The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-02-09
.Tns .condition on our state Priaons,

ports of the boards of Inspectors, are more than
ordinarily interesting, and we therefore refer to
them again. In this report to the Legislature,
the inspectors of the Sing Sing prison refer to the
restrictions placed by law upon the employment
of convicts, substantially as tollows;-
We beg respectfully to invite your attention 70 lea
ture in the operation the restrictive law OF 1885, VIZ
sS q No convict who shall hersaer be sentenced 70
imprisonment in either Of the state prisons Oh n
shall in such prison be permitted to work. except as
hereinafter proy cd at any other mechanical trade
tGaa hsn ns w b co as sIa ia which he was convicted
such convict had learned and pracsed previous 70 ms
cies for which the chief supply for the consumption Of
the country, Is imported without the United states"
session Laws ls4a, p 1871
labor and furnishes protection to the prison labor OF
States and invites all the penentaIes Of the
II Ia well known that New York city furnishes the
largest market for prison. for about every other kind
that this is the only that protects free labor from
competition with its convict labor to any coasdersble
extent.
The convicts of Massachuse Connecticut, New Jsr
sey Maine and Vermont employed at stone cutting
brush making, chair seating and shoemsking All this
labor oil these several penientares in States Tor most
OF whose surplus labor New Ysrk has been and must
continue to be prominent market comes within the re-
stricons Of the of s42 above quoted. The conse
quence is that legislation in attempting to protect
our own free labor from competition with convict abor
is in fact protecting TO precisely the extent, the
convict labor OF this State and in certain cases laying
bounty upon foreign prison labor. Wsw will enumerate
the article Of chip hats instance are not manuac
tured IN this State to extent at ALL but are mostly
wrought the Eastern States labor and other
wise and yet the State of New York furnishes larger
market for this article probably than equal area upon
any portion of the globe flour peniteniaris. were per
mued 0y law to engage in this manufacture they
aud might bs enabled furnish article OF almost in
Ante consumption in this State without touching the
interests Of her citizens except to advance them.
Under these circumstances the undersls ned respect
fully invite honorable body to consider the proprie
~ OF modifying the law to which reference has been
made, W to limit is restriction upon convict LABOR TO
those branches of industry the chief supply OF which,
for the consumption Of this State is imported from with
out the state OF New York.
The discipline of the prison materially improved
within the last year. under system Of government
Formerly tho powers of judging offences, determining
their penalty, and administering their punshments on
tho csnvcts, all vested in each assistant keeper
This unnatural alliance of powers" the committee
of the inspectors TO whom the matter referred natu
rally and inevitably led to the abuses which dehed the
vigilance and authority Of the inspectors TO remedy
these abuses, if possible, and entire impartiaiy
and GOODNESS in the insraon of the prison penalties
1t proposed by your committee that the duty OF de-
termnng the quality of each offence and its appropriate
punishment, should be devoved upon the principal
keeper exclusively" The officer who is witness to any
offence required to certify the facts in his own hand
writing the keeper stating the exact time OF sending
offence and the punishment ordered accordingly. A re-
cord is made of the punishment its degree, and the exact
time of its infcton and all these records are to be re-
viewed monthly by the inspectors. This new system
works WELL and has brought the discipline OF the pr
son into favorable condition than has ever ex
hibted before" According to the new code OF rules
adopted last September tie convicts render themselves
liable for breach Of prison discipline to the following
punishments and to others under any preence what
st Privation of food2d Privation of bedding I'D. Pri
walton of books-4th Privation of tobacco5th. Change
of worF-6th Change OF dress7th Change of ratons--
Sta Solitary confinement, with without ight-sth.
Shower bath--lOh. The lash, (Which last punishment IL
not to be resorcd to at all in the female prison The
naes OF the lash and shower bath shall in case be In.
ficod except in presence Of the keeper" Aud no pun
shment shall be SO inflicted to impair the constitution
OF the convict or dsagure his person" Formerly It was
customary send each convict to the occupation to
which he was expected to devote himself, as soon
he could be registered and dressed The new
rules require that on the arrival OF convicf
at the prison, he shall be stripped OF his clothes
and clad in the uniform of the prisons he then to be
examined by the ply stefan Of the establishment who is
required to make a record OF the state Of his health
The prisoner is next to be examined by the clerk and
keeper in presence OF many under keepers al can
ntly attend; his height, apparent and alleged
age complexion and color Of hair and eyes, shall be
entered in book kept for that purpose All the effects
of value found upon his person shall be taken from him.
and especially registered and preserved to be restored
to MIN his discharge or subject his order under
the general discretion Of the principal keeper
II the convict be not in such i'll health a. to require
being sent to the hospital he shall then be conducted 10
the cell assigned to him. where he shall be kept IN SOL
tude for AZ hours interrupted only by the at
tendance OF the keeper During this period, designed
for reflection neither books employ oil any Kind
shall be allowed him On the third dsy the chaplain
shall visit him in his CELL ard shall to impress
his mind well the wickedness as the danger OF VI
cous and unlawful pursuits; and he shall exhort hin 10
obedience and industry during the term OF his service
and urge the utility of acquiring the means OF an honest
support by labor on his discharge"
The amount of clothing allowed each convict is to be
regulated by tho keeper matron under the advice oil
the physician, the clothing to be washed once week.
The conyics may always without let or hndrance from
any one speak either of the inspectors Each convic'
shall be supplied with sufficient quantity OF plain
wholesome food and hour and quarter is to be al
lowed for each meal when il lie made incumbent upon
certain officers that prisoner suffers for want of food
Every prisoner is TO be allowed opportunity for wash
ing entire person once and his hands and face three
times every day. The rule entitled Convicts," con
tans 20 sections nearly every one providing for some
right privilege TO be enjoyed by prisoners during
good behavior The difference between the old and
sy stems of discipline Is this-the DID, forced what
obedience it could by harsh treatment and the breaking
down OF the spirit othe convict the new, protects him
in his rights and endeavors to engendor in his mind all the
selfrespec possible pointing to bright future when he
shall be restored to society The reformed system has
Been tried and the happest results have ensued The
reform is based upon plan proposed iy the late Ed.
ward Livingston. The promiscuous visits of persons
whose only object to crafty idle curiosity, is
planned OF by the inspectors who think that there ought
to be hsre as at Auburn, tax imposed upon all visit.
ers. Many dlers would thus be excluded, and hand.
income derived from the sale of tickets to such
chose to purchase them The visits of phlan piss
and scientific individuals is acknowledged, and invita-
lions hell out for such to visit heretofore, without
charge. Among the rules is prescribing the
emniza of death in prison by appropriate funeral
rites On he death OF prisoner Except when caused
by infectious contagious disease) the remains of the
deceased 10 be taken to the chapel and there PIE
sence OF the convcts, who to be assembled for the