In the past year the Bertillon system has been introduced in several
of the States (it ought to be in all). Iowa has just found it very
desirable. New York State has had it several years, proved of great
value, not only in identifying prisoners, but in the identification
of several meeting with sudden deaths in railroad accidents. By this
system identification becomes positive and certain, as often as the
prisoner comes under the measuring instruments, it will be an easy
task to lay bare a criminal’s history by referring to his card. If the
Legislature would enact an indeterminate sentence or parole law, the
effectiveness of the same would be wonderfully aided by this system
of identification. There are some who contend that “the State has no
right to use this system against the man”--then let us have something
better--a law of the United States requiring every State to enthrone
this system, and that a National Bertillon Bureau be established for
all the convicts of our country. This would be of untold help, and
many a time a man’s true character could be asserted before the Judge
had pronounced an unjust or inadequate sentence. This present Congress
will be implored to establish this National System, by the advice and
recommendation of the National Prison Congress.