Year: 1877

An important report has recently been
made to the city of Boston by three COM
missioners appointed to consider and re-
port on the treatment ofdrunkenness in city
institutions and in private asylums. In
the performance of their duty the commits
sions visited various cities, for the purpose
OF examining the institutions where drunk
ards are confined or treated, and comforting
with the authorities committing or having
charge of them. The laws in the different
cities were found to be much the same.
The inebriate is mulcted in a small fine
with costs, and in default of payment is
committed to jail for brief period, ranging
| from ten days to six months. The result
is found to be extremely unsatisfactory, as
on the expiration of the term of contine-
ment there is usually an immediate return
to evil habits, rearrest, reconvlctlon and re-
commitment


| The commissioners arrive at the conclu,
sion that for the cure of habitual inebriety
at least one year is necessary, and that an
important auxiliary in the work is steady
! employment, but that inebriates should not
be associated in confinement with confirmed
criminals. 1t is urged, too, that to meet the
great variety of cases a measure of dlscre-
! ton should be lodged in the hands of the
superndent, with such advisory authority
as may be deemed expedient, TO place per-
sons under his care on probation, permit
ting them to go forth from the institution
subject to certain prescribed conditions,
and to recall them without process, when


ever those conditions shall be violated, to


finish the entire period of commitment.


The commissioners, after having visited


most of the inebriate asylums of the


country, state that whilst these institutions
are for the most part voluntary, and the


inmates therefore not under strict control,


forty or fifty per cent. Of those resorting to


them are permanently restored to habits OF


industry and sobriety. In view OF all the


facts thus obtained they recommend "a


new departure in the treatment of drunk


ards brought before the courts, and, with


out at all entering into the question OF


their criminality or penal deserts, that the


treatment shall primarily aim at their re


formation, leaving the matter Of their pun


ishment to be incidentally though neces


sarily involved. To this end, when brought


before the courts, they will not be senten


ced to a given punishment, but committed


to an asylum for such protracted period


lone year or more) as experience has proved
to be necessary, with discretion in the


hands of the proper authorities TO gran


probationary absence on well.defined con


ditions, attended perhaps by a continued


helpful oversight" The commissioner
further recommend the House of Industry
at Deer Island, Boston harbor as a suitable
E place for the trial Of the experiment in tina
quarter.
We notice this report more especially
, of the fact that in the course of their In
auiries the commissioners extended thei


observations to Baltimore. So far as thi
, community is concerned, the circumstance
are such as to suggest the inquiry whethe


something might not be done by way o


prevention in their regard Of drunkenness
in other words, of lessening the need OF re
: formatories, as one of which our Stat'
House Of Correction may serve in many in


stances when brought into requisition


Might not some restraint be put upon tn
I indiscriminate granting of licenses to keep
ers of drinking saloons? In every one c
! our large cities such saloons have multiple
= to so remarkable an extent since the wa
e as to need some limitations to be put upo
p their number and locations, with superv
| sion as to character. The old idea of tn
4 tavern, where liquors might be supplied
individuals in connection with other al
commodations, was the correct one. Blu
Q having got beyond this, it behooves us
. inquire whether the necessary limitatio
) cannot be accomplished by the inpositio
e of heavy license fee that would weed OF
q the most Objectionable establishments, or b
. the appointment of board of license con
: missioners, with authority to regulate th
Il number and locality of saloons in propo
. ton to population, and to grant or will
If hold licenses for cause, or by some othC
!. more effective device.-Bdh. Sun.