New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-17

tion 70 his salary M agent and warden charged and
paid at $1,000 for ten III, months ato 81 @ AZ one time for
travelling expenses" without any deaiied s,atenen.
s to when where how or Tor what ss pot in
from Sing Sing TO Albany to secure tne passaee oa
law giving him $4,000 for his interest III te marpo
and lime works, for he specifics very graphically the
modus operand by which he succeeded AL,
That other officials besides Walker had snare IN WIS
swears that be owed Messr Cobb Larkin for advances
Dsa fined sans s s
Of Walker the draft OF Barnun hanmona sS,eh AL =,
inspectors) on the treasurer for xl25OOO when dit
Messrs Coob & Larkn held as collateral security Tor
$4,000 and interest. ,,., A., -, ,..,
The cannot pass over silently the act tnat
bills for property sold the State were raised from
less TO greater sum- that exravagont prices for mat
their private benefit charged to the prison that
general system Of waste p Sa ey M a tended
duce the general pecunary loss TO the finances
POLITICS OCT OF PLACE.
But without going into detail where there has been so
much of peculaton, laundering, and Encouragement
the commission will close Its abOrs III regard 10 hhance
with few general remarks IT may 10 stated a. I
against frauds and Encouragement, is TO I'LL the offices
with honest and judeiOuS men, liut as All men no ~.
come up TO this standard land the experience OF late
years tends the conclusion that many are not eo
risk must necessarily be incurred; ard dishonesty
noired il is in most cases too late find adequate
indemnity Hitherto ia thc selection OF inspectors Du,
little regard has paid ny either Of the great political
parties To the special adaptation of the official for hs
duties A contractor OF 10 yoss experience says " !
have known only three inspectors VINO We're IN my Juds
meut, nit Tor the position they occupied
wHIRx THE STATE HAS SUFFERED LOSS.
Should particuarize wherein the state mas SUI
tered pecuuiIry loss, the following specifications may
suffice:
First In the great lack of discipline among the con,
vics which put in their power do much or little of
| the labor required Of them Within given time.
Second I0is state of things prevented inc agent anu
warden or other authorized officials making contracts
FOR convict labor ON terms as i"N0raoe 10 e S'e s IL
| the cOnVicts were under proper dlscllihe. ,
bty thus enabled 10 contract Tor CONVEX laOor
because lack Of discipline iessenec competition ioi uoh
fourth Contractors not required to pay PROMPTLY
for convict labor WAS ample security III aS c"Ses
fh Properly belonging the state has been sold to
SIM: Purchases for the prisons have been mace at
| large and even exorbitani prices. ,, .,
Screnh Extlavagau prices have been PAID Tor WORK
done the prisons and materials furnished IN and about
the manufacture OF lime IRON DC. ,o ooo,,.,., ,,o,.
Eighth Too many employees have been receiving pay
for services which were and could nave been
N.nM: A general want Of economy in almost every
thing connected with the prison.
Tcsth Prison officials have received and appropriated
State property To their own use, without ahg copei-
Iicren,h: Extra services travelling expenses unau-
torizsd by law and unnecessary, swell the Indebtedness
Each one specifications is sustained by the evil
dence taken By the commission
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The vote at the recent election amending the COnsttu
ton Us the state prisons VIII necessarily make raul
cal change In their administration; and IL is unnecessary
FOR this commission 10 make any recommendations be
yond the following viz That the prison at sing sing be
incosed with val! Oh the land side and by al IRON
picket fence the water front the expense Of which
viii be comparatively light, iDasmuch as the material L"
be used (wn the exception OF the iIOn Is ON ire prem
Uses aud belonging 10 the State and the IRON may DC had
at tl Clinton Pr sou, We also recommend THAT all pub
lie highways over the prison rounds oe cl9sea Una,
suitable wall be erected around the prison al DdnueOrd
and completed that prison be used as stictly
penal the class OF Offenders The labor or
TING
yicts aud recommended economical measure, as
it would lessen the number oi guards ana aiso essen inc
number Of escapes, anu thus aNOld the expeEsS
necessarily connected with efforts ~ recaptnre. we
further recommend that the manufacture OF nails or
other articles requiring intricate ara expensive nac-
cry and mach civilian labor, DC discontinued q! DaHne-
mora and the convictS employed i'll mining ore, from
State mines only. until more profitable work can be
found. VIC also recommend that all land not absolutely
necessary for prison purposes whether at sing sing or
Dannemors should sGld Ihat the female prison at
more suitable be provided, at some place remote
from any male prison.
We have alluded to existing evils III the management
Of the prsons and submit IL to the judgment OF thoSe
who ATE hereafter 10 administer their aHilrs 10 naE
rate system in which these and corresponding evs
may b2 avoided. Under this new system laws must ne
enacted 10 regulate the PRISONS and IL is respectfully
commended that lode, simple ana Honhte III us pro
ysions easy hc understood and OF practical appca-
ton should be passed at an early DAY ana that al ex-
listing laws now spread OVeI our salnle booht as 70
prisons should De repealed As connected WIN the
investigation, the commission feel authorized to
recommend the passage of aaw appointing state agent
to look after interests OF discouraged cOnvcts so lar
as 10 aid them il finding employment that tey may not
he driven by necessity 10 repetition OF crime In clos
this report the commission state thot the above
DdatiOns were the SUBJECT OF ascdssiOn anu
met the entire approval OF their deceased COLLEAGUE the
Hon George X Babc0ck Respectfully submitted,
s xSeHD G ! S2a2 oa s1,,i'SiDg
LOUIS ID. PlIsBURf,
Neic- York, Dec. 80, 1876.