New-York tribune., 1869-01-06

Our prisons have not been FOR many se support
ing Institutions satisfied they can be better man
aged as well in respect TO finances discipline. The
prison system OF this State abOunds IN evils ana errors
MANY of these are doubtless due to the fact that the
persons appointed TO discharge the duties Of agents,
wardens aud keepers too often selected from political
considerations ony without reference 10 their capacity
and qualifications The present contract system for the
employment OF the labor OF the prisoners Is an unWse
one II affects very nnfayoraby the discipline or tne
results The labor Of the convct should be directed ana
employed entirely by the Prison Superntendenis. anu
the products OF such labor should sold by them for the
benefit of the State. This system would remove many
existing Of complaint in regard TO convict IaDOr
and result in material advantage TO the public ,.
The law passed some years ago, allowing 10 convels
for good behavior certain number or days deducuoh
from their terms Of imprisonment by way Of commuta,
tiOn OF senerce has been beneficial In It's operaon a9
H. under system by which the Superintendent should
directly employ the labor Of the prisoners provision
should he made that small portion OF ther earnings
be laid aside for their benefit paid to them the
expraton OF their sentence the upon their present
conduct and future lives would thnR, De useiu ahe
10 them and 10 society cannot in this message enter
into detailed statements and suggestions OF all tha Is
necessary for prison reform commend 10 your consul
Grafton the reort OF the Prison Association, which, u-
der resolution Of the last Legislature was directed 10
investigate the financial administration OF the state
Prisons and the reformatory agencies employed IN them
Ii time that the great State OF throughou
which extends such grand and liberal system OF euuc
ard reform the attention which its import
ance demands. and which hitherto II has iaeu 10 re
commend to your favorable consideration the various
houses OF refuge and other institutions for the reforma
ton of Juvenile delinQuents II is wise economy 10 ala
them and to provide for their increase and extension
Irespectfuy call your attention to the present prac
tce OBTAINING witnesses in criminal cases when nm
able to give security for their appearance at the tra o
the accused They are generally poor ha %
gers temporarily visiting the state, ana maoe lne VIC
Tins OF crime, often have families dependent upon then
and kept in prison upon the claim that pupc neGes
sity requires their actual presence at the trlal Ie
qrently happens that, while the unfortunate witness
prison the alleged criminal s at large on ball he th
guilty is cruel wrong. l submit whether IL cannot DC
remedied by proper Iegslauon
Inasmuch as the report Of the Insurance Department
due until after the assembling OF the lGssian51e;
unable TO communicate any lnioTnatlon III .egu % 10 ~
workings during the past year. lreIer you 10 'nc o
port when presented
The number Of financial institutions having
more or less Intimate with the Banking Department Oh
of these 2l were banks that had voluntarily taken the
final steps TO close their banking business under the laws
OF this State by providing for the redemption OF their
circulation within six years. -.
others insolvent but their circulating notes
are amply secured Forty-eight banking Institutions,
above enumerated, have been converted INTO na-
but have not ayaied themselves OF the provisions OF the
law for finally closing their circulation account -.
taTiIy winding up their affairs and savings bank
the Niagara Couny-is closing IT'S business, III conse
Quence OF insolvency. Win IApLhtes nohe'e eupP0'e"
Foriyseven Incorporated banks whose charters have
EXPIRED still have notes outstanding for the redemption
Of which they have not made any nna deposit
one hundred and savings banks with an aggregate
and deposit including Of the Oldest and most SUD
santa and popular institutions OF our state ana Tour
business st retain relations with this department
affected by the financial changes OF the last Few yeafs
6any-has evinoed its confidence IN the free banking
system OF the State Of NewYork, by returning to 1t
from the nationas system under the PROVISIONS oi tue
enabling act Of 1867.
one banking association one trust company. and two
or more savings banks have been organized during the
year and other banking associations have nied certh-
Gates but have not taken the na steps to organization
precedent TO the transaction or business.
The whole amount OF circulating notes on all banks in
this state outstanding and charged TO- their ON
~ Opfa
Of free banks 81 were Issues OF safety
Fund and incorporated Banks Ihe amount m h OF Tnleh %
ing Department t20l276S leaving unsecured sg625
But this for the most part OF notes OF very old
banks and represented by their OF supposed
lost circulation OF banks that through some form oi
organization still redeem their notes dollar for dollar and
in some instances IN gold. -
the amount OF circulating returned 10 the Bank
Department and destroyed during the last fiscal year,
was $99l,21S.
The AdiutantGeneral reports that the National Guard
Of the State IT, in It's organization and discipline, In
sound aud prosperous condition; that II numbers be-
Of nas %SP S % aRd fSnss oh Gt me II o %
Iery, batta2ns OF artillery batteries OF arteIys
Of cavalry.
force from $4,000 to 10000 and during the year
80 regiments Of infantry aud two bataions fartilery
II will be my aim to reduce far possible, the mill
tary expenses OF the state without npang the efficiency
Of the state National Guard
EDUCATION
The condition OF Colleges Academies OF the State
gents OF the University The opening Of the Cornell
University. ut Ithaca in October last. event OF
marked interest The widely extended influence OF the
academies IN the State ente them TO liberal considera
tiOn. A suggestion has been made that the annuity
given than 80 years ago. from the United States
Deposit Fund.- might now with proprety, be increased.
The State Library and the State Cabinet OF Natural His
tory control OF the Regents OF the Uni
versty. in satisfactory condition The additions 10
the Library during the past year have been larger than
usual The collection OF the State Cabinet has been
greatly increased. / recommend the usual appropria-
tiOns for both.
| submit the following statement in relation to the
Common Schools for the year ending September 3o 1868
FINANCIAL.
R/c>iuls