The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-13

TIE Ten GOVERNORS, THE COMMISSIONERS or
EMIGRATION, AND THE PRIsos DISCIPLINE Asso-
cIATIoN-lt is curious, that while move is being
made in one direction to add new duties, patron
age, and power, to the Ten Governors Of the Aims
house, there is also a move in another quarter, to
strip them Of some Of the jurisdiction they already
possess, on the ground that they have too many
irons in the fire, and must, necessarily, neglect some
Of them. We have learned on good authority,
that there is scheme afoot to transfer the Com
mission of Emigration from the hands of the pre-
sent regime to the Governors of the Almshouse.
The Prison Discipline Association, on the other
hand, impressed with the idea that the shoulders OF
the Ten Governors are already overloaded are
using every influence to induce the Legislature to
relieve them Of their Of the prisons, which have
been so badly managed under their governments
and to transfer it to body, to be appointedfor
that purpose. Notwithstanding all the talk about
model prisons and silent and separate systems, the
state Of prison discipline here is far inferior to what
it is in England and the continent of Europe
The proposed change would probably be for the
better 1t could hardly be for the worse.
A committee was appointed by the Legislature,
shortly before its adjournment, to visit the prisons
and inquire into the serious allegations Of the Ex-
ocIive Committee of the Prison Discipline Associa
ton, in reference to the ill-treament of prisoners
and other abuses Of the grossost description What
action they viii take viii not be known till the Lc
gislature meets. In their sixth annual report, re-
Gently published, the Executive Committee com
plain that the opposition first manifested by the
Board Of State Prison Inspectors about three years
since, continued until the close of the last year, and
that, consequently, the influence Of the committee
ia has tly ha cha of ha
Association gives them po to visit, inspect, AMI
examine all the prisons in the State, and annually
repor; to the Legislature their state and condition.
and all such other things in regard to them may
enable the Legislature to perfect their government
and discipline. But since the prison passed under
the control Of the Board Of Inspectors elected under
the provisions of the state constitution of 1886 the
demands Of the committee for full inspection OF
Sing Sing prison have been steadily refused. The
committee say" The offer has indeed been made
to exhibit the books, and to allow US to converse
with the prisoners in the presence Of keeper.
Apart from the fact that this restriction is contrary
to the statute, it would efiectually thyart the
whole object Of or. investigation. The prisoner
dare not disclose all his knowledge and tell all his
grievances, before keeper The very cruelty and
oppression Of which he might have been the victim,
closures. In bis keepers presence, therefore, his
mouth is sealed; or rather by the hope Of favors
and indulgences, he is tempted to conceal or gloss
over unpalatable truth.s*** Having been thus
thwarted in the legitimate discharge of our duties,
by the opposition Of the constituted authorities we
have submitted case to the decision of a judicial
tribunal; and whilst waiting on the movements Of
the law, are constrained either to be altogether
silent, or to present such testimony we have been
able to collect from convicts that have been dis
charged during the year"
The committee have adopted the latter course,
and presented horrid array of testimony in their
report. The mandamus against the Prison Inspec-
tors is still pending, and the result is looked for
ward to with some interest.
As for the transfer Of the commission Of emigra-
ton to the Almshouse Governors, it is decidedly
Objectionable. They have already as much on their
hands as they can attend to properly, and the add
tion Of so ponderous and complicated concern as
the charge of the emgrants in the various depart
ments Staten Island and Wards Island, the
Park, and Canal street, would completely overwhem
them. No doubt, for sake Of power and patronage
they ready to grasp the commission; but it would
be as fatal as the gifts asked by Tarpea from the
Sabine soldiers at the gate of the Roman citadel
She asked them for what they wore on their arms
meaning their costly bracelets. They smothercd
her with their shields. The Ten Governors have
now in charge the Penitentiary, the Lunatic Asy-
lum, the Workhouse and Hospital on Blackwslrs
Island, the Nursery and Potters Field on Randall's
Island, Bellevue Hospital, the Almshouse Depart
ment in the Park, and the City Prison and jails.
If, in addition to all these they succeed in obtain
ing the management Of the cmigrants, nothing can
save them from being smothered with business.
The affairs Of the emgrants cannot possibly be
worse administered than by their present guardians,
as we have often had occasion to show. But that
is no reason why the Ten Governors should be ap-
pointed their successors in office.
Musical Items.