The New York herald., 1870-01-11

prison, ut which ume they draw. with The prin cipa
interest at the rate Of SIX per cent per aluum.
It Is also slatea In tho report In connection with
"a burglar who has been sentenced 70 seven years
each upon two lnaiotnents tnss tne ausaorslss ao
&c once upon fourteen years or upon each separate
term Of sentence. Thls man, who " named Hiram
Thomas has nearly completed has Two terms OF seven
years eacn Tor the crime OF arson. and were ne a
lowed communication upon the full period OF fourteen
yearsnamey three years % ana s nvs mon.asns y,
recent interview with the highese autporty III Tue
state, was ADVISED that the mans communication, ~
the sratu at present cxists, must 10 awarded on
his two ABSTRACT terms oil Imprisonment which Is ior
seven years liked At one year and three months, ana
thus tne present iaw deeryes nun o. eleven months
event 1t Is only upon warrant from the Governor
taat man whose time mas been commuted ior good
behavior can be discharged from this pris0n.
Ihat the financial cOndiLion or Inc prison Is ims
proving It VIII only be necessary to mention the
tember so, 1869. whicn has already been forwarded
To the state Prison Inspectors, shows gain to the
State Oi S4l 900 over the ngures OF tho preceding
year. 4s4N 1.y. AZ .<,su
In discussing The contract systom in It's various
bearings tno New Ork Prison Association declares
that cases are continually arising wner3. Tor some
real or fancied injury, the contractor lays clom to
eeratcd; at other tines lley no douDs Jusr In
eltner CASE the State pays, the pecunary loss ia
fairly sttrinutabie 70 the conlracs system. Ine
tue state binds and letters itself. should
Its views OF pubic policy change and the
la many OF these cases had the state Itself employed
the c0nvlcts there would have been no loss. bur a
slmplc change OF labor from one Dranca or business
1868 taey say Chat alter tho inspectors had entered
into the contract much public dissatisfaction arose
tnat convlcs should be employed In this business,
owing to On apprehension that the compensation OF
printers might be- reduced. These views prevailed
with the Legislature and the c0ntract was nuiiifled
The contractors set up claim for 5000 dalnaxes
claiming ttlat the men whom they hired Tor a lew
cents per day were worth several dollars. Had tue
state anased the sners M9aid 9ase See u
another, wltn sucn slight loss ~ might follow upon
u sale OF materials.
Further on tney contend that when the inspectors
have made coutracr with which they are dssatis-
lied aud which ID not prohibited by law their only
recourse ~ to GUY out the interest OF the
whom little while before ho considered worthless
and Of no account now become most valuable work
imagination. He Is determined-tae inspectors are
indifferent; he Is prompted BY misunderstanding ln-
speclors Daye languid sentiment Tor the pubic
sold ct enormous rates.
Thoy also argue that IT is plain that the self-ine-
tlcuar instances TO the discipline o tne iusttuon
and the highest good Of tho conviot II
the contractor is man OF determination he
adopts the one or the other OF two courses he
either drives away the Keeper who reslsts him or
resorts to the more quiet process OF corruptng him.
hoW much OF snis % aTne y y 10 say
There u enough evidence however, 70 show that II
exists. 1E
In speaking OF the political influence at work In
the prisons there Is force the fcllowing:-l
tors naturally regard their position prize gained
in an excfng political contest instead of consider
ing IL as sacred trust. 10 them the appointment
or warden and Keepers IS source OF political
power ravher than tho means OF promoting The IN
terest OF tho prisons and prisoners. The IinaDcal
returns TO tue state are secondary 20 the advantags
which viii accrue to themselves. Officers are tnus
seected without regard to their fitness or admins
trattve abiliiy, but on party or personal grounds
We do not sSerC that all inspectors are governed by
such cons!derations but the tendency or the system
IS In thus direction and the results pointed out dO
frequently ana indeed constantly occur,
Tne influence thus operating on the inspectors Is
communicated 10 all the 0i1cers, through tue uncer.
position ut the mere pleasure OF majority Of the
inspectors. As there but three inspectors the
majority shifts from side TO side almost year by
year. Thla state OF things operates injuriousiy
the warden Of the spirit OF self-respect ana
OF independent action. HIS ONCE hangs upon
the slender thread OF the inspectors pleasure
or, what Ia more variable still, the political uscen.
dancy OF this party or that. Instant removal may
ioow the least dissatisfaction and 1t Is certain To
follow every turn IN the political wheel. No charges
need be made, gwen; the order or re mo-
val Itself l3 all-Suficient The interest OF Officers
under such state or things can be but slight The
salary IL low, and but little administrative ability
would not naturally be thought Of or II they were
could not In general be procured. II they were pro
cured they would have little or no field for the dis
play OF their talents. The inferior Officers are Ii
many Instances n0rOri0usiy unworthy Of their POSI-
ti0ns.
Tho following tables will show the contracts a
Sing Sing Prison for the years 1869 and 1870, the
earnings Of the Westminster Marble ana Lime Works
former occupations or prisoners In the prison--
CoSThACr5 AT bINa SING PRISON.