The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-05

ALBANY, Jan. 4, 1873
Since the Inauguration OF Governor Dix all the
politicians have turned interpreters. They want
to find out what the old gentleman intended to
mean when lie proclaimed that he regarded the |
decided expression of popular opinion at the late |
State election strong declaration In favor OF
marked line OF policy" AS is usual with interpret
ers, no two Of them draw like conclu-
slons from the text. Each puts on such
as best suits his personal de-
sires. One Of the few remaining members OF
the Committee OF Seventy who is in office
only prospectivey tells me he is positive His Elk.
cellency, like Mayor Havemeyer, felt that he owed
his election almost entirely to the influence
brought to bear by the reformers-though he con-
fessed at the time his inability to foresee ex-
actly what definite line OF policy the committee
had so promulgated as to give the people an op-
portunity to accept or reject 1t. But he was sure
nevertheless that the General intended In gen.
tie way to tell the Seventy to bring on their axes
II they wanted them ground.
A LEADING POLITICIAN
OF the State gives me quite different version He
thinks the Governor, only in o little more diplom-
attic way, went quite as far as the Governor OF
North Carolina did, at Raleigh on the same day
That with quite as much force, but melowed by the
his belief that the people had most emphatically
proclaimed the supremacy OF the views and person.
mel Of the republican party, and that all there was
left for him to do was to go it blind and give ap
prevail to any and all measures which the ingenuity
OF party leaders should devise, and Only
nominate for confirmation such individuals as the
caucus should determine. l was inclined very
much to accept this construction, especially as l
knew the gentleman was one of the confidential
advisers OF the Governor and more especially were
my inclinations confirmed when he begged me
to understand that the caucus he alluded to would
not embrace all the republican members Of the
Legislature but only q select inner circle Of the
knowing and the known-probably in all not more
than a round dozen. He further gave me to
understand most decidedly that in the
distribution Of patronage, 1T. Weed, his slate"
would be frequently and confidently consulted.
Mr.. Weed seems to have entirely recovered rom
his prOtracted indispOsltOn, and to have assumed
the direction of affairs with vgor of decision and
clearness of purpose that alike astonish friends
and indeed he has ian any Of the latter Gen
great influence both with the Governor and Mr..
Weed, and in emergencies will act as first lieuten-
ant to the great political captain.
1t Is proper 70 say that there Is quite gOOdly
congregation OF those who
THINK THEY KNOW THE GOVERNOR
who construe his sentence a declaration Of his
belief that the people chose him Governor rrespec
tive of party considerations, and that ne felt at
liberty to pursue personal policy without con-
and without, in the selection OF officials,
own, because this or that professional
Sy s s9 the M
preference of the people for the man, quite as
much as the nominee OF the party, and having thus
satisfied himself of his non-responsoility to party
he Is led to the conclusion that his burden OF Office
will be easy TO bear. 1t is hitting to mention the
prediction that ar he tries that on" he will soon
sor who the first term was unanimously elected
and at Its close with IKE unanimity was per-
THE GOSSIP OF THE CORRIDORS
and the barrooms where you can already meet
try manipulators OF primaries and county conven-
tons That there is SO strange diversity OF opin-
at least want OF definite knowledge, an uncer-
tainty that makes 1t difficult to give the political
probabilities with anything like the accuracy at
THE ORGANIZATION
or the Assembly will be effected without any
trouble or snaring among the faithful. 1t is barely
possible that O'DOnnei may come to the front
again and succeed in securing the Clerkship The
temperance element is the tail to his kite and
since the reported advancement to the head OF the
list OF Frank +. Fargo, of Buffalo, the ex-senator
ance friends up TO the declaration OF O'Donne, or
such vigorous presentation OF prohibition as will
dus of the German element or its rejection and
new departure OF the temperance people. AS
O'DOnnell makes f0ur-hOur speech whenever he
gets a show before Legislative committee, It may
be that he will brighten the prevalent majority into
putting him into the cage OF the Clerks desk
Allen, OF Cortland county, Is also working hard for
the prize, and, his friends say, with small chance
OF blooming up strongly 10 caucus
SOMETHING ABOUT PRISONS.
The annual reports Of the several State prisons
for the past fiscal year do not present very nat
tering financial aspect. In fact ION the con,
all around But "a few years ago all
more than paying their way; in fact pilng up
quite respectable balances in the State Treasury
aud with q vengeance. what with laws to prohibit
the prosecution Of certain in the prisons, then the
prohibition OF punishment Of any kind, pro-
tracted trial Of the law Of moral suasion and the
principle OF social regeneration, the prisons have
come to be little better than expensive and unsats
factory houses OF detention Convicts won't work,
and 80 contractors will not hire them, or, II they
do make bid the price srered per day is in proper
ton to the admitted worthessness CT the laborer.
To-day the rate per day paid by contractors Is at
least twenty per cent below what 1t was previous
10 the war, and at that rate the contractors have
their pick OF the men. Even at these low prices
only 57l out OF an average OF 200 could be let At
are now travelling 1t will not be many years before
the earning account will cease to be kept During
the past year the earnings and expenses OF the
several institutions under the charge Of the In
spectOr OF Prisons were as follows:-
Male prison Sing Sing ss4 !Ss, rts g
Au % Prison Prison sing SING isi s q 1859 .
Clinton Prison. .............. li7,li6 50
7o'a''.'''. saa'''' IS ' sssSss g
Total deficit SnLl2O IA
tual financial condition OF the prisons As the
Clinton prisoners are entirely employed in the
manufacture OF iron on account OF the state, and
as the agent runs together all kinds Of combina-
tons to make the worse appear the bet