The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-03
OUR MISMANAGED PRISONS.
THE PRELIMTNARY REPORT OF THE
PRISON COMMISSION.
A Looso state Of Affairs ut Sing sing
CHARGES OF Theft, Fraud and Mutilntion
of Recommendations Vouchers. &c.

A Loose state of Affairs Mt Sing sing
CHARGES Of Theft, Fraud and MuiiIation
of Recommendations Vouchers. &c.
ALBANY Oct. 1.-The first report Of the
Commission to Investigate the affairs Of the
State Prisons has just been finished The Com
mission was appointed by the Legislature last
winter. and began its labors early In June at
Sing Sing. 1t has sat with closed doors during
all lis sessions, and no report OF its proceedings
has been made public heretofore. The aCcom
panying report Is only preliminary, and will be
followed at an early day with more compre-
hensivo details ofthe prison system at Sing Sing.
OF the result OF the Investigation at Sing Sing
the report says:
The investigation thus far made shows that business
affairs have been very loosely conducted IN regard 70
@ uo, ~ ~ P' ~ paw nno M,
books have been altered. INITIATED ana lost property
or any account there fDcing made, aud never
have been obtained the state Treasury by
rial belonging the Safe cared Tor. ana general
IL charge OF quo c interests so great and SO varied IN
OF the system which placed them temporarily ia their
Tue word temporarily" is very significant in its sp
phcation to our system Of prison manascment, or.
ratutr mamanagt ment Men are appointed 10 posi-.
soey AS ards for pOtca party services and with
places Of those party was defeated tue last
preyG,1s sleelSs scsircey one o. whom htd been IN
been ms Practice mat Is quite remarkable to mud
mau ~ place. who has Deen continuously on duty for
sven few years the result belns that
TINS ps'en. diligently Apply themselves IN
owl beDcnt before being thrown out py the next turn
hardly ne described M terms sulc nifty condcnnatury,
sysiem which appeared In the nrst Board OF state
Prison Inspectors elected under the Constitution OF
1916 and winch has been the bane Of prison man
cncc the discipline Of the prisons, bringing In. a. IL
always does majority Of Oflcias entirely ineApe-
renced Ia their duties. duties which require moe than
al ordinary snare OF intelligence, and consideraule
experience, omissions which the cOnylctu are quick
to tske advantage VI to the injury Of the State
marked Instance of this Is found IN the e Of con
featuring at the prison M columbus, ono INK twice
y mucn per day for convict labor In ONO Ia New
YORK These evils not only cause the prisons to Ia
hctnd financially. tut also utterly destroy all hope OF
reforming the conyic B. VINO. seeing the cartessness
sud too often Of those Of trust
become dishonest themselves, and. instead Of beng
better m.n on leaving prison, are often made worse
practlsed IN prison by who should nave, by exam.
pie taught them better.
L der these constant changes there be no dis
Cilllue among the subordinate uncas, Without when
there none among the convcts III W arden or
0tncr oicer VI nigh grade attempts to discipline q
subordinate. he, the Inferior VIII threaten his superior
with removal, tnicHt easily carried into effect by
means Of political influence. The duilcst observer
ally thai there can be no discipline under such
Asyhttm The wonder N not Why our PRISONS ia imam.
ciay, ana 10 many prisoners escape. but th,r Why
escape 80 long the present system prevs Just 80
long WI these evils nue. Increasing IRON year 10
year our prisons and conycts Increase 10 number.
Tue unucrsigntd no nedy for these evils cN
Ctpt change mode Of selecting the
hca Of cur prison system
The report Is signed by Sinclair Tousey, A. e.
Niveu, aud Louis d. PilsOufy.