J. WARREN MEADE, WARDEN AUBURN STATE PRISON, N. Y.,
Spoke of prison discipline. Best way to reach a man’s heart was through his stomach. That it was very necessary to give attention to the appointment of the officers, in order to impress the men with a care and cleanliness. The criminal should have a time to sing if he chose, and should be assisted in fitting himself for life-work in the world.
The dungeon cells are sufficient punishment for any infraction without resorting to a paddle. Said he could not imagine how Massachusetts could have a fixed commutation for life sentences, except they use the Life Ins. Co.‘s approximate longevity table, like age 34 to serve 25 years, age 40 to serve 16 years, and so on. Good discipline has the effect to remove criminal desires.
Both T. E. Ellison, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Gen. R. Brinkerhoff, of Ohio, remarked that the wardens and superintendents summoned daily the overseers, guards, etc., to discuss the wants, needs, and peculiarities of convicts, in order to be in touch of all his employees, and to the prisoners by the overseers.