The New York herald., 1876-10-03
SING SING PRISON.

A PRELIMINARY RIrogT FROM THE STATE
PRISON coMMIssIoN-THE ABUSES OF THE
PRESENT POLITICAL SYSTEM OF APPOINT
MENT OF OFFICERS.
ALBANY, Oct 2, 1873
The State Prison Commission appointed by the last
Legislature to investigate the workings OF tho State
Prison, have made their preliminary report 10 the
Governor which VIII be found below. This report 10
only general but the prison which been especially
investigated and upon which tho charges herein con-
tanned may naturally supposed to rest. Sing Sing
more detailed report with extracts from the EVIL
dence will probably be forthcoming at an early period
The commission composed OF Sinclair Tousey, Of New
York. chairman LOUIS ID. Pilsbury, Of Albany, and
General A. c. Niven Of Orange county. Ex Senator
George r. Babcock, OF Buffalo, the fourth member,
PRELIMINARY RI PORT.
To His Exceiency. SAMUEL J: rilpkS, tiovernor:-
s s
aa on Il z sa,s The s
Their abor the Sing sang Prison early in June and
oaSed 10 the prison at Clinton u which place they
tnred their examinations unti the rs. inst !.
The % work a. N' the latter place s @ found 70 30
% before during shs time me- sSs
mission there, will need still further time make
tgaon thu, that business have
prices 9. paid anS bought
Mss entries in the accounts looks have been altered
private persons without charge any therepf
os,ained from The State irsasr, BY aadaent vouchers
stoien tools and materials belonging to the State
not cared for and general mck of tnat ought 10
be exercised by officials in charge OF public
fault persons system which placed them tempo
rariy IN ths,r oncal positions rhs moi temposar,y
., prison management, ,,.a o. rather .,an %,sn.n"v,
,ns %sn' pys without SS0"ts regard Ssnss but
solely Tor poca party and with
whose party was deissa =, previous aiss,oa
a"
being snss mos. ' apyoiniss., hnosiag the pfssa.
Ss ali ih ii. m ' o@s
before being thrown out BY the next turn Of me political
terms snieien,ly eendemnstory system which appeared
The Constitution ssc and wnch Sas been tie sans Of
our prison ever since one of rs worst evils
in - a. 'ss i Always aos D aasoy y osia saslsy
meia a an IN ordinary qas n
considerable experience omissions which the conyicts
nnss E ass 's
az G sns ns % a sad es s % ns
day for convict labor IN ohio in New lork These evils
utterly destroy all hope q reforming the convet. Who
IN ae Of
instead OF being better leaving prison. often
they practised pon by men who should have by ex
Under these there discipline
the subordinate officials without which there be
among the convcts. II warden other officer OF
high grade, attempts discipline subordinate. he the in
feror, will threaten his superior with threat
easily carried into effect by OF political influence
The dules observer readily that there be dsci
pne under such The wonder is not why
prisons fail financially and many prisones but
rather why money Is not lost and mere convicts
do not escape. So long as the present system pre-
yails long VIII these evils continue from
year year prisons and convcts increase
Der. The remedy for evils
except in entire change in the mode Of selecting the
lie nd Of our prison system.
The proposed 70 the constitution which pro-
for Superintendent Of State Prisons will,
licve. remedy the existing evils Without such change
will be cure and the finances Of the State must
sriiy snfer
recently deceased colleague Hon. George X. Bab-
cock fully in these and
Respectfully your obedient servants
SINCLAIR TOuSEY,
A. g. NIVEN. commissioner
LOUIS ID. PILSBuRY.
New YORK, Sept. 30. 1876