The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-28

Alvord pressed his resolutions as though he
were truly In earnest in the matter, that there
was something behind them which he believed no
body knew anything about but himself. Perhaps
there was.
BRIBERY AND CHEAP NoToRIETY.
MT. Jacobs appears determined to win reputa-
ton for honesty and economy after O very extraor-
binary fashion. The other day he made q terrible
hullabaloo over so-called bribe which blind col.
ored man offered him last week to push an appro-
priation through for poor little orphan asylum,
ana to-day he followed this virtuous outcry
up with report, In the name OF the
Ways and Means Committee, against the Srate pay
ing Tor statue which some people wanted erected
TO the memory Of one Timothy Murphy. or course
the ways anu Means Committee Is not Jacobs but
members OF the lower House know that Jacobs Is
the
LEADING SPIRIT OF THE CONCERN,
and whenever II gets or one Of It's reports Jacobs
hand Ia certain to Itself IN every line. Jacobs
therefore, ought to be commended for the way he
has set H. face against 100 brberles and withsood
the temptation OF making his name immortal by
contributing MS weight 10 an appropriation for the
but then there are queer folks who believe for ali
that that the Ways and Means Committee viii
nS fSs sna aaenr reason refuse hereafter TO
for q different purpose. Not, indeed, that
the Ways and Means Committee is not the most
know cheap notorlety gained by exposure OF small
brlbes and opposition to small appropriations.
uocS HOI VI itSel establish the reputation OF anV
committee for whole legislative session In al.
vance. All committees that have it In their power
TO do what Is not right deserve watching, no matter
what nags they may see ut TO hang OFT on their
outer walls before the battle has well begun.
CONVICT LABOR.
The report OF the commissioners appointed last
June by the Governor 10 inquire into The merits and
dement's or convict labor was presented to-day In
the Assembly. AS regards the penitentiarles
troll, the commissioners recommend that no
Legislation be had for the present, aud
they base this recommendation on the two following
considerations VIZ. First That being local instItu.
tfuns. created and conducted under special acts,
legislation In reference to them which
VIII at all meet the views OF those who de-
sire 1t must necessarily be OF radical character,
completely changing their relations ana the CON-
mssoners think that such LEGISLATION had better be
III progress to secure
REFORM OF THE PENAL SYSTEM
or the States second, that such change OF relation
i'll these establishments would make OF them State
In place OF being, as now local instttuOns would
involve large Outiays OF money by the state,
are OF the opinion that ultimately the penal admin
Istration OF the state ought TO be unit; other
words, under u central board. 1t Is the conviction
OF the commissioners that all other questions relat-
Ing 10 prison reform should remain In allegiance until
there snail be Incorporated into the constitution an
amendment providing that our prisons be removed
from the domain OF politics. Mr.. Fencer. the repre-
sentative OF the workingmen in the commission,
agrees fully with the report OF the other members:
but adds that the system OF
CONVICT LABOR
should be abolished altogether no matter whether
the constitutional amendment proposed should be
adopted or not.