The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-02


Total g. sos
Tho total numo w September ~, 1916, was oO9,
showing increase tor tho present year OF eighty
six. The advances from the treasury exceeded the
receipts from the prison earnings Tor the fiscal year
ending september 80 last by Inc sum OF $369, 6SS o.
THIS dcacit, gwen Ia my last annual Message, was
$7c4 $40 So. showing decrease OF tho annual draft
upon Tho state treasury OF 1884 69l H. As the present
Superintendent did not enter upon his Official duties
until February II, 1871 and had, therefore, been IN
control hto more than seven months at the close OF
the fiscal year tho result Is tho more credltable.
OF the actual deficit the urst live months. during
winch tho prisons were managed under the old sys-
TEN, developed by far tho greater part II Is but lair
to add that the returns o. sing Sing. formerly the
most costly OF all our PRISONS for the last three
months OF the calendar year. show an actual revenue
TO the State treasury over all expenditures. These
figures furnish strong proof OF the wisdom OF the
new system Of managing our public institutions
through single responsible head, and inspire the hope
that III short lime Tho prisons OF The STATE, 50 long
costly burden 10 the taxpayers, will become sell
sustaining. An equal advantage OF the presont sys-
TEN already attained Ia found in tho better discipline
and greater Industry ntaned at the several pris
ons-morally TAR more beneficial 10 their inmates
than the license ana irregularities OF former times.
In connection with the penal system OF tho state
ask that you consider the overcrowdod condition Of
our state prisons, largely the result OF excessive SEN
tcnccs Some years since act was passed allowing
very considerable deductions from the terms OF con-
vcts whose behavior should DO satisfactory during
their confinement. TINS law has M UGH improved the
discipline In prisons and has worked well In all
respects. study Of the commitments since Its piss-
age however, leads TO the Conclusion that our crimI-
nal courts, especially IN the city o New YORK; tasc
account oil these Deductions in passing sentences and
by imposing longer terms really defeat the object OF
the Communication act Tho cxiremo penalties vi Tho
law often inflicted for first offences oil 0vcry grade.
IL II not ut all uncommon 10 mud IN Tho state
prisons lads or sixtocn or eighteen VINO, Tor
really trivial mutt upon their plea OF guilty TO an IN.
dctent OF some grave CRIME nave 0een sent 10 prison
for twenty years such boys are too oltcn although
innocent led 10 pie al guilty 10 crimes they mover com
mitttd by the pcrsuasons oil INCIDENT or unprncpod
lawyers, whJ having robbed them OF their money
geek thus TO avoid The trouble Of trials Some such
convcts are aue 10 Drink their cases 10 the notice OF
the Executive. with proofs winch Justify the exercise
OF ccmcncy, but the great majority drag out wrcchcd
lives PRISON, emerging at last useless 70 themselves
aud the community. " seems that some steps should
bc taken TO prevent this injustice and ask that you
consider the matter In come elton with the subject Of
peuaiiies.
STATE RKFoRMAroRY AT ELaiKA
Tho State Rcformatory at Elmra approaches CON-
plctlon and now contains 40 convicts The Lcgis-
liurc, AT ITS last session. passed an act giving the
Board OF Managers vide discretion In tho detention
release and supervision OF tho criminals committed
TO Their charge Under this 1t was hoped by those
VINO had given mucn attention 10 tho subject tho
maximum OF moral Improvement In youthful convicts
IN .ht be attained rhe system Is, OF course, cx-
pertinent. IL has been often advocated but never
before thoroughly tried Ia tins State. The roiorna
tory Is bcevcd 10 DC at present so administered as To
insure the success Of the experiment II success
rs possible. There have been expended upon the
buiidngs and grounds, nttngs aud furniture Of tho
reormutory during the past year $780, 900, cav nR an
unexpended balance OF the appropriation made last
water OF 100000, which The managers estimate Will
DO sufficient complete the building. II will thon
comniodatc 900 conyics, aud may furnish needed re-
lief to our crowded state prisons
UNEMPLOYED LABOR.
The depression IN all Jranches oil trade bus ness and
manufacture, ana the WI eek OF too numerous rai
road, MINING, iron and mining ventures have thrown