New-York tribune., 1876-12-30
REPORTS OF COMMISSIONS.

THE CHARTER COMMISSION WORKING HARAOSIoCsLY
AND DuIGENTLY-REPoRT OF IRE STATE PRISON
COMMISSION COMPLETFD-A rc-y CODE OF PRISON
LAWS PROPosED-CoNyICT LABOR.
(BY TELL IRAPI TO THE TkIBUSR,i
BrBAYY, Dec. 29.-The rumOr Published in
New-Ycrk of fatal disagreement in the Charter Com
mission and Of the probable submission Of several
ctipg reports the Legislature, s without any founda
ton. The members have agreed upon all the principal
points Of their report and simply at work upon
some slight details. The report will embrace several
proposed amendments the State Constitution, and
long statement OF the defects OF city governments they
are intended 10 remedy. Looking back upon their
years work, the members that the chief
part OF Il has consisted in discovering what they
could rot rather than what they could do The report
will show that the most fruitful OF msgovernment
has been the unstable character Of the governments Of
cities owing 10 the interference of the State legislature
The Legislature. by frequently granting charters to
ctieS and often altering those Of Others has de-
stroyed everything of value that springs out OF perma
nent government. Efficiency Ia lost in the several de-
partments Of changeable city government, and people
manifest slight interest in ts new forms To make the city
governments permanent the commission propose to take
away from the Legislature all power their charters
That the Legislature will cheerfully relnqush this
power the commission does not have much hope. The
commission has held 80 sessions For several
months past it has every Saturday, and it, members
not separated until after many hours consultation
During these meetings they have examined the charters
OF every city In this state and OF many cities in Europe
especially in Great Britain. A this is probably the first
commission Of the kind formed in America the
bers have had little 10 guide them IN deciding upon
some very difaut problems Of government. The com
mission IA yrs undecided to the time when the
port will be presented. Their term prolonged with
instruction to report when the next Legislature should
meet. Some members hold that this does not make 1t
mpcrayc upon them TO send in their report the first
DAY OF the sessO; Of the Legislature but that they can
do at any time during the session plan that meets
with much favor Is to send In the proposed amendments
why they should be approved later In tho Winter.
Tne report OF the State Prison Commission has Deen
finished and IN the hands Of the printer IL VIII
presented 20 the Legislature early In the session. IL
being the evidence taken by the commission at the
several prisons in respect 20 their management Tie
faults and merits Of each viii be pointed the report
being arranged that the reader VEn from the crlt
commission to portions OF the evidence that
sustain IT, The commission. 1t is stated Will recon,
laws respecting State Prisons and the substitu,
ton for them Of carefully prepared code OF
Acts have been passed by the Legislature that
applied prisons and not to others. Acis thnt
passed 80 years ago are still IN force ahOugh use
less and many acts one another on some points
TIE Incoming Superintendent of State Prisons, II l. BE-
leved would be greatly aid"d In his work OF reforming
II all the acts we're swept away ana mar
mOnOus system OF Avs pat IN their place one OF Tue
most important Of the laws Is likely To De one per
scsuppOrting either 20 let out convict work TO con
tractors or t0 employ the cOnyicts NJ state works
ana perhaps do both The Emira kefOrnatOTy warden
has this power now.