New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-30

have been obtained. All the prisons in the
State have been visited and inspected. The
Committee dcprecatc as " The grand defect OF
our State Prison system, instability in the ten
ure of office, and q want of permanenee in the
executive administration, resulting from
the controlling influence of partisan pol
itics OH that SYSTEM" They complain that
good prison officers, well skilled in the intelli-
gent discharge of their duties, are obliged,
upon change Of administration, to give
place to those who are at least inexperienced
The Association reterates and emphasizes
its views in reference to "the contract system"
of prison labor, considering it Objectionable on
many grounds, and liable TO a variety of grave
and perniciouS abuses. 1t is especially noticed
that lit is in its very nature, cruel and relent.
less in its exactions upon the time and toll OF
conyicts" Great regret is expressed that the
statutes intended to diminish the period OF I'M
prsonment of conyicts, as the reward of good
behavior, have, through difficulties in their con-
struction, been of little or no avail to the
prisoners. There are many excellent sugges-
tons in regard to the internal economy of prisons
as affecting the comfort and health of their III
mates; and the system at present followed OF
secular instruction is pronounced wretchedly
inadequate Rewards Of good conduct are
warmly advocated, az well rs the establishment
of Commission or Board of Pardon.
The Committee speak at length and with
e Al. q ~
tails, and call for radical reform, or rather
revolution. The accommodations are too I'M
ited-the prisons are insecure-they are not sur
fciently solated-their internal arrangements
are inconvenient, unsatisfactory and democrat
ling. Such thing as the separation OF prison.
ers into classes is impossible, and the evil OF
this is so strongly felt "by some of our wisest
and best magistrates, that they sometimes
actually let young offenders 90 free rather than
send them to Jail, judging such disposition OF
them the least of two evils" The ventilation
of the county prisons is, with scarcely an excep-
ton, declared to be most imperfect, and the
greater part Of them " are horribly infested
with vcrnin of various name" In soIno OF the
jas "neither wash-baSins, soap, towels or
combs are provided for prisoners, and, in a still
greater number, there is no requirement that
they wash themselves daily, but the matter is
left to their own taste" In none Of the county
prisons, except the Oswego, is work required OF
the prisoners. There is great deficiency in the
means of intellectual enlightenment and culture.
In some prisons "not solitary book was found
not even Bible, hymn-book tract or scrap
Of printing of any kind" There is said TO be
the same lack of religious efforts and influences,
and the law requiring religious services on the
Lords Day is, it is stated little better than a
dead letter.
The county penitentiarics ere also considered
in the Report. OF these there are five IN the
State, viz, at Flatbush. Albany, Syracuse,
Rochester, and Buffalo. These prisons, says
the Report, are really admirable Institutions,
and for the most part conducted with prudence
and ability" Those in Albany and Rochester
pay their own expenses and yield considerable
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