The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26
providing an additional alowance Of money to dis.

the bill did also other prominent prison officials
to prison of many who had 50 bitterly complained
that their mileage money had been exhausted before
week had passed and OF necessity were compelled
to steal in order To live. Those in prison shortly to
be returned to the world eagerly watched the
OF the bill. for their future in many instances de-
pended upon its becoming a law. The bill passed
and its passage kindled reformatory blaze III the
breasts OF hundreds intent doing right which.
however. was speedily extingushed by the Govern
ors veto. The Legislature in its many efforts to
aneliorate the prisoners condition. never hit upon
better plan for their benefit than was intended
by the provisions OF this bill. The money
to be paid in the Warden's office upon
the prisoners discharge. ignoring completely
the the h q the and
impair it's usefulness sought to overthrow and crush
the peril by advocating and procuring the bills veto.
Ii is currently reported ana believed by those
nected with the prisons that DR.. Harris urged the
Governor veto the bill the ground that the
or buy liquor. and that any aid deserving man re-
qnired would be promptly granted by him. II this
allegation does injustice to DR.. Harris it is
to be hoped he will speedily set the matter
at rest II he does not avail himself OF this opportu-
nifty the natural inference must be that he Is draw.
back to prisoners reformation and an enemy to all
measures calculated to aid q convict. DR.. Harris
told me that he opposed to the bill. that he did
not approve OF the State furnishing purse OF money
to each discharged prisoner and previous to the veto
expressed the sentiment to others. II has been
asserted by some that this money would amount to
an enoIpo9s sum yearly as most Of the discharged
it y /. but let us examine the other side
OF Cease before rendering adverse decision.
fifty per cent of released criminals are returned
Prson shortly after their discharge, and nearly all
tell the same story-that they wanted to leave New
York. but had not sufficient money. and in trying to
obtain it were again involved in difficulty. Thieves
dislike stealing in this city, as 1t Is attended
with too many dangers, and presumably they would
the money given them i'll many instances 10
the State for the purpose Of more successfully
operating in other States Others, honestly intend-
better r. enable tneseyes to do we'll in place dis.
ant from the of their crimes and disgrace. So
we see the bill would have in measure cleared the
State of professional thieves
THE OTHER SIDE
Now for the other view The bill is vetoed, returned
criminals want money and steal to obtain it, are ar
rested and again locked mp. Here is morsel for
those taxpayers who objected to the magnitude OF
the amount the bill would engender. For example.
single shall be selected $40 would have rid the
State OF thief: it is withheld and he commits q
highway robbery desperate burglary, is arrested,
and the legal machinery put III motions there Is the
expense trial. conviction and conveyance to prison,
maintenance there for term of years. expenses from
moment OF arrest to date OF discharge, asgregatng
least thousand dollars all OF which could have
been obyated by the pay nent OF $40 at the proper
time. Here have the demOraizing effect which .
crime generates-a loss of property and possibly life
by the thiefs act and extra burden OF $1,000 Tho
$40 saved doubtless i'll the interest OF economy,
but such economy if largely INDUCED in may ruin
the community. 1t would be polite to re-enact tho
convicts allowance bill aud give it trial. its repeal
follow in time if its usecssness is demonstrated
WRITER'S EXPERIENCE.
/ have just finished q five years sentence and
prior to my release was visited by Dr.. Harris AS
my former occupation was OF clerical nature de-
sired to leave the prison clothed respectfully, as my
opportunity for employment would be greatly en-.
HANGED thereby. But no effort was made to comply
with the request, nor was any aid given to enable me
to visit my home in Philadelphia, but on the morn
ing OF my discharge letter placed in my hands
by the prison clerk, reading as follows:-
Mr. GEORGE uEsDERsoN:-
you may do well to directly to your family IN Phade-
New York city an hour II Is best not to even on
enough to eau at my once put once az your hGe you can
e your s%d terms WIN HARls
This is an illustration of the assistance profered
and general supervision exercised in such cases by
Dr. Harris. Here person is advised to not call 1T
the Prison Association, and no money or aid FUR
nished to expedite his passage from place so wicked
that it unsafe to remain in 1t an hour Had
committed a crime to obtain sufficient money to
visit my parents voice of condemnation would
have been so loud as DR.. Harris.
Ny purpose is to show the inefciency of the ASSOC
citation at present conducted Its members are an
honest, respectable body. and believe anxious to
raise the fallen but they don't properly adapted
for the business The wide gulf between the morals
Of themselves and the class they deal with naturally
creates feeling OF distrnst and it - this very feeling
which operates fatally upon those applying for
help There should be strong, wide-awake man 70
conduct Dr. Harris business, one who does not re-
gard every beseecher for mercy as probable
designer upon the associations treasury To bring
about such change requires the action OF better
class of people than exconvicts their battered repu.
tations cannot long assa the invulnerable OF
purity and honesty that cncases each member OF the
association. But q change is necessary i'll order to
victs return to this city aud they really need looking
after in charitable way but will not visit the Prison
Association with the examples before them OF h''n-
dreds who have been disappointed before. When .
sinner exhibits penitent symptoms the Church nobly
sustans him until he is numbered with the
but When an % ss whn IL
sustain him and encourage the impulse? he
is promptly attended to II he attempts to
notes the enterprise The subject is worthy
OF discussion, as society is more Interested IL
reforming criminals than the criminals themselves
are Thieves susceptible of kindly influences.
and those interesting themselves in such work
would be well rewarded for their efforts.
Meanwhile statement from Dr.. Harris. showing
to what extent he has benefited discharged criminals,
would be appropriate at this juncture. As he has
been state agent year. and had $4,000 TO expend in
helping them. the people are anxious to see how he
has discharged his duty. GEOkGE HENDERSON.
ARE PASSENGERS TO BE THE ONLY LOSERS?
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD
or the annoyances connected with travel on the
New York Elevated Railroad. not the least is their
present ticket system. On Sunday last the writer,
with three Others took train ut the Battery and
arrival at the Fulton street station the engine having
met with accident unable to proceed further.
As we had to go well uptown we waited some time to
take the next train but they seemed unable to get the
first train out of the way were finally obliged
to resort to the horse cars. Before leaving we re-
aueed the clerk to refund the tickets bought at the
Battery station, knowing the company would not
allow tickets to be bought except for immediate
He said he could not refund tickets bought ut other
stations and that the clerk at the Battery would not
be able to take tickets presented by parties coming
into the depot. but only from those who were In 1t.
and only redress TO present the tickets ut the
main Office relate the circumstances, and they would
probably refund the money AS the amount involved
only forty cents was not worth all this trouble the
writer avas himself of your valuable paper to point
out an evil which could be easily remedied by allow
ing persons to buy many tickets they choose
and making them good until used
TICKEIS FOR SALE.
TOO MUCH STYLE.
To THE EDITOR on THE HERALD
Can beg space in your columns to make COM
plant universal among government employees in the
matter OF being obliged to uniform consisting
of brass buttons and blue clothes Said uniform