The New York herald., 1875-09-30
OVERHAULING CITY DEPARTMENTS,
State Senator's CrOSS-Examinng Commissioner
Brennan and Warden Fox.
HOW THE PENITENTIARY IS MANAGED

HOW THE PENITENTIARY IS MANAGED.
The committee Of three members of the State Senate
appointed By that body May last to investigate and
report upon the condition and general management OF
The municipal departments Of this city and which con-
ssts Of Senator's J. W. Booth, F. W Tobey and George
B. Bradley met again at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yes
terday According to the resolution under which the
committee have been appointed they will make thor
pugh investigation into the administration Of every
city department-examining for that purpose all
such officials and papers they may deem
uecessary-and make a full report TO the Senate
al It's next session. with suggestions Of such changes
in their judgment will either tend diminish the cost
or the efficiency of any of the public bodies
it will also inquire into the methods of administering
Justice in the various courts and decide whether they
be effectively maintained at less expense to the
public II is generally supposed that the Comptroer's
department will receive special attention at their
hands. To-day they will be supplied by the Finance
Department with a complete list of the persons in the
employ of the city with the salary paid to each one.
COMMISSIONERS OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTION.
The first witness yesterday Thomas S.
Brennan Commissioner Of Charities and Correction.
He explained that the hospital in City Hall Park had
been abandoned in consequence of the building
having been pronounced unsafe by the In
spector Of Buildings The FIRST floor, however
was still occupied by ambulance corps,
on account Of convenient location, but injured
person brought by the ambulance allowed to
remain there over night They all taken TO
Bellevue, which crowded in consequence His de-
partment anxious, he said, TO secure the vacant
building in Beekman street, formerly used as police
station TO take the place of the Park Hospital The
institutions in charge of his department use about
10000 tons of coal every winter. and from 5000 to
distri nd m he on
the existing laws the Commissioners allowed to
purchase any supplies except such will be used during
the calendar year ending on January Consequently
instead of buying all the coal necessary for
a winters while it Is cheap in the
summer they buy but IL 600 TONS which is
exhausted by the end Of December, when they
obliged through the whole formula OF advertising
&C, again order 10 obtain the necessary 5000 tons
more and for which they have TO pay at the rate Of
fifty to seventy-Ave cents per more than the
purchase, though it would be better If the Com
missioners were allowed
TO DEAL DIRECTLY WITH rRADEsrEoPLE
for all comparatively small Of supplies that
required instead Of advertising er bids and making
the seller give security The enlTe appropriation Of
the Department last 81 $50, 900. of which
balance of $lO3 900 had remained uneNpended on Janu
airy The estimates for the year amounted to
81, 400 0oO an increase due TO alterations and i'm
provements in their buildings. The cost Of keeping
prisoners the Pentenary thirty ght cents each
per day. The estimate Tor next year for the Lunatic
Asylum, with the improved diet and warmer clothing
recommended by the State Board OF Physicians on Lun
six cents in that institution
THE SUBJECT OF vAGR4Nrs.
large number OF people are committed to the care
OF the Board as Vagrants Doing sent up TOT period
OF from to months That class they propose TO
send to Hart's Island and find work for them there.
Mr. Davenport-lt mas been reported that persons
committed for vugrancy by magistrates had turned up
again in Court before their time had expired
Mr. Brennan-That is something new TO me, sir.
The Commissioner further stated that there was no
work provided for prisoners except 10 keep the grounds
in order. They now proposed, however, manufac
clothing
they could manufacture goods or the market the law
should provide for that but he could or>no idea Of
what the prisoners services would be worth a
tractor He further testified tina: there had been
a day since his appointment when he had not visited
the Island, He, with oher Commissioners had visited
at IL r. and A. NJ order 70 see that things went
on properly between dark and dawn. On these occa-
sions everything found as'it should be
THE PENITEST1ARY wABDES on THE STAND.
John NJ Fox warden of the Penitentiary, was the
next witness He testified that be had held his
present position since January last previous to which
time he had held no Office under the Board He stated
divided three classes-coxswains, who guard the
island boats receiving 5000 per year and their board
guards who stationed around on the wharves and
receive $3.50 and board, and keepers, who have direct
charge OF the prisoners and who receive 5000 and
board Mr. Fox receives 81, $50 and a house He also
has the privilege OF using prisoners as servants IN and
about his house Onehaf OF the entire number Of
keepers remain on the island on alternate nights, bus
afer O'Clock in the evening the entire building IS LEFT
under control OF three night keepers-Martin Bergen,
Charles Robo and John Foy-who remain until in tho
KEEPERS AT THEIR OWN DISCRETION
Witness had direct of knowing whether
these remained in the building or not; the number
of keepers in the daytime would probably average
70 every twenty-five prisoners. There have been nine
escapes the 1st OF January four Of whom got
away from the boat while being conveyed the island
and i've eluded the vigilance OF the Keepers during
this period there have been an average of over 900
prisoners in custody. Mr.. Fox recommended that
guards should patrol the island at night both for
cury against the escape Of prisoners and TO guard
against the thieves, who frequently go up from
New York, and breaking into the workshops
carry of the tools. As it is at present
cRr1 fo En fch huf Tho
three keepers spoken Of before The island is in tee
graphic communication with the Central Police station
and also has bell communication with the station house
In Fifty seventh street There are now about l. 100
prisoners the Penitentary most Of them under SEN
tence for six months, but few Of them are serving
out terms as high as fifteen years
THE FAIR IN PRISON
OF the entire number 1853 are women, larger num-
Der than we're ever before upon the island, even
during the hard times OF last winter when the number
reached l25. The majority Of these have been
victed Of shopfting and petit larceny. They are kept
busy making clothing for Bellevue Handal's Island and
all the institutions around the city.
WILLING TO RErREScH
Witness could suggest no plan by which expenses
could be reduced without mpairng the efficiency Of the
institution. He would recommend that two additional
guard boats ana six night patrols be added 70 the
force which would then be thoroughly efficient
He thought the location Of the island very unfavorabe
for prison purposes account Of It's proximity to New
York the one side and to Long Island the otner
The latter shore lined with lager beer gardens and
the convcts constantly tempted to escape by hear
ing the music and dancing which was continually in
progress In them Besides boats were always lowering
around with the friends Of prisoners watching op
portunity to help them to escape He yenured TO say
that II the Penitontary were not removed TO RaDdals
Island even further up the river, would soon be
necessary to erect high wall around BlackWePs
Island
Al the close of Mr. Fox's examination, as no other
witnesses In attendance the Committee adjourned
I'll ten o'clock to-day. 1t Is expected that the exam
nation will be continued fron day TO day, an arrange
ment having been made between the Senators that Mr.
Booth will In the absence Of both Of other
gentlemen, continue the proceedings as a sub-com
mIItec.