New-York tribune., 1877-01-05
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
STATE PRISONS NON-PARTIsAN.

STATE PRISONS NON-PARIlSAN.
THE OPPORTUNITY now PRESrNTED-A TREATY BE-
TWEEN THE SENATE AND GovrRNoR.
TO me Edftor Of me Tribune
SIR: Nobody, SO far as l know, pretends
that Gov Hoffman's non-partisan commission when
nary revised the State Constitution embOded All inc
wisdom in the world respecting state PRISONS Du'
nobody so far as know OF weight OF character mas
yenturod deny that the proposition OF that cohs
sion to lit their administration up out OF their present
low depths OF barrOOm politics ana make thei noh
partisan was fraught with great measure OF wsdoin
The 6enias have been of another character Inc poll
tieans Of both parties known members OF the Prison
Rings have denied the possibility of making the ADMIN
jstration OF the prisons nOn-parsan, and they nave
hitherto been abo fortify and support that denial
with tbs historic fact that neither party when 1t had the
control OF the prisons was willing To take te respos
blity. That commission considered the idea feaspie
and practicable if the officer in supreme command OF 'e
prisons would adopt it as his working plan and give
fair trial With the aid OF the Canal Ring, the Prison
Ring prevented the Legislature to which the amendment
creating a Superintendent in lieu OF Inspectors aho
thereby rendering nOnpartisan administration Vi i
State Prisons possible from submitting tie sut1ect 10
tue people But Mr.. Seward revived 1t again III the
Legislature 1875. the gisaturc OF 1876 eoncurcd
and the people have ratified il by their votes For ta
purpose the result Of the recent election fortunate II
the Governoreect is willing TO adopt the idea ana give
it fair trial.
Down TO the present time administrations OF tne
prisons have been and yet are entirely partisan The
ignorant vulgar and vicious hcnchmcn OF the Inspectors
are there as the reward for their personal partisan
services-henchmen who never before were intrusted
with the government of beast at home or abroad
Neither party III power enough at Alblny 10
select Superintendent Of Prisons tO launch this new
amendment Constitution IN the old rut or upon
higher plane without the consent OF the other upon ts
suffice they will stand al bay BY the force and ioglc OF
events To which both parties will have contributed ana
for which neither will have been wholly r1s1OnsDlc u
fortutos condition of this great subject Will exist IN
which the prisons may he lifted from cutters 10 hGN,
nOu-partisan renuneratiye levels II the Governor ANA
Sp ate shall consider and treat IL with anything IKE
good practical sagacity aud Judgment The people have
opened the way. ,.-
The terms OF the treaty to 0e made by and between
the oyernor-eec amt the Republican Senators should c
reduced 10 writing and ribed by them ALL to the ends
that the public may know precisely what they are, ana
that the public Iaith OF the parties may be as iunciy
bound by them And they should embrace ana Include
not only the the agreed upon Tor Sulcrli-
eudelt, hut the condition that he shall man the louI
state Prisons with equal number OF Rcpullcans and
Democrats at outset who respectable honest ana
capable and exempt from bad habits aud wees, 10 ne
end that both parties may have equal advantages al e
start And may BE- wise to 90 further, perhaps, ana
provide the filling of the places AT least for year or
two OF who ia upon trial TO be good ohcers ana
are Obliged for that to yield their places 10 ther
bettere with men OF the shade Of politics
i,b,,ri n T. Dec %, 1876. BLSJ. +. HALL.