Style Penitentiary.


the first place. the size of the popu-
lation is growing. and it is reason
able to suppose that a certain per-
centage will violate the laws. Then
the federal statutes have been added
to. The new criminal laws passed
during the last three or four ses-
sions of Congress have had their part
in the increase of prisoners. includ-
ing the anti-narcotic act. the espion-
age act the auto-theft act, the in
come tax act and the national pro-
hibition act. 1t is said that taking
these facts into consideration, IL is
more than probable that within the
next three or four years the maxi
mum capacity of the existing federal
penal institutions will be reached.
and this after certain additions now
under way have been completed.
Past experience shows it takes
considerable time to erect a federal
penitentiary. something like ten years
to complete it. 1t is proposed that
the Industrial reformatory shall be
constructed by prison labor. as were
So it is advisable to begin the work
now.
Report of Taft Commission.
The advisability of constructing an
industrial reformatory instead of an
other penitentiary is set forth in a
report of a commission appointed by
President Taft in 1909 to investigate
penal matters in the District of CO.
lumbia. In that report the commits
sion strongly urged the need of re-
formatories for first offenders. and
said the object is to lead the inmate
of the reformatory to regard himself
as not yet sunk to the level of the
criminal classes. to preserve his self
respect so as to enable him to go out
al the end of his term feeling that he
has not been branded as a felon."
After visiting various military
Contonments, Mr.. Votaw decided that
the site at Camp Grant, ILL.,, was the
best adapted all around for the pro-
posed industrial reformatory. In the
first place, it is located close to the
center of the population of the coun-
try. Then the soil there is excep-
tionally fertile, SO that a large farm
could be worked to advantage by the
prisoners. Already there are farm
buildings on the camp site which
could be used, and the school area"
of the camp. with it's barracks, is in
good condition. There is central
heating plant and several well
equipped shops. These could be used
from the very first, it is said. and in
struction could be given to prisoners
in carpentry. molding. automobile
repairing and electrical work. In
fact. if desired. it would be possible
to begin operating reformatory
there just as socn as it was author
ized-while the erection of the perma-
nent buildings were in progress.
Selection of Prisoners.
The men sent to the reformatory
would be first offenders, between the
ages of seventeen and thirty. but none
who had been convicted of treason,
murder, rape or arson, and none who
had been sentenced to life imprison-
ment. 1t is proposed to give the Attor-
ney General considera BILE discretion in
the matter of sending men to the re-
formatory, either after they have been
convicted and sentenced first, or when
it may be desirable TO transfer a man
from d penitentiary to the reformatory,
or vice versa.
While at the reformatory, the bill
provides. the inmates shall be instruct
ed in the common branches Of English,
and in such trade or industry as will
enable them to support themselves
when they are set free. The bill Is
careful to specify that the products of
the reformatory shall be used for the
government. A board of advisers, to
consist of two citizens of prominence
and distinction" appointed by the
President, the Attorney General. the
superintendent of prisons and the su-
perintendent of the reformatory. is pro-
vided for. This board is directed to
devise ways and means Of re-establish-
ing in society the inmates discharged
from the reformatory-in other words.
to find them jobs by which they can
make an honest living. This last work
is regarded as of especial Importance.
The Foster bill has been referred to
the House judiciary committee. 1t is
expected that. after the House recon-
venes, Mr. Foster will press for consid-
Grafton of the measur and that hear
ings will be held on it.
HeP Pao