The New York herald., 1869-08-26

wltU reference 10 the IeformatoIy processes en-
ployed.
Professor DwYaHf followed In favor OF reformatory
processes as far as possible. As reward Tor good
behavior be would allow couyics TO converse 10.
gether,
Mr., GoULD said II was important That the prison.
ers should have confidence IN the officers.
hr. HUBBELL spoke az length with reference to
the location ana history OF the sing Sing Prison.
IL was badly located. badly constructed, aud 1t was
oPercr0wded. He doubted whether good discipline
could ever be maintained there 1t was TOO near tae
river and the RAILROAD now ran within few rods OF
tue main building; there walls were damp and the
cells too small; The was no partition wan. Great
changes must be made IN the construction and oca-
ton OF the Institution before good discipline could
DR.. COLLINS, OF sing sing Prison, concnrred In
the views that haa peen expressed, lie objected TO
solitary confinement ne a means OF punishment on
account or its physical effect upon the conycts lie
made II point TO Inspect the meat gwen to con-
vicfs before and after It was cooked, aud all COM
plants on the snDect were uniuunded This no
knew from actual observation.
Or. WOLF, OF CLINTON, condemned the nses OF the
eeE as means OF punishment and that was all the
means left by the law lie thought there should be
some unirorm means Of puni5hment adopted for tho
prisons. Some mode OF punishment must be used;
IT was impossible to get along withoutt
Judge EpNoNps called attention TO the laws Of
ls4T, which authorize the inspectors to construct
cells. Ho called upon Comptroller Allen fol- inior-
nation on the subject.
the treasury for that purpose In fact. the prisons
running on borrowed money. The agent
and wardons OF the prisons did not have the means
necessary TO make needed improvements and 10
properly carry on inc Institutions under their charge.
The Legislature Had not provided suticlcnt means
for these purposes, and the consequence was that
the prisons were run without law. In consequence
or tns the prison officers and the Comptroller were
embarrassed. lie thought some reforms were
needea Ia the management OF our PRISONS but he
did not see now they could be readily reached. We
must take ihings as they are, aad 10 the best we
can.
Mr.. HANEs, OF Massachusetts, spoke 40 some
length on the general principle Of prison discipline
and management lie said In the 0rst place our
prisons should be So constructed that when man
entered whhin the walls he would feel that there
was no possible means OF escape That was the
greatest means TO enforce discipline that could be
adopted.
Dr. GRIsooS read an interesting paper on prison
management.
Jndge EDMosDs suggested the appoin, ment OF a
committee 10 mako q thorough examination OF the
prisons, end have report ready the rst meeting
0lthe legislature THIS would save time and give
tDe Legislature Information up0p which action could
be taken at once. He suggested that the present
special committee resign, and that Governor Hoo.
man be requested 10 appoint q committee OF three
which committee should be adopted by the Asgocia
ton. Sucn committee would have power 10 ad-
minister oatha aud lake testimony.
Professor DWIGHT thought there was a common
ground npon which tho Prison Assoeia,Ion and Inn
Inspectors OF state Prisons could stand fhey could
20 10 tho iegisuro and say that certain things are
required OF prison ofctals which cannot be carried
out We VIII ASK the Legislature TO give us proper
prison onndings-snch structures an will secure Tho
prisoner AND we VIII further ask for the adoption