New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-22
DIR PENITENTIARIRS.

| previously made, and it contains suggestions
| worthy of especial attention by the Leglsla-
| ture. The prisons are located as follows: AT
Sing Sing, where, in addition, is suitable
structure for the female convicts OF the whole
State; at Auburn, where, in a well-arranged
| Asylum and with two acres OF ground at-
tached, the insane conyicts OF the State are
cared for; and at Clinton.
| At Sing Sing, the average number OF male
prisoners during the year has been 1888 VI
these-14 died, IA escaped, 81 were pardoned,
| and 8 became insane. The total expenses
were about 100000 and the actual deficiency
is about 100000. Something like half OF this
deficiency should be charged to improvements,
and to expenses incurred in teaching men I'M
acquainted with the industries to which they
were assigned. In the female department. the
average has been IA, of whom one has dled
and one been pardoned. The expenses have
been $2750O, the earnings $4,SS9 81, making
deficiency of $22676 95. AT Auburn, the num-
| Der of convicts has been 01O, OF which %
were pardoned, 10 died. and escaped. The
| entire earnings of each convict have been
| S132 70, and the entire expenses S167 "a, beng
deficiency of S3j; but we do not understand
that prison expenses generally are included in
| the first sum- In the Asylum for the Insane
| there were 20 patients-3 escaped, and
died. Tho expenses were St7,S76, and the
patients have raised large quantities of vege-
tables-yalue not stated This department
seems so well managed in all its details that
only q few improvements are suggested. The
number of conyicts in the Clinton Prison
is 519: pardoned, 10; died, S. insane, l.
The deficiency is 1894 o. but this
is owing to fluctuations in the pro-
ducts of the industries carried on; since
| in previous years there had been bal
ances in favor of the prison. To great ex-
tent, the convicts here are engaged in making
iron and nails, and some parties go several miles
distant into the woods and remain whole
week. The Albany Prison does not belong to
the State; but, as United States and other con-
victs arc received and as it has marked promi-
nence, it may be noted that there are 1856 in
mates; that during tho year 10 have been par
doned, 70 died. one became insane, and that
the institution is not only self-snpporting but
it has surplus this year of 1888 20. Among
the receipts is the item of $17Sl4 II for the
maintenance of United States and other con-
victs
At Sing Sing and Auburn, the contract sys-
tenn is in full operation, and large stocks Of
such articles as Shoes saddlery hardware,
malleable iron, augers, whips, and cabinet
ware. are manufactured Contractors who are
engaged in these various industries pay to the
State from 40 to As cents day for convict labor
and, as much work is done by machinery, COM
parativcly little skill is required, and execution
il extremely rapid Ii is generally understood
that the contractors get rich, and at the same
time they are able to under sell those who pro-
duce goods by higher-priced labor. The in
spectOrs think that the State should organize
this labor. and have what profit there may be
i'm it in which case there will be no cOmpeti-
ton with honest mechanics, AID the conclusion
il natural that, should the State do so, these
institutions would be conducted at profit and
not Mt loss. With this profit, improvements
could be inaugurated; and that they arc needed
is manifest to every intelligent person who
visits our prisons. Indeed, improvement has
marked our age, in almost every department.
to which attention has been turned, except In
prison treatment; and here the only advance
has been in establishing certain degree of
cleanliness, and in turning the convict over to
the rapacious contractor. OF course, punishment
implies restraint and from this disgrace and
discomfort are inseparable. But there are two
features in prison treatment which should
be disassociated from this enlightened age |
One ia a want of classification. a young |
man who inadverten tly has committed crime
and who should not be so treated as TO be made
worse is associated with murderers or other
hardened criminals; and there are cases where
the young man Is sentenced for ten years.
while the murderer is sentenced for only five
years 1t is true that no conversation Is al
lowed but it cannot be prevented, for no in
dustry can be pursued if it must be watched
so closely as to prevent the utterance OF low
tones of the voice. 1t is true also that there
is q Communication by which the period OF SEN
tence is shortened for good behavior; but 1t is
not graduated, and the wickedest wretch and
n graduate of European cities in crime will have
the same reward of good behavior, rs much as the
young man who is the victim OF parental
neglect or of evil companions. AT Sing Sing
1000 convicts are treated with unnecessary Sc
verify, and they arc refused salutary privileges
for no other reason than because they are as
ISOLATED with 800 hardened. depraved villains !
In view of this fact the Inspectors wisely !
recommend that Sing Sing Prison be devoted
to the punishment of oil the worst cases in
tho State, and that at Auburn proper regula-
tons be established for the treatment of such
rs will be impossible by kindness, and anxious
TO prepare themselves for leading better lfe |
Another painful feature is in the fact that
when prisoner is discharged, he has no
friends. During the whole period Of his con-
Gnement, he is so entirely relieved from any
Kind of responsibility that in n manner, his |