THE BERTILLON SYSTEM.
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.