New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-29
EHR NEW CONSTITUTION AND PRISON RE.
FORM.

ME NEW CONSTITUTION AND PRISON RE-
FORM
POINTS OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PRESENT
AND THE AMENDED CONSTITUTION.
Our existing Prison System is faulty in the ex-
trosaefaulty beyond the power of cure. except by
Shango In the fundamental law. The system created
BY the Amended Constitution is an immense I'M
lrovsment. Let us place the two side by side:
PRESENT CONSTITUTION. -.
aRo Tbree nsnectors of state prisons shall be elected
Dtho general election which shall be held next aIes tne
ndopR OF this Constitution, one OF whom sna noI I'm
once year. for two years ana one T3 sg
The Governs Secretary o. MeDs sS8 81 January
beRt succeeding such election and deteTnhS oy do'
heh OF said inspectors shall hold hs once YOr one
which Tor two and which for three years. and there shall
pc elected annually thereafter, one lnspeetoL " o1aS
nsoetcrs shall have the charge and superntendenee Of
he State Prisons and shall appoint AL the officers therein
By the Governor TIL the next election.
AMENDED cONsTITUTIoS
Rkc + There shall be Board OF Managers Of prisons,
10 Of i've persons to be appointed by the over
sS " hold ONCE for ten years except that the FIVE
rst appointed shall IN such manner as the Legislature
NAV direct be so classified that the term OF one person
NO appointed shall expire az the end Of each two years
herring the fret ten years and vacancies ID te ohve b
PICARD sba have charge and superintendence OF the
stae prisons shall possess such powers and perform
district penentiares, sud other penal or reiormatoIy
DstItatons within tine sS n Ro ss sS from time 70
time. elect secretary, who shall 20 TemovaPe ~ tg
aps oT Tia Board NAV prescribe and shall receive such
salary the Legislature sha determine Inc neuvels
SsSnoSls traveng and Other expenses while engaged
In the performance OF official duty Ana he
at ta brat session after the adoption OF ths %
shall limit the OF such expenses which limit
shall not be changed except at Intervals OF nSe ,,
3Eg A. such Board shall appoint the warden tor clleI
cfncer tho clerk physician aud chaplain OF ea0n S
sHd shall 6Te b9%9 Sop 20 to be- heard in
his own defouse upon written charges All other oheers
obcert Hersof and shall I've removable at his pleasure
SIC s. The Governor may remove eiIheI % 'no in
ayers OF prisons for mfeasanee OF misieaanee IN ONCE
fter having furnished him with copy of the charges
against HIM. and giving him an opportunity OF Oeins
AeRrd In his defense.
glance at these articles is sufficient to reveal the
radical differences in the two.prison systems which
they severally create
l. The present Constitution makes the governing
board a political body the Amended Constitution
removes the management as far from the arena OF
marty politics as we believe to be possible under pop
ular institutions,
q The administration of the State prisons under
the existing Constitution is tuctuating and unsta-
ble; under the new Constitution, it will be fixed
and permanent.
I g. The present Constitution, while holding the
head of each prison responsible for its discipline,
gives him no voice in the selection of the agents who
are to execute his will; the Amended Constitution
clothes him with the exclusive power of appointing
50 his Just responsibility 10 the managing board
/ T. The system created by the existing Constitution
virtually neeesstRtes the appointment of politicians
of the baSer sort" prsOnkeepers with little regard
to their special fitness for such Office. The system
created by the new Constitution will insure the &c
lection OF such officers mainly if not wholly. on the
ground of merit, and-what is no less important
the retentiOa of competent incumbents as long as
fhey themselves are willing TO continue in the
service.
g. The present Constitution limits the duties Of the
hnSpectors TO the State PRISONS the Amended Con-
sttution puts the new Board of Managers in actual
charge only Of the State prisons; but authorizes
the Legislature to confer such powers and impose
Sash antics upon them in respect 20 county jails,
local or district penitentiaries and other penal and
Retormatory institutions within the State as it may
see fit, thus enabling them to unity our prison sys
aen and blend its several parts into one cOmprehen
6ive and harmonious whole.
G. The salaries, emoluments, and opportunities
attached to the position Of Inspector by the present
regime create q scramble for the Office by hungry
politicians. who have no claims to it other than
ahoss of party service and that sometimes Of rather
dubious character: while the system to be called into
being under the new Constitution by the absence of
such Inducements as those named above, would re-
pei thb whole tribe and attract only of oharao-
Ter and social position, who would accept place
the management solely from the impulses of patriot
ssm from a sentiment Of philanthropy from the
sense of pubic duty or from these several motives
Combined
THEY CAN'T STAND THE TRUTH.