The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-10
INVESTIGATING SING SING.

COMMENCEMENT by THE COMMISSION OF ITS
LABoRs AND HOW THE INVESTIGATION is re-
aARDED.
Tho commission appointed BY Governor Tildcn, pur-
suant to Legislative enactment for tho purpose OF in
vestga.tng tho manner In which the State penal inst
titutions are conducted commenced taking testimony
at Sing Sing Prison yesterday morning Since their
arrival that institution last Tuesday tho members OF
the commission have been preparing themselves for
the somewhat complicated task allotted them by quietly
examining the inside workings OF tho prison. familiar
zing themselves particularly with It's financial manage
ment the mode OF bookkeeping employed, the way IN
which the chaplain's Office Is carried other salt
ent features OF that vast caravansary OF
previously announced the Investigation will be strictly
private at least far the newspaper press Is
cerncd, unless an occasion should whcn the
judgment OF the commission the interests of the poo
pie should require It.
Among tho intelligent residents OF Sing Sing vii
iagc-somc of whom thoroughly familiar with the
prison its peculiar workings since IT'S removal IRON
Christopher street. New York, to It's present site tho
impression prevails that the beneficial results OF the
Investigation will fall far short Of public expectation
They say that SO long the prison was conducted
partisan principles, when the Warden had complete
control OF all subordinate appointments and no
removed except for incapacy or other cause and
obliged settle their accounts
with the state tho end Of each month; when the
supplies and rations were furnished by contract and
convicts not allowed TO communicate with each
other receive pay from contractors Tor ovcrwork;
when grocery wagons hacks and other vehicles
kept outside OF the prison yard then the institution
was scii-sustalnng, nearly So Further they say,
when this partisan plan was departed
from, and appointments Of officials from
Agent and Warden down. conferred merely because Of
political rascaty on the part OF tho appointces
aud through influence with member OF the Lcgis
ialure or the State officers and with tho constant
dismissal Of prison officials al every change OF adj
mnIstration, the result has been that IN many in
stances thieves have been placed there to govern
thieves They further predict tina, the IN.
demonstrate the fact that for the past ten
years the State has not received, the
proceeds OF convict labor in the prison, enough
10 nay for tho appropriations for buildings repairs
aud machinery voted BY successive Legislatures Tor
In this connection an cxwardcn OF the prison. while
conversing with HERALD reporter on Thursday after
noon. said '1'll give you an illustration. Not many
400 men for i've years, provided The state
business hc intended 70 carry on The contract was
elected and during the ensuing winter application
was made 10 tho Legislature for an appropriation OF
$12 900 10 put uptbc necessary buildings for tho con-
tractor. The appropriation was granted but tho
amount only covered ABOUT twothrds Of the expense
and tho result another appropriation for tho Same
purpose asked Tor and obtained. Tho contractor
alluded to has since never worked. think, more than
$50 men. and Is q. presen; employing Only ,,,y
that no is largely indebted to the
State, for tho services OF the low men he has
worked This ILLUSTRATES generally tho manner IN
which the large deficiency has accumulated during past
years The whole drawback TO tho successful manage
ment OF the prison may to expressed BY the words
'Iax,ty of discipline Now. what otnor state OF things
can expected when II IL well known that more than
$50 daily papers are taken by The convcts ana that
grocery wagons from the village have been for years
past ,r the habit OF going down there every morning,
and the drivers permitted to through the various
shops for the purpose Of taking orders from ire IN
mates Yr