I believe nothing is productive of greater practical good than to secure a prisoners’ compensation law in each state where one is not in operation at present. And, furthermore, I am persuaded that any such general law which received the indorsement of the public would meet with sufficient popular approval to assure its legislative passage in any state where it is introduced. There are those, I have been made aware, who are skeptical as to the policy of providing ex-prisoners with more money than is sufficient to meet immediate requirements. They argue that the pressure of necessity will have a stimulating effect, that the man determined to lead an honest life will, driven by it, go to work at once. But I question the logic of this reasoning. For I cannot conceive of abject poverty under such circumstances as other than demoralizing in its moral effects. And I am sure every man works more cheerfully—more contentedly and more effectively with a ten or a twenty dollar bill in his pocket than when he feels himself to be absolutely insolvent. And now permit me to briefly suggest what I regard as an important, indispensable, and in time to be, universally adopted prison innovation, directly affecting the man going out and which can be productive of only beneficial results. I believe we do the man going out an injury when we permit the transit from prison regime to freedom to be marked simply by the opening and shutting of a gate. It seems to me that this could be largely obviated if what might be termed a “transit squad” was organized, and to which all first offenders would be advanced two weeks prior to discharge. Here the discipline should be relaxed and the daily experiences of the men brought into close touch with those of the outside world. We recognize the utility of such a step already—for we all know how prevalent the custom is of giving near discharge men outside work.