The New York herald., 1869-12-29
Recommended.

Tue New York Prison Association is an old ana
noble organization. It's efforts directed towards
the reclamation OF the parahs OF society, and
through Its humble instrumentaiy hundreds OF
men, women and youth OF both sexes have been res
cued from lives or CRIME and set upon the road to
honest industry and good citizenship The associa-
ton numbers among its members and directors
some Of the weatnest ana best OF our citizens. Its
agent Is Mr.. Abraham Beaes, whose labOrs for more
than thirty years in oenalf OF prisoners, outcasts
from society, have not been without rlcn reward.
Very great improvements have been introduced into
the prisons Of this and the New England ana
Western States through his instrumentalitS But
owing 10 the hold which politicians have upon every
department OF government in this State, the asso-
citation has not been able to effect all that II aims
for here. Last year 1t sent an interesting
sketch or prison work and prison discipline
TO Governor Hoffman, together with suggestions
for the management or our State criminal mstitu
tons. Bnt the document arrived too late TO oe III
corporated in hs annual message to the Leg stature
This year the Governor asked the association Tor
similar report, and committee of It's memoers con-
ssting OF Judge j. w. Edmonds, chairman; John II.
Anthon, Sinclair Tousey, j. H. Titus, r. NJ. Havens,
L. {. Vines, NJ. D.. J. stanton Could and d. b. ST.
John Roosa, was appointed to prepare the same
That document is now IN the hands of the printers
ana VIII DE sent to Albany IN time.
In This report plea for prison reform the associ
alton through ITS committee, say tnat previous TO the
wear is.4 no Inducements toward good conduct were
held out TO prisoners. The whip constantly held
heads ana the torturcs oi the shower bath.
the crncifx solitary confinement and other iorms OF
! renned cruelty were depended upon 10 either
/ XIII or 1ney invariably did the former.
! the association, while NOT for moment
| desiring 10 restore these species OF punishments
In ali their former seriousness has, nevertheless,
! grave doubts whether or not the opposite mode OF
treatment has NOT led to axity IN the discipline or
the state prisons. The numerous attacks made upon
the keepers III Auburn and Cfnton prisons. and the
more recent revolt and attempted escape OF 800 con-
vets IN sing Sing nave convinced the association
that extremes OF severity and indulgence are alike
| evIl and to be deprecated
The introduction cl libraries and mental pastimes
tno the State prisons has been accomplished by and
through the luence OF this association and during
the past twenty-five Years sls.o25 has been eX-
pended for reading matter for the convcts But.
strange to say, there ~ not single library IN any
prlsOn the state aud very few books. There 49, Ia
fact. nothing to show Tor this expenditure Of money.
The prison cnapaDs ia most cases had the dlspOsi-
ton OF these funds. bui whe her through msappro-
prlaon or theft by the prisoners OF the books after
they had been purchased IL is now almost mpossinle
to ascertain.
The teachers IN Sing sing are paid 81, 500 a year
to teach merely the rudlments OF English education;
but this duty Is fulfilled BY their giving one hours
time each week 10 Instruction oi the prisoners
their cells. That is l0I hours time and labor &C
si4 80 pes hour-raher good pay for small service.
The very statement oil these abuses Is suIhclent 10
suggest the remedy.
The contract system ~ OF the grea est swindes
u
than useless; II is positively evil IN ts Influences
The conylcts who worn Tor contractors, knowing
that t Is optional with them to do liite or much for
them usually exact sums of money for their labor
and with the same they procure not only necessares
but Injuries, together with abundance OF Immoral
pictures and literature Without restraint from the
prison authorities whose salaries nave increased be-
tween tue years lsl and 1893 IRON $4,000 20 100000
per annnm while the prisoners. and, OF course, the
prison duties, nave increased only 1lity per cent.
The ASSOCIATION recommends ii permanent COM
mIttee 60 whom shall be referred all applications
al NJ
much great Difficulty Is sometimes experienced IN
administering us.iee TO PRISONERS in tins particular
There is ut present sung sing burglar VINO has
been sentenced to seven years each upon two in-
dictmenta and the authorities do not know whether
to accord u hn the communication at once upon
fourteen years or upon seven years time. Three
aud half months per year Is tue average reduction
Tor good behavior; but single iaut VIII offset all
past uprghtness, even though the completion oI the
convlcf's Term should not be more than month dis
Jant. out OF ll23 prisoners released nom slug sing
last year elghtytwo LEFT on expired sentences, while
s2s obtained ther liberty by communication.
Idiots are sometimes detained for three months in
cells before any action Is taken IN their hut,
inasmuch as tdo,s are not sentenced To the state
Prison the question arises, how come they within It's
granite walls is there not some punishment
meted out there which produces ldlocy or INSANITY
ana which ought 10 be correctedr The committee
leave this TO he implied But their numerous sug-
ncstIons, based upon wel-authenrcated facts can
not fail to attract the careful attention or every
member OF the Legislature
The overcrowdIng OF prisoners In cells is one OF
the worst features OF prison NE. Last sprng there
we're 2s65 convcts accommodated IN : $40 cels anu
later In the summer there eighty more prison.
ers there than cells Tie waste oi money ana ma
teriai in the state prisons Is almost fabulons during
the last five years - 900 has been appropriated
for the support the prisons and, Notwithstanding
the income from convict labor, the deficiency has
steadily increased every year since is41. For Sing
sing the ngures show that IN that year there were
l. Al conyc,s In tbat institution, Tor whose support
the state Comptroller had TO draw his warrant for
81 e7a above the appropriations and receipts. Last
year the number vi prisoners was 2,esl, double,
while tue deficiency amonnted 20 s2ll, T33-sixty
fold more.
At tue meeting Of tue association Monday tho
report was unanimously adopted, the substance of
wnich we give aoove