in by the contractors, the state is relieved of that heavy investment and does not run the risk of market gluts and changes in prices of materials. The contractors secure a good day's work, in return for the price paid the state, by various devices, as presents of tobacco, money rewards for extra labor, and other inducements which appeal to hope. Contractors have generally discovered that hope and reward are more stimulating and sustaining motives than terror. But, in spite of such advantages, the contract system, is falling into disuse because of certain inherent disadvantages. Economically it is criticised for its tendency to mass competitions with free labor at certain points, in special lines of production, and this objection comes from the wage-workers as well as from the competing manufacturers. The opposition to this system on economic grounds has led to legislation in many states forbidding the use of the system in prisons. Another kind of objection is urged from the standpoint of discipline and reformatory purposes: the outside contractor interferes with the direction and control of those who are charged with the task of reforming the criminal. It is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to fit this external factor of control into the system of prison education. The minute division of labor made necessary by the contract system interferes with that larger educational scheme which trains a man to meet the vicissitudes of varying industry in the world. This objection has special force where the prisoners are young and have not yet specialized their industry or learned a trade. A young man is not much helped to cope with the intricate conditions of modern industry by being taught a trick of making a tenth part of a brush or the seventeenth part of a shoe.—Ibid, p. 295. 7 The Elmira Reformatory.- The Elmira Reformatory was opened in 1876, when the first inmates were received. The institution, however, did not take its distinctive position until 1877, when the bill providing for the "indeterminate" sentence was incorporated in the statutes. According to this bill, convicts to Elmira cannot be sentenced for any definite term, altho a maximum term can be given. The length of residence of the convict is left wholly to the decision of the management, and this gives the key to the whole institution. On his arrival the convict is carefully examined as to his history, mental and physical characteristics, and all circumstances of his case, and is then treated as a moral patient, built up into self-supporting character as rapidly as possible, and only allowed to go out (unless the maximum term intervenes) when in the opinion of the management he is capable of self-supporting citizenship. He is, however, even then only allowed to go out for the first six months on parole, being kept in close correspondence with the management until he has proved himself worthy of absolute freedom. But the Such is, in brief, the thought of the reformatory. way the convicts are built up into character is by teaching them how to work. In 1888 the New York Legislature passed the Yates Bill, practically prohibiting the industries then being carried on at Elmira by convicts, and absolutely forbidding the application of power machinery to prison labor, to prevent its competition with outside labor. It forced the prisoners into immediate idleness, and the management scarcely knew what to do. But in a few hours the whole industrial life of the institution was revolutionized. All thought of making profit was given up and industrial classes were commenced simply for the good of the men. The whole mass of convicts, too, for sake of exercise, were brought out and drilled in military exercise. The result of both measures has been good beyond all expectation. The military exercise gives the convicts a carriage and bearing, both mental and physical, that makes them wholly different. To-day they form a notable regiment of men,- organized, officered, and commanded by those convicts proving themselves the most worthy, and with their own band, and all appointments of a regiment. The reformatory population is divided into three grades; first, second, and third. Each man, upon admission to the institution, is placed in the second grade, from which, by making a good record in demeanor, school of letters, and trades-school, he may rise to the first grade, or, by failure to do this, may drop to the third. Six months of proper institutional record in the second grade insures promotion to the first grade; a like six months in the first grade entitled the prisoner to consideration by the board of managers for parole. For improper demeanor, if sufficiently serious, reduction in grade is possible at any time. Poor school work, if below certain prescribed standards, and persisted in for a month or more, also necessitate grade reduction. After reduction to the third grade, at least one month of proper record is required before eligibility for promotion can be considered.W. D. P. Bliss, "Encyclopedia of Social Reform," p. 441. 8 University Extension.- University extension has long been connected with colleges, but such have been the aristocratic influences of education (and there are no greater aristocrats found anywhere than in education) that it has died down in other states until it has become simply a name. The increasing spirit in Wisconsin demanded that the university should serve the state and all of its people and that it should be an institution for all the people within the state and not merely for the few who could send their sons and daughters to Madison; thus was brought about the establishment of the extension division about five years ago. The University of Wisconsin during these few years has shown the world what constitutes real university extension. It has accomplished what many schools have tried to accomplish for many years with but indifferent results. It made what has been an ideal a practical reality. It actually did and does bring the university to every fireside. It actually has shown all universities a means for shedding the light of knowledge from within its walls to every home. The distinctive feature of this department is that it has a faculty, an administration and an appropriation of its own. It now spends $125,000 a year. Under the old system of university extension, a professor gave part time at the university and delivered a few sporadic lectures in the field. Under this new extension arrangement, professors of the highest rank are sent out into the villages, shops and factories as practically traveling teachers, meanwhile bringing the students in the field in touch with the university by means of correspondence studies. There are several centers or stations from which the work can expand into the surrounding localities established throughout the state |