The herald., 1837-01-26


this report toenr readers andwiih its ac md sagges
tons before US, let this question b. answered-How
is il that the city of New York appears 10 be :
pletely abandoned to gangs Of lawless rufhans who
attack, at their good pleasure, any and all against
whom they imagine they have cause of offence
danngy invade private dwellings and private apart-s
ments, and constituting themselves at once judges
Jurors and executisners laugh to the compact
Of social society?
The Blackstone of Italy, Beccara, says" 1t is
not 20 much the severity the certainty of punish
ment that restraints the lawess and unPrincipled;"
and following this hint up we shall arrive at a solu
ion Of our query.
The men whe thus offend the laws, know that they
have powerful and wealthy friends-that there is a
species of partisanshp and favoritism distinguishing
every act of the corporation of the city of New York
and that political bravos are sure of receiving con-
nvance, ifnot protection II is the opinion Of High
Constable Hays himself, that this system Of provd-
ing posts for party iavortes is carried to such
tent, that were our police and watch establishments in
creased 500 persons each, there would be an amount
of public outrage in proportion. Each rogue would
then have ga friend at court"
II behoves us then to effect chanse-to place men
in power who will have at least some little of the
public interest at heart and not be seen, night after
night, and month after msnth, engaged in party
squabbles in the passing Of resolutions to reward
some particular avorite that favortes followers to
the injury and detriment of the community at large
The charter election approachng-ct eveIy honest
mans motto be- "kick the rogues out"
The report says, @
"The number of convicts has been gradually de-
creasng for several years. and during the year ending
the 3Oth Of September 1885, the decrease has been
SEVENTY /"
Of the authenticity of the above fact doubt cannot
be raised-there must therefore be some ostensibe
reason for this improvement. Let US endeaver to
trace it out.
Much has been said respecting the ineficency of
our police; the fact we have above stated that crime
has actually decreased constitutes nevertheless
strong argument in its favor and proves incsnrover
iiby that the fault Of city's crminaity lies not
with our Police Officers or Magistrates.
The system that decreases crime is far better than
the one which only detects and punishes-no matter
the vigilance with which the officer tracks the crimi-
nal the severity with which the Judge administers
punishment Our police system appears then to be,
if not perfect very far indeed from njudcious or nef
ficient.
Another reflection arises here which cannot be in
duged without feeling of pride and satisfaction to
every phanthropic mind. 1t is that this decrease Of
crime has actually taken place during the years our
criminal code has been materially modified in its Sc
venty-at the time we have expurgatsd from our sta
tutes number Of the Draco eHactments of the penal m
rispudence Of Europe. 9tf#rffa a1fefI
The money matters of the prison appear to have
been conducted with prudence and economy; since
there remains, notwithstanding the expense incurred
in the erection Of new prison for female convcts.
an actual surplus remaining in the hands of the
agent of $25, 223 so. The report continues,
"In pursuance of the law of May llth, 1886, ent-
tied An Act in relation TO State Prisons about elev-
en- acres Of the state farm were enclosed with SUBJ
stantal stone wall, and set out with about four hum
drcd and fifty mulberry trees. They have not -four
shed as we hoped they would; many of them have
died, and those which survive, do not to grow
with rapidity."
Here then is an end to the contemplated raising of
cocoons and the silk dresses of the pretty pckers
of oakum.
"The number of convicts remaining in the prison
on the 30th Sept 1895 was 1856
Received in PRISON during the year, 1872
Total 97s
The physicians (Doct. A. X. Hoffman) report mex,
demands scrutiny, from which il appears that the
number Of deaths ii only out Of 976 prisoners du
ring the year.
We would call public attention particularly to this
part of the report srder 10 do away the erroneous
statements 80 ndusriousy spread of the dreadful Sc
verify with which the prisoners treated and Of
the unheard of Prvatons and suerngs they
were compelled to undergo.
They do not indeed dine upon venison or drink
champagne but proves incontesbly that they as
well treated as convcts deserve to be- ae
The suggesiisns Of the Chaplain to the prison. ed
ward ~ Mead) respecting teaching convicts to read
are Of much Importance and worthy Of the serious
consideration of the Legislature He says:
at wsud surely be matter of good policy 10 allow
a small annual sum, 10 be taken from the many
thousands of dollars now accommodating from the la
bor of the convicts 10 provide them means Of nstruc-
ton" feI t1.as .-.lt.5 81
aThe subject of the confinement of the criminal is
not more the punishment Of the offender, than to
guard society rsm the acts Of wicked men, and for
this purpose every attempt should be made for their
reformation They should be afforded every facility,
and Piled with every motive TO become wiser and bet
ter men-to return TO duty and TO act well their part
in society AT least hundred Of the prisoners are
unable to read. And now respectfully ask the Lc-
pislature 10 grant permission for their instruction"
In conclusion, he says alt would contribute much
TO their future reformation. II some syscmaica cf-
fort could be made by the benevolent TO encourage
them in rectitude after liberation. Many Of them on
their discharge are friendless and pennyless, and
however disposed to return TO honest industry they
know not 10 whom 10 90. They need The hand of be-
nevoIence and charity TO lead them forward-to pro-