New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-10
ALBANY.
THE INVESTIGATIONS.

THE INVESTIGATIONS
SCOPE OF THE WORK OF THR PRISONS COMMISSION
A DISCUSSION ON INCLUDING TIL. COUNTY
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES CANAL COMMITTEE TO BE
GIVEN IS DAYS TO REPORT.
hnOH TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNE'l
ALBANY, Feb 0.--ln the Senate this morning SEN
stor Schoonmakers bill for the formation OF the
State Prison Commission came up in Committee OF
the Whole and was virtually approved. The most
important amendment was that OF the Senator In
charge Of the bill, extending the time OF the
investigation until Sept 1, on the ground
that to require the Commission to con-
elu6e its abors by the 1st of July as first proposed
might hamper and embarrass that body so as to
diminish its usefulness. At one time there seemed
10 be danger that the Commission would be COM
pletely flooded with work. Senator Woodin made
the excellent suggestion that the Elmira Reforma-
torv oupht to be included in the sphere of the Com
missioner labOrs, as it is properly a part OK the
State Prison system. Senator Gerard thereupon
proposed to include all the county penltentares, OF
which. be said, he believed there 10, and read
from the act authorizing the investigation OF 1904
TO show that that act seemed to contemplate an IN
auiry into these institutions III connection with inc
Etate Prisons proper.
Senator Bradley took the sensible ground THAT the
investigation should be confined TO the State nsttu
tiOns. The ElmiTa Reformatory is in condition 10
receive 312 convicts, the south wing, wltn ol%
cells, being now completed, and the only Things
reonired to put the building In readiness for the
reception of convicts were heating apparatus and
mch furniture as was necessary. In view oil the
tact that convicts now remaining idle in the other
prisons can be accommodated in the portion OF the
reformatOry already finished and can complete the
remainder themselves, eventually making room Tor
600 prisoners from the oveTcrowded State Prisons,
IL is eminenty proper that this institution should
be included with the prisons. This plan OF
completing the Reiormatory, it may be SAID
here parenthetically has already been adopted
by some of the leading State Prison officials, and the
Legislature will probably he asked for liberal ap-
preparation to complete the building, on the ground
that the remaining prisons, and the prisoners VINO
are now idle because there is no room in which to
work them, rnay be employed for the benefit OF the
State.
Senator Prince favored the proposal to include the
Enira Reformatory, inasmuch as there are mpor-
tsnt questions relating to its government which
must be settled. Nothing had ever been done by
the Legislature to determine them. 1t Is still que.
ton whether il should be placed under the govern
Hent of the Inspectors and take rank with the pris
ons. AS Senator Woodn afterward said, the Re
fornatory is All institution without management and
without government.
Finally progress was reported on the bill to allow
o. additional section to be inserted providing for
the investigation of the RefOrnatOry. There were
no other amendments of importance. Senator star
buck made an effort TO extend the powers OF the
Commission with reference 10 cOntumacious wit
nesses so as grant its members the power TO COM
nit for contempt without application to the courts
This was opposed by both Senator Bradley and SEN
stor Schoonmaher, the latter of whom stated that
the bill as drawn gave the Commission the same
powers in this respect as those enjoyed by every
Board of Supervisors.
Mr. Halliday's resolution. calling for the report OF
the Canal Legislative Investigating Committee
within 10 days. came up in the Assembly, and was
finally passed. extending the time TO 10 days. Mr..
Halliday dsclamed any intention TO dieparage the
fidelity or success OF the Committee, but thought
that the Commission and the Committee ought to be
treated alike. MIR. Faulkner Gen. Sherman. Mr..
Fish and Others took the ground, i'll reply that the
Canal Commission is required, by the resolution
creating it, to report at the opening of the Leglsa-
ture, whereas the Canal Committee was merely re-
Quired to report this Legislature, without limit
e. 60 time.