New-York tribune., 1873-01-09
This statement does not show very atering admin

This statement does not show very Hattering admin
istratOn of the affairs Of State prisons. The ex-
pendtures receipts during the year sG5 s1 s
troer TO Keep maintain all the cOnvicts in dlencss
The whole number OF convcts now IN tho prisons is
2SS2 which may be somewhat below the average num-
for the year. The OF expenditures over IN
is fraction IS cents per day for each convict
assuming the whole number for the year 10 be the same
as the number now In the prisons The cost OF main
tanning the oonvicts per day is not uniform IN the sey
ss7,O5l ca the number Of convcts is LIS and the
expense OF each per day Is fraction over ef
81 cents. AT the CLINTON Prison the excess OF
expenditure is SS9S7 02 the number of convics 10 53
and the expense OF each per day Is 80 cents AZ oin
expenditure is s26O,763 81, and the expense m OF
each convict per day is fraction over 60 cents ms
calculation is made without taking into account the
miscellaneous expenditures of S910 CO. By taxing tho
advances from toe treasury or mantenanoe' nonqIS %
salaries and expenses OF the Inspectors the Wnto
amount expended in maintaining the pIlsons or J tnd
which disbursed for supporting the convets
that period. This OF course, includes usDuIhnohs
and Structures some of which are permanent.
The whole amount is s6S5,54s IS. or s2iz VI lOr
disbnrsed S1is65s 80 or sOI 65 for each convict.
making the expense Of each. per day. % eentS; Cton
disbursed S8ll2S o. or $26 % for each convict SHOWING
an expense OF eaCh per day. of CT cents sing sing s
bursed $7766 3d. or s2Sl 81 for eGch %
reasonable that, were the prisons properly man2ged'
and their alfirs 1udicously aud sysemancaly admn mn
Istcred. they would be not only selisustainlnS, nut
wOnld yield a TO the treasury OF the state Ile
is no roso5 IN the natnre OF things Why they should
not by their labor support themselves, having az th9
machinery and conyeniences for manufacture fuihshed
| 10 their hands.
SUSPICIOUS BILLS FOR SUPPLIES.
The supplies Cor the support and maintenance OIL the
convcts are obtained by contract and the prices pad Tor
similar commodities at the several prisons, as appears
from estimates and vouchers In this Department., are
widely dissimilar, and worthy OF observation
Taking the estimate OF month for each prison as
crteron at sing Sing tho price pad or Hour was - per
barrel at Clinton it q 30, and at Auburn 81 inc
price paid beef at Sing sing was II cents per pound
at Clinton cents ana at Auburn cents ire M pIICs & @ pu
for pork at Sing sing was s4 % per Oarre az on
SIC and at Auburn $40. The Controller Is informed, on
what he regards Trustworthy authority, that the
articles furnished though the highest price was pad lQr
,bem were OF inferior quality, and that large plOhts
| were made by somebody on tbe Original cosi anu
the prices paid by the prison AUTHORITIES ~ Is u s
cdv true there are large expenditures iOr the state
prisons which unnecessary ana ulWarlahIeu, anu
only be accounted for on the ground OF loose IGG
alfes. OF gross frauds IN their management, ana u
would be wen for the Legislature to ascertain the truln
of this bv Investigation If the prison authorities nave
managed their afrs honestly and economically, IL IS
tjcltOn The LEGISLATURE OF 1872 authorized the Con-
troer either by himself or by such person as ne nlght
appOlut make such investigations; but no mas lOunu
ii incompatible with his official duues' whlcl demanneu
Ills entire tne and attention, TO devOI9 any Viho t
Office. Besides, the Legislature made no appTopIlauon
Tor the payment OF sucn committee as the COnTOHef
might see lit to appoint for that purpose II has become
matter public nOtoriety, and is now generally con
ceded that the system under which our state prlsos are
conducted is bad One-hat the eXtrayagance whlch
marks their cement is due In part 70 that Dad sys-
tn as well as TO careless and dishonest ocals and t
cannot DO expected hoped that there VIII be any rad-
cll amendment until the system is changed and the
prisons brought under the control and management OF
responsible head and are conducted without divided
responsibility.
MORE FoILY-rHE STATE REFoRMAroRY AT ELNIRA.
In view of the large and unprecedented appropriations
that have been made and expense incurred within the
last few years for aSyluns charitable instltu-
ons and private purposes IN view OF the fact
that our State prisons have been an annual expense
ABOVE income OF Iom SAOUOO1 70 SCVoYyi IL ~ arnirD 20 AZ
vastly increased rate OF taxation, anu tne ainng no
fciency in the Treasury. 1t is matter Gi profound
astonshment that tho Legislature should nave under-
taken the enterprise OF Duhang tnS otaoe Heioln n
atory at Elmrl, for the reformation or persons
od and autheac estimates OF the probable ultimate
cost of the undertaking. Yet the Legislature Ill 1871,
chartered this institution, and placed IN the hands OF
five commissioners, appointed ny tle Governor i9ii
power take general supernendenCe OF the erOunu,
Tower TO appoint an architect, superintendent and
Other agents and assistants By the same ac
fhe provisions OF the act II seems ths appropriation OF
$1,000 only entering wedge to future Large appro-
urlatIOns the Legislature, IN l6l appropriated Jo
further OF sO0J0 for the same purpose MOI 10 DC
outione in munitcepce tine Lesslstfe M Oh l9'1 aPPro
uriated the additional sum OF s!oOO 10 carry ouG tLe
provisions Of the original aet
MODEL COMMISSIONERS.
There has heretofore appropriated for this insti
tuition in the aggregate $4,000 OF which sum there was
expended or paid the Commissioners up to the
sOth day Of September, 1872 the sum OF about s32OOOO
The foundation Of itno whole building is laid and part
of It is understood be somewhat advanced into the
rst story The yard proposed 70 be connected win ths
buding contains about OF land, and IL ufti-
nately inelOsed IN peruanent stone wall 20 feet
high above the surface OF The ground, ana OF ample p
base u support weight. The foundation OF this wall
is all laid, part OF II Is completed TO lts tuu mght
Controller urged upon the Commissioners the Importance
ana pTOprety OF expendng the last approprAtl0h IN
the completion OF the buildings, leavlng the yard wal
for future consideration; but 1t the Commissioners
Thought otherwise, and expended large portion Of 1t
have been rendered 10 this Department for all expend
lures made The Controller regarded II as his duty TO
reject voucher OF 43, expended By the Commissioners
fra
foundation Of the building was ald, ana TO , sns-
| nissoners for railroad fare and other per
sonal expenses incurred within two years after
I s9i71 e2 which two items, amounting TO AOl4 %,
remain in hands of the Commissioners unaccouned
Tor IN any other way than by the rendition or such
vouchers The Controller recommends that, before any
further appropriations are made to this Keformatory,
authentic and official estimates be procured, as 10 the
probable ultimate expense hereafter 70 DO incurred
complete and finish the same ready Tor tnat
it placed under the same supervisory heaa as n rec
omnended for the State Asylum for tho insane anu
when such further are ro the I
atre as 70 whether he shall borrow the money ~ carry
the same forward, OF await the collection Oh tho TAX
| levied TO meet such appropriations.
| ANOTHER ATTEMPTED swIsDLE THE ROCHESTER, Ar
sENAL.
Chapter 73 Of the Laws of 1872 contains the following
provision:
"FOr the purpose Of building fence to ineiose the
the already necessarily expended in fitting up aud
furnishing the rooms In the arsenal the sum OF tSOOO
Application has been made for the payment OF this ap-
propriaon but it has been withheld for the following
reasons:
No fence constructed around the arsenal and
it believed that owing 20 the peculiar OF the
building and Its surroundings there IL no necessity OF In
closing by fence. Bis have been rendered and pay
for what Is claimed 70 be referred to in che
clause repay the sums already necessarily expended
in fitting up aud furnishing the rooms In tho sena,"
by the following persons and for the following sums
H. Suiwel, Rochester one clock. $50 W
WIN. S. Thompson, Rochester. wine glasses, sherry 49,
Hsaa s1.s. s Si' sp:act Rccicstsi aias
Rochester carpets 6Ol 2
These bills we're certified 10 by BrigGen. Clark, and
verified by oath of the claimants, as being 'artces
ordered by Col Stone and necessary and proper. The
ad nd tha of ma eO