The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-20
PRISON MlSMiNlGEMENl.
An Expose Of Life mt
Sing Sing.
Politics, Red Tape, Corrup-
ton and Cruelty.
TIE SO-cALLED MEDICAL" DEPARTMENT
Cholera Mixture for Inflammation
Of the Lungs.

"a GAAC 420ASS.
sing Sing Prison has been, from its first day to
the present. the prisoners paradise, the convicts
Eden but OF all the prisons under the control OF
the State OF New York 1t has been the most cor
yupt and the most grossly mismanaged, and from
this very fact has arisen that state OF things which
has rendered IL so comparatively pleasant to the
CONVICT though in the same proportion pernicious
80 the general morals and the public veal.
Under former administrations Sing sing Prs on
was more corrupt than at present-there can be
NO doubt about that; but there can be no doubt,
either, that spite OF this comparative improve
nent, there Is still great deal that is utterly
rotten about its management.
In The first place there is alleged to be altogether
TOO much
POLITICS IN THE PRISON.
This fault seems TO be inseparabe from all Amer-
can institutions, ana Sing Sing Prison is a con-
spfcuous example. There are fity-one keepers and
eficaals at this date connected with the lnstitu-
ton, who were appointed wholly on political
grounds and the ma jority OF these know just as
much OF prison management as they do OF astron-
Ony. Again, it seems TO be conceded by all those
who are really interested in the general manage
ment or our public institutions that the system
now IN vogue OF each prison being for certain
Number OF months -four under the charge Of
Inherent inspector, who brings with him differ
ent ideas and makes different regulations is con-
ducive OF confusion and OF nothing else. Scarcely
have the Warden and the keepers become accus-
toned to one set OF rules before another set Is
adopted and in the change from one system to
another discipline suffers. In fact, the great fault
q Sing Sing management at the present is this
very
LACK OF DISCIPLINE.
The Warden Is kind-hearted man, but no dis
cphnaran, and trusts all the details or the prison
- mis- Keepers who having no fear or his watch
miness, do about as they please, or 1t pays
tAem to do. The maxlm that each man has his price
applies with especial point to the Sing Sing keep
ers, who can do with the prisoners as they choose
II they don't fee them, or whom the prisoners
can do with whatever they choose If they do
fee them.
But in strong contrast to the Warden is the Ma
trOn OF the prison. who formerly held housekeep-
ers's position at a hotel in Utica This lady is a
terrible disciplinarian, and is in consequence
always in hot water. She Is always making issues
and the differences between herself and the
Warden are well known in the PRISON ..sides- are
taken in the quarrels constantly pending between
them, and the result is highly prejudclal TO disci-
pine.
THESE QUARRELs BETWEEN OFFICIALS
often arise on trlfling matters but entail serious
consequences The last issue between the Warden
and the aatrOn was made by the latter Ga d point
OF 0flcal red tape 1t seems there is an Old law or
act OF the Legislature which renders it DIPLOMA
with the Commissioners OF Charities and
Correction whether any children born IN
the prison shall be sent after one year
70 the institutions the islands or shall he
retained in the prison with their convict moth
ers. This regulation or provision has practically
become dead letter, as 1t is really or no impor-
whntl
. year or two, and as nature and humanity would
suggest that ii they must be brought up in prison.
~ any rate they had better remain With their
mothers. But the Matron o.e day happened to
come across copy Vi this PROVISION. ana she de-
termined at once TO revive its oneratiOn-tO put il
Into iull 1orce-so she wrote at once TO the Com
mssi0ners OF Charities and Correction, call
lng tnelr attention to the act. and nosI-
Tying them that sucn aud such children
wear old or over. and asking thsm in parc auW
TO remove = certain child rom It's mother in the
PRISON to the island She teen notined the War
den OF her action IN the premises. The latter ofi-
clal naturally enough, resented this course her
part as needless innovation, and particularly
objected to the removal OF the child alluded 10
nom its mother, the Matron now insisted that
the matter should be submitted TO the Commits
siOners, threatening TO resign II they did not
remove the child, while the Warden threatened at
once to resign II they did remove the enid. Mean
while the various attaches OF the prison took sides
with the respective antagonists, the majority SID
ing with the Warden, and between the two the
discipline OF the institution has been seriously
teriered with.
CORRUPTION AND IMMORTALITY
also exist to great degree among the prisoners
and IN the conduct Of the Institutions. Money Is
booked upon as the great lever. and "convicts
with cash" can violate any prison rule at VIII.
Prisoners on contract work have nal their work
done for them by outsiders, who were paid reg
MAR prices by the lucky convict VINO could pay
has way ami VINO could spend his time In idleness
while his work was being done Tor him. Liquor
Can be obtained at a certain recognized tanff:
cigars are induged In freely, and novels are read
70 quite comfortable degree. In iormcr times
certain favored convicts were trusted with the
books OF the prison ami even with the privilege OF
signing away the States money on checks. This
abuse mas been corrected; still the TACT is UNI
disputed that AT Sing sing tie amount OF hardship
endured or the number OF Injuries enjoyed de-
Ponds entirely upon the poverty or the morality
Tne prison itself is no prison for those who
have the funds to pay for OCCASIONAL liberty, an
whom the Keepers think thai they Can SAFELY
..trust." II Is no secret with the inhabitants or
the village Q. sing slug that inmates OF that insi
tuition are ever ana anon TO be seen at the tavern
OF the village or loafng around the streets
tnereoi IN the costume oil the Tree men oil every
day.
And the morals Of the male prisoners are allowed
70 take care OF themselyes-in TACT, any OF The
male prisoners VINO nave money can be a. immoral
~ they choose. IL Is known certain weIl-to-
do convict at this institution corresponds with
certain fashionable adventures in New York, VINO
frequently comes TO sing Sing village by appoint.
ment. where lacitics are anorded her for meet
ing her lover Ger ain convlcts, TOO are permitted
TO lodge III the sabies the other PRISON.
ers and tnis license IS often allowed TO degenerate
INTO RIGHTEOUSNESS.
MEDICAL xIsMANAGEMENr
But 1t IL in the medical department OF the
prison that the grossest acknowledgement pre-.
walls, and In which the grossesC outrages have
been per2etrated. This medical department has
Always been a rich placer in The Sing sing Prison.
The salary Is small, very small; out, tnen, the
authority Is absolute, amounting, literally, 20 lie
and death and power supreme power. Is always
sweet. Besides-and herein comes the attraction
Of the post-the perqusites have always been
large. One physician, some years ago entered
upon his duties in sing sing without dollar. or
without even the credit OF IL, ne lett in few years
owning q PAIR o. last horses and a capital
drug store, "all paid lorr and paid
for out OF his "perquisites." Anything can be
done or money! Is the fundamental maxim OF
sung Sing; and, as the hospital patients nave no
worn to DO are allowed better iare than the
healthy prisoner and have the ordinary rules OF
discipline suspended IN their favor, place In the
hospital mas always been the end and ann Of the