The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-17

with its beginning shows decrease OF eighty nine.
Tho total number In all the State prisons the 3Oth
OF November 1855 was so6, viz AT Sing Sing, esT;
Auburn, 687; Clinton 281
The ,oal expenditures Of the three prisons for the year
ending November 80 1855 amount to szss ss3 "a Tas
earnings for the period amount 70 $io8 $50 90 The
expenditure have decreased $36 3o6 81, and the earn
ings have increased sl 800 o. compared With the
At Sing Sing tbs earnings were......... $50 904 II
At Sing Sing the expenditures were. 1 81
At Auburn the earnings were ........... 96S g
At Auburn the expenditures were ....... 766 90
AT Clinton the earnings were. 49, 372 Is
In my las. message took pleasure in renewing the
Recommendation Of my predecessor that portion Of the
earnings Of The sOayes in The STATE prison. p I.l
their terms OF punishment be devoted to the relief
the families Of such had families to support during
ton have confirmed my viswslof the humanity and the
policy of that proposed amendment OF penal system
1t would improve the discipline Of the prisons, stimu-
late the labor Of the convc,s and alleviate their cond
ton upon their restoration to society That 1t would be
instrumental in removing the inducemen to recently
discharged convicts to commit crimes against property
Is apparent again urge upon your consideration thus
measure Of humanity, justice and policy.
BY the act Of 1S47 in relation to prisons the county
but subsequent act relieved them Of this duty and the
jsis now subject to uniform system Of manage
men inspection 1t is alleged that much Of the dis
cpne OF our State prisons Is made necessary BY the
evil habits acquired by the convcts while awaiting trial
in the county jais. ] commend the subject to your
action.
The experience Of the past year deepened my
vction OF the necessity Of legal provision that shall
relieve the Executive Of portion OF the burden now de-
voved upon him by the examination of appeals for par
don Communication of punishment These appeals have
multiplied to embarrassing extent; and their proper
ing of their merits and the correspondence and personal
interviews incident to each engross almost the
tire time and attention OF the Executive therefore
peat the suggestion contained in my former an
nual message, that greater discretionary power
In the graduation Of penalties be given to judges thu
securing mere equitable administration of justice than
ha
Not few ofthe appeals made to executive clemency
predcated upon the disproporton existing between
would be in coed degree remeded by the exercise Of
that judicial discrimination which have suggested.
Relief might also be had by the creation by law Ct an
should devotve the duty OF examining The cases present.
&c tor clemency.
The number of boys in the Western House OF Refuge at
Rochester the OF the last year ZOO
the present Der 277 During the summer the
labor during the year is about $4,000. The wing
for the erection OF which an appropriation was made
furnished and is now in use. 1t supplies dorInitories
for $50 boys in addition 10 those in the other two
wings Of the hous school room With a, class rosm
The expense of its erection it is believed will be covered
by the appropriation made for that purpose. The nst
tuition new has for about 37S boys Its
condition and necessities will be fully explained in
the report the managers which will be laid before you
y win appear from that that an appropriation of about
$40 0o0, supply the deficiency of former appropria
tons, to meet aren't expenses will be required to
leve the institution from embarrassment.
The House of Refuge in New York continues to present
it, usual satis ctory results The institution hes
been Tor than year in the occupation Of the
premises erected for it Randaps Island. The site is
beautiful and healthful and the buildings well
adapted to the purpose of their erection more thorough
system of classification of juvenile offenders Las been at
tempted but cannot accomplished until the completion
of the the accommodation OF
girls During the past the foundation of the house
intended for females has been laid and the building for
s,,1D
inmates Of the Refuge il is estimated, will be five hun
bred and fifty during the winter About four hundred
January last, and three hundred have been linden.
sured. The institution, as at present arranged is
nearly full but the withdrawal of the girls On the
commcdstion, will afford additional room for
least three hundred will then be the largest and
trust one Of the best reform schools in the country.
During the thirty Of the existence of this ins
ton about six thousand denquents have received the
benefits Of its discipline At least three ourhs Of these
No further argument is needed demon
sate the value of houses of refuge and the wisdom
Of the policy which established and sustains them.
AsYLUMs.
II would be unworthy CT great commonwealth to
elect TO make adequate provision for the care of its in
New York has heretofore done her duty to una
nifty in this regard But her population has increased
without increase Of her provision to shelter and sub
ject to discipline and treatment the deranged. One
hundred and applications for admission the
Utica Asylum during the last year were made in vain.
There was not room to receive them In order to make
Sa auras Ds the
not cured and not improved. Nearly one thousand
insane persons now confined in the different county
cted langush wretchedly without the chance of cure
In nearly all of them their treatment Is simple imprson
nent Their hepessness and desructveness make their
confinement, In most cases. painful than tina. OF
criminals Generous and credable has been the pro-
vision made by New York for her insane ii is msnifesty
inadequate earnestly recommend to you to make pro-
vision for the construction of asylum.
The institution for the instruction Of the deaf and
dumb deserves your favorable consideration The pre-
ries of the State. The funds obtained from the
sale Of the property previously acquired have been
applied to the payment IN part Of the ssoenty
suitable buildings The directors not being able
to complete their improvements, appropriation
the condition that application should be made
for further assistance That appropriation proved to be
inadequate. The directors will doubtless be controlled
by the restriction which accompanied it, but 1t is worthy
Of your serious nsideraton whether purely benevO
lent institution incorporated aid mainly supported BY
the State and Of valuable property in the title
of which the State holds CONTROL should remain in
embarrassed condition for want OF means to accomplish
the charitable object for which it established
policy of every civilized State lis institution marked
in the progress Of humanity New York, for quar-
ter OF century has been foremost in the discharge OF
oi the most practical and encouraging kind One hun
dred and sixty pupils are now taught in the New York
for The Blind These all receive sound Eng
lish education uited in public hoos
in various mocha meal arts to give them
the means OF support The more important these
the manufacture Of carpets mats mattresses baskets
bsn boxes, plain sewing and pis tuning The study
and practice of music constitute large part Of the
course Of instruction
The graduates the institute found in every par
Of the State mechanics merchants, musicians teach
and manufacturers. number have found demand
for their services in kindred schools spIngng in other
Sates-and Few retained ut the institute, to serve
teachers
During the past year. the institution has been remark
ably exempt from sickness, and entirely 80 from morta-
ty.
The Asylum for Idiots has during the past year, been
removed to the building erected for its the
city 81 This has been completed in general
with the plans submitted in the report of the
trustees to the las, Legislature, and is commodious
structure
The number Of pupils at present enjoying its benefits
is eighty Applications for the admission Of
awaiting the action of the trustees and will be decided
the Of the institution shall justify
It, appears by the returns Of the late that
large number Of idiots Of teachable age, still
provided with the means Of education. moderate
nual increase by the Legislature of the income OF the
t.fo