ADDRESS--HON. SAMUEL J. BARROWS, MEMBER INTERNATIONAL PENITENTIARY
COMMISSION, “THE INTERNATIONAL PENITENTIARY CONGRESS” BRUSSELS,
BELGIUM, LAST YEAR.
The remarks were of great value to people interested in prison work and
the care of prisoners. He made comparison between the management of
prisons in this country, and some of the European countries, mentioning
incidentally that in some of the prisons of Europe, methods were in
vogue which were no longer thought of in this country.
He outlined briefly the mode of work of the Congress and gave
interesting details of the reforms and improvement brought about
through the influence of this commission.
The Congress at Brussels, 1899, had about 90 official delegates,
representing 29 different countries; and 247 visitors from other
countries who came for information.
He mentioned that the unification and expansion tendency of nationality
might tend very largely to a healthy interchange of ideas, as the
records of this Congress are made the property of the whole world
by translation. States most progressive are those who confer in the
general interests of life. He spoke of John Howard and his influence in
all the world, and especially in England.
Dr. F. H. Wines was sent by the United States Government to meet and
exchange ideas and experiences with other countries; he was not the
first to suggest the organization of an International Congress, this
was suggested by private men, several years previous.
“How to preserve the continuance of this Congress, each country
promised a permanent commissioner. The United States failed to make
such an appointment. Dr. Wines has the appointment from time to time
only, but our government is now about to take it up again and resume
its former responsibility. In this the United States will be fully able
to take its part.
“At these international meetings no papers are read, all the papers
are printed before the meetings, they are translated in different
languages; then each country, answers the matter clearly in discussion,
questions on reports, &c. Last year the United States was not
officially represented on the commission, and the Delegates did not
feel comfortable. All members are supposed to make themselves familiar
with the papers on the programme before they come up. Sometimes there
are too many questions to discuss properly. And even in our own country
it is impossible to get some details, to give a proper answer; for
instance, the United States Commissioners’ duties touching the Criminal
Insane. It was very hard to get the facts from States, for there
were so few that had any central bureau of information, it took the
Government a long time to get any from a positive source.
“Penological questions were answered by monograph reports, such as
relation of crimes to misdemeanor in the United States; reports to show
the penalty and charges; result of the combined work was one of great
value, for one cannot go to Paris or elsewhere to the meeting--to know
that his contribution will be translated.
“He spoke of the United States Reformatory statistics being deficient,
and of the prison management of the cellular or separate system in the
United States department as very meagre, and now almost abandoned in
the United States, and yet almost wholly installed in every country,
and new prisons now building throughout Europe, with a system of
centralization suggested by the State of New York, but while New York
State prisoners share in the earning, all Europe is to the contrary.
“After thirty years of fraternal conference at these Association
meetings, is there anything we can agree upon as principles, to
lay down and not regret the cellular system? The whole matter of
child-saving was conservative, but it layed on the fact of education.
Alcoholism should be banished, the army canteen, etc. France
strenuously opposed it. Throughout all Europe you see the influence of
John Howard and Dr. Wines. England has taken prisons entirely out of
politics, and the criminal insane is treated from a medical standpoint.
Most of Europe has adopted the Bertillon system, and only a very small
part of the United States, as yet.
“Of labor, there is no difference in any country, and good behavior
earns a shortened sentence. In the United States, twenty States have
adopted this rebate of sentence, seventeen the parole system in whole
or in part, six an indeterminate sentence in part. Transportation as
a punishment in Russia has been given up. The United States had the
honor to start this International Congress, which has been continued by
other countries, and now the United States again agrees to do her part
by appointment. Personal intercourse and association is the bond of
brotherhood inspiration.”