New-York tribune., 1873-07-26
morning at Il m when the investigation viii b TO
CONVICT LABOR.
EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM on BLACKWELLs
IsLASD-vIEWs OF COMMISSIONER MYER STERN
TIIE PAUPER PROBLEM.

THE PAUPER PROBLEM.
Myer Stern and Wm LaImbeer of the Board
OF Commissioners of Charities aud Correction visited
the state Prison at sing sing on Tuesday, examine
system OF convict labor there pursued with a view
% reforms that are 20 be attempted on Backwel's
Island Their visit too short % afford
very satisfactory results, uut Mr. Stern intends % spend
longer time in the institution soon, aud also TO visit
Ae State Prison OF Massachusetts In search of nforua
ton on subject IA which he takes deep interest.
In conversation last evening with TRIBUNE reporter
Mr. Stern said mat he had long thought 10 wrong That
the 1000 or 1900 prisoners in the Penitentiary and
WOrk-housc Backwcns Island should cost the city
annually $4,000: and. since his appointment a. Com
missioner had De gOted much attention 90 the soiu
ton of the question. how can the prisons se made self
supporting, partially sol There we're many diff
cates IN the way chief among which were the short
terms OF imprisonment 10 winch many sentenced.
This was an evil IN every way ought bee corrected
large number "sent up" FOR ten days for lTst
Onenses, hours imprisonment would be SUE
fcent punishment. On repetition Of the ohcnses the
punishment ought be Imprisonment FOR from one 10
three years. This would afford opportunity 1r real
reformation, ssuecsly the OF confirmed drunk
ards, whereas ten days confinement does not extncuish
tue appetite for liquor and the victim OF diseased appe
te Is only released 10 Do rcc0mmited, and becomes
burden the cry and hims II ana his family.
large majority of the inmates OF the H0rkhOuse
regular visitors, returning every instance afer very
I
az the end of which, II they not reformed they
should returned 0r st longer periods some drunk
ards Ds absolutely ucura1e, and tney would be
ar better OH away from temptation. Mr. stern in
sfanced the case or a man employed by the CJmmls-
,ouer- lie island u0okke'per. lie used 'o DE
the principal clerk OF the largest foreign banking
houses and possesses such ability in bis profession that
le could readily command very salary If be could
abstain from liquor; but repeated experiments have
shown that ne cannot restrain himself even for o
day. His services are worth TO the Commas
souefs 1870 year. and be s healthy and couteutcf
prefrreg 20 -tly whore De not subjected % tenn
tauon TOO strong FOR him. II he were returned 60 ls
city the end each 10 day, most Of the prisoners
are who are selt to Biackwers Island for mtoEcadou
.e would JC only lu Cxu-laa 20 -At city, and Lla life
would he burden % himself Mr. stern sad that le
should make C-rt ~ rho next session OF the Lr.a-
tlre % Lava tie Jaw changed n tas respect su'h on
ae-, ln had been made in rle laws ot Massachusetts,
and lo understood ,l4t 10 bad gwen gene l satisfaction.
Wan .5l-o- terms 1f service -o -4e State, The prisoners
would have time NOT only 90 learn trades, bat 20 become
perfect n t.e-l. ne would have tlc STATE only require
ln amount OF labor sufficient % reimburse all the eE-
peI.es OF cgulucaug tie institutions, allowing each
prisoner a.l surplus earning. I5 would thus at ODD.
.la % A. r--l come 0Gt of prison with tAe A4ut o-
..r0r talIei, -.s possession of trade, and --i.t-t
.r NJ money ru support lm ul.i no could obtain em-
uovuent aud .o encourage him lu m7u.fiHDg habits
vs. economy and morality. I-pr .onmelt slo1d Doe
looked upon -eforL.tarT rltlr. -lan punitive, and
t. -.r..t Doe Impressed Do -l- prisoner --.-- IL
...t .r possible, l- assigned 81. DPS f..1'ot I'D
. tastes. and lo should Je taught chat lU0I s nos only
blessing In ITSELF bur the on. means of maintaining
honesty and attaining r.-pc.-lH'y De
..4-as 20 regard tue labor VI ais prison lie
a- part of the punishment imposed uDon
aa. ha Will haze Do as Ae does Le prison
.a.all-.a-' and Dis l-t Thought -ter Dis Liberation
. l.. .are been ru.isleI .eorr rh ilr -l7 c-lu-,
.,-r.m or crl.; and She so educated ~ prison LAS
le.l made % eIuvle. forever.
t.. .- %. prison .Jor presents several problems
rL.- -'r -.ll Says De l-. lor r.t .a.." reL III
must aa- Gc permitted % con-. into r E-0us .oUpst-
.aa with .le labor o, honest mcG aaa some aaIs must
.- .t.uaIo. ueI require only sIo.t course o- .rll-
ing. Hs thinks Ae has found some which answer The
l..er requirement. ana which Doe Wan recommend when
tl. r-..- IL -I. comes. LLe very laai-~e -llr H
tle riv1utlr.- which tIe state Prison has ne
INSTITUTIONS n .ls matter OF long terms &C.. lr could
make % rly expenses aui good deal more. Do dc. rcd.
He hopes I'D make tLe P-a.tel,arv s...sns-l.ain- OBJ
u0..v .o, u some VI tIo cL.--.s .l Tile law o-c be
propose. .-o ma .e.
Iwo Il-rr,.r ciAssrs 0r rt-Trre q, Ur TREATED.
1lr -t..u ls pr.asrrs lcp.- ou .e subject OBJ. pal
per relief ve4 Ae proposes 90 Day before -e Ja.td d,
Us ues- n.e..-, together With resolution, t-s p1r
rrft u. which indicated below. -a -ut -Y t-e zee
.r-.- that Tie .f... 0f r.l l-.-- Ul5.. ... -g.l clos.
who required 70 rom accidental and temporary causes
~1. gary ll'r.0a-i -e.rspeet often .0-t and rle
l.c ..lt U.. .1s- -r--l, IS 7J ll--. u-.ersse
lare b.,u -l~el. II hld passed ral d u o. u-n" I'D
tlt ..I... and laL carefully studied r4e c0l-,.-ce.
aaI bearing of those U.u e14s a.a- l. There H--e
TWO sts. r.t asses; tla inbred paupa- ali rho casual
.auus. THO Jus va- 40 iIr F.lelve- Island and Belle
rlr Ho.paI other o -g .0 .cel AID .rom some pr
gate institution. There was 100 want which could not
.e supplied. uO disease which could lIt Doc treated 4u
some o.e " t.s many Institutions established FOX Che
purpa.. la tle cty U.t tAa trouble that Few who
needed their l.d knew where or Gr o. Id them, ,a-l eT
persons were able ro point them ont. From lowing
green o -e Harlem River tIars was probably not 1a-
.ir.u4u VINO would ,hiub lf directing auy alus
medical OF gecul.ary as- stance a-r where but 10 TIC
Office Of .e Caul -sina,- If CAl--.es ard Corn. ..ll
His proposed resolution would bs r0 t-e eject that the
Police Commissioners Doe requested to instruct each
police captain 20 obtain complete lsr Of
aI the charitable Institutions iu his precinct
that a list o.. all such IL the city De alphabetically
arranged together with the purpose, character, and
conditions " aduiss ot each, AID published DO q
pamphlet q copy OF which each policeman stall DE re-
uired 10 rrv In Dis pocket 40 an times when duty.
and use II m directing the sick and destitute t0 places Of
relief THIS pan, u properly carried out, hr. stern
thinks VIII greatly relieve the Department OF Public
Charltas and save many from The DEGRADATION which
might follow % residence DO Bellevue Hospital or the
vork-house IT," De concluded, only one In hundred
Is saved a great good will have been accomplished
The pauuer casse. and the criminal classes present the
most deult problems OF the day, and tie former are
steadily growing IN numbers in this city, the increase
since last January being II 7-lO per cent"
------- -------
THE gTYGsBRIDGE INVESTIGATION. CLOSED. /
The final testimony in the Kingsbrdge
I..r H...r.r rI.