The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-16
NEW JERSEYS DISGRACE.
THE FREEHoLDERs FRAUDS IN HUDSON
couSTY-s STARTLING DEvELoPMRNTs-INTER-
VIEW WITH THE WARDEN OF THE ESSEX


couSTY-sTARTL DEyELoPMRNTs-INTER-
COUNTY JAIL.
the extraordinary scene in he Board OF Free
holders al Jersey City two weeks ago in regard TO
the extravaganza IN the management OF the
county institutions, comprising the Jail, Peniten-
tiary, Almshouse. Lunatic Asylum and Hos
pital, has agitated the public 10 .
degree never before equalled except dur
ing the famous Bumsted trials. colonel 0'Relly
submitted statistics in regard to the manage
ment OF the Essex County Jan at Newark which
showed that double the numoer OF prisoners
maintained in the Hudson County jail were
supported for less than half tue expense Incurred
IN the latter institution. Mr.. Young. the Chairman
OF the Board, lett his seat and said that ne staked
his reputation on the assertion that the statistics
were false, while other members OF the Board
openly defended the extravaganza in the Hudson
County Jail.
IN order to ascertain the facts IN the case,
HERALD reporter proceedeq to the Essex County
Jail yesterday and had an interview with Warden
Johnson wnicn VIII prove most interesting TO the
neeced taxpayers OF Hudson county. Colonel
Johnson. unlike the wardens OF other prisons
answered the call OF the bell in person, and not
only manifested his Willingness TO unfold the sta
tistcs OF the prison tn the public through the
press, out also pointed out many things
that would escape ordinary observation. The
expense OF conducting the institution for the year
enUing the 30th OF last April was sl3,s90 SO. an
average OF thirteen and malt cents per daY for
each prisoner as lar as food Is concerned. Coal,
blankets, cups and otAer similar articles, amount
Ing 10 comparatively trlnlng sun and furnished
by the committee mot by the wardenl are not
included IN this estimate. The salaries are as
follows wv arden 81, 200 year; deputy, LOO;
engesr s "a night 90 nsrs s yen aasd
thai the warden and his family are the only per-
sous employed wno are SLOWED any provisions.
This rule Is stringentlv carried out. The warden
takes or for the use uf MS own table choice cuts
OF the beef furnished tor the use OF the prisoners
ana none other. The beef II supplied al six cents
per pound. tit was offered to the Hudson county
Freenolders last year by Mr. Bryan smith, OF Ho-
box n at seven cents per pound. but the Board
smiled contemporary. and generously paid more
than double the amount 10 anoth her bidder at the
expense OF the taxpayersJ
line following is the dietary scale IN the Essex
County Pnson:-Breakiast every morning. one
fourth OF one and quarter pound loaf and one
PINT OF rye coffee with what IS known as dry hash.
For dinner, cod6sn nasn two days In the week,
with the same quantity OF bread as at breakfast.
One day In tine week pork aud beans are allowed
for dinner. and on the remaining days the dinner
consists OF beei soup, potatoes and bread.
piled on sunday, and the quality OF the food is
Improved on the holidays. The cost 81 the bread
furnished BY contractor 10 the Institution IL
three cents per LOAF retail price TO ordinary
sumcrs, ten centsl. and the rye used Tor the soup
on vu' esns per na % nan,ng tne nrsaa
baked In the institution the sum OF $1,000 year
IS saved on that article alOEe. Potatoes are lur-
nisned at eignty.fve cents per bushel and they
were formerly much cheaper.
In summing up the case Warden Johnson said,
You may think our average Oh thirteen aud haif
cents low, but we once led ten prisoners FOR
eleven cents ana led them wnat | consider we'll
Mr.. Young, the director OF the Hudson County
Freeholdefs. said IN open Board mat he would
stake nls reputation that this was impossible. II
ne would come mere / Will furnish MIN proof that
his reputation Is irTetr1evably lost He also said
that the HUDSON County jan Is managed with
mucn economy as any county jail In the state
That deny most enphaticaliy. Tue assertion is
IN the MANAGEMENT Of the institutions IN
other COUNTESS but wnen 1 am asked Tor In orma-
tion oy representatives OF the press aud members
oil public bodies / consider II my duty 10 furnish
IL. The committee woo have charge OF our jail
are retired merchants and gentlemen VINO have
grown gray IN business, aud 10 is absolutely I'M
possible To sQuaDoer dollar without detection.
Tney scrutinize the smallest 4 ems my books so
closely tnat they spend sometimes many days In
reporter smile al this point, asked nim II IL were
not 20 In Hudson county, but the reporter de-
clined TO reply.
The books were then exhibited aud the follow
ing COMPARISON made lost OF leedIng
prisoners IN the HUDSON County jail, forty cents
each, S27 900 curing the year; In the Essex
County JAIL with more than doaD.e tae number or
prisoners, thirteen aud bali cents each, or
Sl3. $50 or the year. From the latter Is 10 be de-
Essex county maintains It's prisoners, numbering
more than double those In Hudson county, at less
than half the cost. colonel johnson stated tnatlf
he we're allowed twenty-five cents day TO main
tain his prisoners ne would consider nls position
the most remunerative once In the state.