New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-31
Ex.CoMMIssIoNER BowEN's DEFENSE.
ywBEDs PRISON LIFE NOT MADE TOO EAsY-SCP-
PLIES NOT PURCHASED ILLEGALLY.

TWBEDS PRISON LIFE Nut MADE 1OO FASh-oCf-
PLIES NOT PURCHASED ILLEGALLY.
James Bowen, one of the old Commissioners
Of Charities and Correction like his colleague. Myer
Stern, prepared reply to the communication OF the
Mayor with reference to the allegations that VIM NJ
Tweed instead OF being confined to cell in the Peniten
t,ary had nicely furnished; and that he was Ill
lowed TO ordinary Dress and move about the
Penentiary grounds without the presence OF Keeper
Mr.. Bowen afirms that Tweed when received at tho
Pnitenliary lodged in cell and clothed in the or
diuary garb Of the convict.
On the day following his reception he was assignee 10
duty in the hospital as an orderly ne d'sGnaFHSI mos
in charge No inmatlOn was given to the Board tnat
on visit Of Que of the Commissioners tLaimbFer). IN
the month of April, DO learned that Dy ntectlOn OF
had 0coI assigned TO the prisoner because OF his
carious health. On this Information being c0mmun
hospital and a section OF the room barely sufficient to
his bed plrUtioned OH for tue purpose me
s se mo%sh Of july At thus tune tweed
pr1lonerSs condition, made by Dr. Macdonald, the Chief
OF Staff at the ChSr Hospital the Board AUTHORIZED
meuded by Dr. macdonald consistently with the safety
Of prisoner The dress OF the prisoners is not the
sioSers TGo prisoners are DIVIDED into two classes
those guilty Of felOnies and those of mlsdemean0rs
For tho former striped dress Is prescribed Tor the lat
ter Of ulxcd cloth, hardly Distinguishing from
clothes worn daily IN the streets Of the city 10 te a
formly the dress Of his class except when brought
spect the allegation that he receives visitors at pleas,
Hre the Warden at the prisoners request, has refused
ana s s'e Of his a@ Nor
any instance been permitted to go outside the walls VI
the Pententlary unaccompanicd by keeper.
regard to the allegation that there had been fraulu
lent purchases OF goods. Mr.. Bowen says:
Mr. Howe directs attention to certain erasnres In the
books OF the storrkeeper and declares that they were
made with franiaon intent knew nothing OF The So
termed erasurcs until had road his report then ey-
aminCd and tUuad them to be thin lines OF red Ink
through figures enormously entered by the store
keeper, ana, instead Of being erased or covered
the store keeper seemed To be satisfactory.
frequently made at private sale III excess OF $O
tue limit prescribed by law
DisSOn declined to approve of the general rcqul5-
tiUns supplies, for reasons which were conclusive
with nc, but which were REGARDED as frivolous ny
time till quite recently has been restricted 70 te
daily visitation of the Institutions on the island ana
had little direct know ledge VI tie made
Of private sale But have doubt that such purchases
exceeding 81 OO in amount have frequently been made,
aud that he OF eoe c1:e IA eSon r u
hecdcSsucss of engineer ia permitting his coal 10
run down 10 two or three days SUPPLY or OF the uoher
short OF hO:rs would require the instant pur
chase Of "a cargo oil COAL or weeks supply OF HOUR
Indeed, within the past week. cargo OF coal had 10 Dc
purchased under these circumstances
The practice of purchasing the meats Tor the Depart
through sneca! agent at private sale was adopted
b. the late BOarI and continued uni Iecehty DY tue
presPn after the accession OF the present Board
Mr Lambeer applied to the Corporation Counsel for his
Upuion on the LEGALITY Of the practice and he reported
that in The opnon 1t in accordance with
law recently the written opinion OF the Corpora
ton Counsel was obtained. and while he expressed the
belief that il was competent the Board TO continue
the practice lie sugcesed that IT would be expedent
TO contract i3r tue meals, as TTs RoarS ;mediateiV
his suggestion and tne meats are now
by There be no doubt 90 far as the inter
sts Of city ana the welfare OF the inmates VI The
institutions are concerned. that the purchase " meats
through tpecaI agent is greatly preferable.