The New York herald., 1877-01-17
Report Of the Governors Commission
Upon Their Condition.
FRAUDS AND FAvORS.
How the State is Robbed and Prisoners
Made "Comfortable."
oTERcRoWDyC and DEFECTIVE VENTILATION.


at Eimira. submitted 10 the Legislature to-day. The
evidence accompanying the report covers SlS pages
INSECURITY PRISONS.
Tho prisons at Sing Sing and Dannemora arc iaT
from being against escapes they should be-
Tho wooden icnce ut Dannemora Is OF but little use,
and many OF the doors OF the cells and window
gratngs Of cast iron the prisoners lind but little
difBculty in getting away which they often do sub
ecng the State great expense In the matter OF re-
capturing thcm, item that has aggregated severa
thousand dollars within a iew ycnrs
ovEncRowpED PRISONS.
Tho three state prisons all overcrowded, and not
withstanding tho cells too small and nsufiicieny
ventilated for tho OF prisoner many OF them
arc occupied by practice that should never be
permitted in any prison. ntcriercs with discipline
by arording opportunities for plotting mischief for
lnduging degrading practices, njurng health, and,
more than ALL suiycctIng tho comparatively wcl-
ntentioncd convict to the danger Of moral conamina
lion by the hardened offender, danger against
which tho State should guard all IT'S criminals
QUEER DISCIPLINE
Chief among tho evils OF partran influence wcrc the
differences and quarrcls among the inspectors and
other officials sometimes leading almost 10 blows.
The party the majority would frequently ignore the
minority, nuy orders issued by such minority lcr-
bid any record thereof prohibit the wardons from
order on Monday tho Boerd would counicrmand It on
Tuesday and adjourn aud on Wednesday, il would again
be thus creating confusion IN all depart
mcns oi The PRISONS affect Tho next grade of officials
rcuch md guards influence tho conduct OF
the PRISONERS and result In entire absence oil d'sci-
pine, destroy the value of convict labor increase
the Deficiencies OF tho prisons ana nJure the convcts
puxisiMENTs.
AZ ruc convicts have mot tor some years been &C.
vefcy punished, though there arc INSTANCES where
punlshmcnts have been unjustly administered For
mcriy punisbnens were more severe than at present
rbc following sometimes administered, VIZ Iron
cup or cage the shoulders by an iron band
about neck, the cage part extending upward some
fifteen inches or more, wlthin which the mead IS In
closed by small rods bands OF iron, weighing from
SIX and u half to eight pounds This Is for slight
offences and taken of whenever tho offender cx-
presses regret tor his offences and promises better
conuuct IN future Confinement IN common cells,
with reduced rations, Is also used Tor certain minor
offences.
ishmcnts havo been are used, VIZ The cage. gag,
straItjackct confinement IN common cells on reduced
rations ana dark cells with short rati0ns and IN
dungeons sometimes with shackcs; tho strctchcr,
tying the hands TO post and shortening the hair-
considered The sevcrcst VI all and one that meets with
the greatest opposition.
coSvIcTs' COMPLAINTS
There have been but lew complaints madc TO tho
commission by tho inmates oil the PRISONS numerous
they are notwithstanding II was understood IN all
The prisons all would be listened to who
desired to heard There were not moro than forty
VINO voluntarily presented themselves before the
MISSION and tue grencr part OF those sought influence
in regard TO getting pardoncd.
CURIOUS VISITORS At PRISONS
Among other great evils that have existed nbout the
pr sons Is the practice OF admitting visitors from
sort oi human mcnagere, for the confinement and
display peculiar sorts OF partially tanned wild men,
feelings in regard 10 beng ''shown up are OF
tonsi,erati0n whatever
The more notorious any prisoners have become the
anxious are the visitors to 500 them, and the
first request OF one OF those sghtseers ON entering
prison TO have a. Is. or Z. ID. pointed out
rls visiting has become 30 prevalent that excursion
partics such The late Centennial called FORTH have
beer mad
numbering nearly 2OJ persons, visited the Auburn
tr,.ou while tho commission were there, enough IN
numbers rabd IN their curiosity as to almost
override every ything about the prison.
rmE ABUSE coSvicTs AND LrSArca
Tho inmates OF tho prisons have not usually been
very mucu abused favors (rcasons apparent IN evl-
uencc having been quite as frequent as maliren mcnt
su tnrrc has been too much abuse and neglect Of the
sick and feeble
he commission do not bcIevo that convict should
have all the privileges and comforts ofa home; the
0eprvaion OF these is part ol tho penalty justly OK
acted ior their offences against society. On The
other nand. believe that they shou:
have sufficient wholesome prison iood,
worked beyond their strength, have comfortable
clothing proper medical care when sick, and not bc
lett 10 die alone In cells amt above ALL The
mission do not believe IN puuishing irresponsible
Iunaiic criminals Tor offences committed while IN the
prison ~ YUM.
pEFRArpxG coNvIrs
Reference is gwen pages oi the testimony oiu
sufficient clothing. pau iOod and detention OF cOnvIcs
beyond tncir timc IRON carecssness OF prisoL clerk
working, ncgIect,hg ana punsang sick convlc,s;
10 Prisoners dyng IN Their cells; as TO keeper cx-
t"rt'ng money; us 10 money pad TO keeper by con-
yics 10 money paid TO deputy sheriff. US TO fees
demanded by the doctor, and AS to property not re-
turned to n convict on his discharge within short
time vi ihis mans discharge he vas again arrested Tor
breaking into tho house Of District Attorney Phelps
ana sent back TO PRISON. How much tho loss of his
property had TO DO win his new crimc cannot 10
stated After his return TO PRISON hts watch was
found.
Another convict, on his discharge, demanded moro
money than appeared To his credit on The 'CODvIct
Deposit Book. " On looking ~ his commitment paper
the sum was found credited ON the back thereof, IN
pencil, former clerk failing I" make tho proper entry
coSvicrs rAyoREn
One OF the most prolific sources of dissatisfaction
among the prisoners, ana ono wh'ch mas donc much 10
interfere with proper discipline, has been iavors shown
TO some oil the convcisa practice that should never
be permitted IN any prison. ronvcts have complained,
and justly more about that than anything else In their
prison experience. Some have been hired TO comply
with prison rules by giving them special privileges;
nIiow ed 10 buy Injuries; conduct unchecked corrc-
spondcncc; TO read all sorts OF newspapers and 10 do
pretty much as they pleased, except perhaps, 10 leave
the prson to occupy places oil 'rus', as clerks,
wcgners and mcasurers, &c, &c.
Convicts have been permitted TO draw uncook ed
rations and cook the samo TO suit themselves instead
fccdtng In the mcssroom TO sleep in hospital room
and have hospital fare when not under medical trca T.
mont: have been hired TO do their work IN apr0pcr
manner; to buy dccacics 10 eat IN the wardcns KIT
rhen wnen not employed there: 10 make pies from ma
cras belonging 10 the state aud sell sainc 10 other
vcts TO rove about the prison grounds at peasurci
10 fscc Stokcsl with contrpctors to work
lor themselves and take the avais therefor; To 70
hcarsc for and tako part IN theatrical performances
TO have to prison suppics the female lie pris
oncrs permitted better lood than others: male
convicts permitted to have their clothing made te
plcascJhcm, &c.
nwAsrE, DISHONESTY AND cAKELEssSEss.
References to testimony on these points show thai
IN purchasing supplies and nx,ures, erecting build
,nrs &C.. but little economy was prnctiscd that M
c,rc OF same oI,ow we'd purchasc that productive mines
belonging to the state abandoned and royalty
pa,d privatc parties Tor ore from other mines; TIA
dishonest practices prevailed among officials AM
others by whcn tnc State dcrauded aud prisoner
Injured That ofliciais not only failed 10 make IN
states debtors pay, but also became debtors them
selves
An agent at the Sing sing prison nado contract 10
sc acl,vcrv nj tho prison OF 500 cords OF wood at
mr. cord. when but about 500 cords were delivered
succcssor 10 the Official who made this contract wa
nno,n ted who annulicd the contract and made nc'
r.r with another party on substantially the sam
terms The party whose contract was thus aorogn,c
applcd to inc Legislature Tor reIic and law was p'
sum was drawn from the treasury OF The state, nj
though the rarty realized but $4,000. having pa
81 O00 obtain the passage o. .ne nw, me - cvs, ,