The New York herald., 1869-08-26
OUR STATE PRISONS.
Important Conference Of the Committee Of
tho Prison Association and Stato Prison
1nspectors-Enccts Of AbOlishins Punish-
ment-H0w Shall Discipline be Enforccde

l 1mp0rtnme Conference of tho C0naaittee ol
tho Prison Association and State Prison
ment-How Shall Discipline be Enforced
From the Albany Argus, August 4.l
special committee OF the Prison Association and
the Inspectors OF state Prisons held conference
the manner Of enforcing discipline In the State
prisons. There were present State Prison Inspectors
mond. ana the following members Of the special
committee referred t0:-PrOfessOr 7. w. Dwight,
chairman; Governor Hoffman, Comptroller Allen.
Hubpell DR.. Grlscom, Dr. Il. O. Wines, and Gideon
Halnes as corresponding member. DR.. W0if. Of
Professor DWIGHT stated that this meeting had
been called at tho suggestion OF Dr. Wines, the Cor.
responding Secretary Of the Prison Association, to
confer with the prison authorities and prison ON
GERS In relation TO the present condition OF our state
state the objects Of the meeting.
Dr VINES SAID tnat It nad oeen believed that the
tain pHnshments in our State prisons had some.
thing to do with the recent troubles In the state
prisons. Under this Impression the Executive Com.
mittee OF the Prison Association had correSp0nded
with The State Prison inspectors, asking them II
conference on their part would be acceptable. Gene
raj Hammond, the president OF the Board responded
that such meeting would be very agreeable. A
special committee was appointed to meet the In.
spectors, and The retut was this conference. He
would not suggest just what course should be plr-
sued now, but thought some organization might be
necessary.
be conducted informally. de saw no necessity Tor
formal organization.
Inspectors Hammond and Mcneil. Judge EdmOnds
and Gould concurred Id the Governors suggestion.
The GOVERNOR said he would be glad TO hear
statement OF the condition OF the prisons from the
officers III charge.
Inspector HAMMOND said he was in charge OF the
Auburn Prison, and he was Tree TO admit that the
discipline was not what it should be- or what it had
been in former years. The law aposhing punish
ment had proved disastrous. The prisoners had the
upper hand OF the officers IN many cases, and acts
nf IN hArfltn mnpn kaarA
aSG Of their e %e he Sssp1i
was to be governed by force, the law Of force
rssa s m dark 0s cos
was now the only resort, aud that he believed
to be the worst kind Of punishment Tor the
how long man had been locked up But the con-
victs did not care for 1t, and IN many cases they
preferred to remain IN confinement. There must be
some mode Of punishment or you could not have
order. II was tie repeal Of the law abOllshlng the
mode OF punishment that had been the main cause
OF the recent revOlts. The convlcts declared that
the law was on their side and tnat outside sympathy
was also with them, and hence they would do as
men IN solitary confinement ana only one OF the
twelve asked TO be released. He was convinced that
some mode OF punishment was necessary to- prevent
fesults still more disastrous than had yet occurred,
Iheie must be rigor somewhere.
Mr.. Mcneil. sad he was In charge OF the Clinton
Prison. The discipline there was toerablY good.
Inc lookup mode of punishment was the only OBJ
stacle IN the way. lie was in favor Of some sharp,
quick punishment that would not injure the convict,
but that would forcs him to perform his duty such
means must be haa or there could be no discipline.
COnvlcls were now DEFIANT. They assaulted keepers,
and dared them to apply punishment. The prison
officers were helpless and in danger OF their lives
every hour. some means must be devised and
allowed to compel the convicts to OBEY the rules.
Inspector Scheu was in charge OF the Sing Sing
Prison. He could add but little TO what had already
been said, but concurred fully in the opinions ad.
vanced BY bis colleagues. There had been revots
at Sing Sing, but he DOUBTED whether they would
have occurred II means OF punishment had been lett
to the prison Oiflcers. Tho cOnvcts had said that
the meat was bad. but he had examined the whole
matter and found the complaint uufOunded. The
whole trouble arose IRON the abolition Of the law
Sing sing but IL had been brought ABOUT by almost
snperhunian exertions.
Mr. NELSON agent and warden at Sing Sing con-
CURED in what had been said by other gentlemen.
There would have been no revolt II the means OF
punishment had been continued. Within q day
after the law was passed abolishing punishment q
degree OF uneaalness was manifest among the con-
yicts: The organization OF the revolt commenced at
that time and continued up to The outbreak. II the
shower bath mad continued the whole affair could
have been arrested But US nothing but the dark
Ing for 1t. Another trouble was that there an
insufficient guard Of sing Sing. For instance,
there were $50 convicts at the quarry under three
or four guards. II was wonder thas more did not
sscane esrar n any m cases the convict would reent
been said ABOUT hanging convicts hooks. He
had seen case where u man had been on the hooks
for six hours aud would then sing aud dance. Soil
tary confinement was bad means OF punishment
and was not effective About thirty Of the leaders
OF the late revolt were now IN confinement, In an.
swer to question OF Governor Hoffman Mr. Nelson
said that the leaders OF the late revolt were limited
to about thirty
Inspector MCNEIL and Inspector HAMMOND said
that there had been no rev0lts or outbreaks at Cn
ton or Auburn. They agreed that there was worse
class OF conyicts at Sing Sing than Of either of the
other prisons. They knew nothing OF the law abOl.
ishing punlshments until II was passed.
Judge EDAONDs said the law originated with the
complaints made In the newspapers about the
shower baths, and the public sympathy was aroused.
He was surprised TO nd tnat the law took erect I'M
medoely after its passage, thus leaving che prison
officers helpless Certainly, some time should have
been given to devise some other modes
Governor HOFFMAN, said he had some doubts about
signing The bill, but he WAS satisfied that public sen.
tment demanded IT, and the sooner the trial was
made to govern bad neu without punishment the
better. The extreme object OF the law would cure
ITSELF AZ the result had now shown.
Judge EDaoNps thought the Governor had acted
wisely. ltnow gave an opportunity for comparing
means for prison government. lie agreed with the
Governor that the evil OF the law would correct
Itself, and thus good would be accomplished
inspector HAMMOND SAID the prisoners ut Sing
Sing were more exposed than al other PRISONS
as there was no protection wall ct Auburn and
CLINTON. N was wonder that there were not more
On that account.
Mr. HCBBELL spoke at s0me length with reference
10 prison discipline IN England ana Ireland, and
WITH reference TO the leformatory processes en-
poyed.
Professor DwfGHf followed In favor OF retormatory
processes ~ far as possible. AZ reward Tor good
behavior be would allow c0uyics 10 converse TO-
gether.
Mr. GOULD said II was important that the prison. |
erS should have confidence IN the officers.
, Mr. HuBBgLI spoke az length with reference to |
the location ana history OF the sing Sing Prison.
It was badly located. badly constructed, aud 1t was
OYercr0wded. He doubted whether good discipline |!
could ever De maintained there 1t was too near tae
river and tue rain oao now ran within few rods OF
Ihe main buildings there walls were damp and the |
cells too small; the was no partition wan. Great |
changes must be made In the construction and loca-
ion OF the Institution before good discipline could /