The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-25
NEW JERSEYS DISGRACE.
A STARTLING coNTRAsT-AN INSTITUTION OF
WHICH Jersey MAY BE PROUD

A STARTLING coNTRAsT-AN INSTITUTION OF
WHICH JERSEY MAY BE PROUD.
The investigating committee appointed BY the
HUDSON County Freeholders, to ascertain the ex-
tent OF the extravaganza and fraud In the manage
ment OF the County jail at Jersey City, proceeded
10 the Essex County Jail at Newark yesterday TO
examine the working OF that institution and
the expense OF conducting 1t. Messrs. o'Reilly
and Cumming were promptly hand, but
Messrs. Young and Gibson, who have sustained
the management OF the Hudson County JAN and
who are opposed to any retrenchment, failed
TO put In appearance, although tho day and
hour were appointed to suit them MIR. Cook sent
a satisfactory apology, and Will to-day investigate
the case in order that majority OF the commit
tee may he able to make q report at the next
meeting OF the Board.
The committee were received very kindly by
Colonel Johnson, the warden, who submitted TO
them Tor examination the records OF the institu-
tion for several years. All the statistics already
given IN the HERALD, and on the faIsity OF which
tue Director OF the Board staked his Reputation,
were not only confirmed, but additional in
formation was elected which must make
uncomfortable than they nave been. The
jail ices are collected IN the Essex County
Jall from prisoners only who are released on bail
at the rate Of lhirty-seven cents each, ana these
Tees wnich amounted To iIgT Tor the last quarter
oil 1874, are turned over 10 tle county treasury Dy
the warden. Ia the Hudson County jail, on the
contrary, the jaiier has received as fees thirty
seven cents q mead Tor every prisoner VINO enters
the Institution, or about SIS montn PAID out OF
the county treasury. so That IN the one case
fees collected rom a comparatively small number
Of the prisoners, and the cost OF boarding United
states prisoners are paid into the county
treasury. while IN the other more tnan double
the amount is drawn as lees from the county
treasury and goes into the pocket OF the
jafler the collection or fees had
IT'S origin IN the good old frugal times OF our
4hara hen fnts ia uan - III rae n
oners and the fees were the only emolument OF
the assistant keepers. Now taat tho Law mas
been changed aud TIE custody OF prisoners trans
ierren rom the sneiiEs 10 Jaiers, the collection
OF fees Dy the latter entirely beyond the scope
amount paid lor feeding the prisoners In the
EsseN CounLy jail Is thirteen anu a hall cents a
day, while in Hudson county, with only han the
number Of prisoners, IL Is Iorty cents, making
difference II 10000 a year, whlcn under the
Essex system would be saved 70 the taxpayers,
a reference 10 the statute IN relation 20 the man
agement OF county Jalls Will DC found instructive.
In a supplement- 10 the act approved February
90 1855, tue following section IS found, whlcn
shows that the rate OF forty cents day, which
has been hitherto paid. Is llleRal:-" case any
person shall be sentenced Aforesaid to the jail
OF the county OF Essex or OF Hudson. the expense
OF keepfng such offender, not exceeding the rate
OF 81 per week, shall be PAID TO the Keeper OF said
IaIl by the Collector OF the county rom wnlcn
him OF the Dul for the same BY the keeper OF the
jail 10 which such person snail be seng.p
Ana lastly. a pleasing feature In the manage
ment OF the Essex county JAN IS that the Sabbath
Is almost entirely taken up with religious services.
Catholics have their oevotions IN the morning ana
SUNDAY school IN tue afternoon, something never
known or even dreamed OF in the HUDSON County
JAN Protestant services are held about noon.
Toe prisoners are treated with remarkable KIND
ness, yet the strictest discipline - ma1ataiaed.
The use OF nanaces or letters Is unknown.