The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-20
! Penitentiary That Is Disgrace
to Civilization.
FIERCE CLERICAL PROTEST.
Vaults Within Vaults Used as
Cells for Females.
SYRACuSE'S BARBAROUS ADMINISTRATION.

The Poerhouse and Insane Asylum is not the only
public institution in Onondaea county to which COM
mon attention has been drawn. The exposure OF tho
horrors of that institution, in which the HERALD took
so important part, will no doubt have the effect OF
setting to rights many of the wrongs which have
been practised in the poorhouses and insane asy-
lums of the State. The Governor deemed the sub
jcct Of sufficient Importance to make it salient
feature of his recent message. and If something
is not done to remedy the evils it will not be
because they are known to exist In this county
the agitation of this subject by the HERALD first
brought to our relief the State Board of Charities,
through whose influence changes ordered
which the false economy of nigaardly boards of SUI
pervsors has for years and years considered it
would be extravaganza to make. These alterations
are in the construction and in the system OF
management of the Poorhouse and Insane Asylum.
When completed the institution will bear better
resemblance to monument of humanity than
striking likeness to relic of barbarism.
THE oNoSDAGA PESITENTIARY.
But the task of the humanitarian is but half COM
pleted. In midst is another institution penal in
its character but in respects far remote from
purposes of reform that it has grown to be public
scandal The Onondaga County Penitentiary is to-
day disgrace to civilization. That it is so Is the
pure and simple result of spirit of sicky parsimony
fegned by the powers that be, who pander to the
hue and cry of retrenchment without giving
thought to the principles which undery the scien
OF true economy. Indignation ut the conduct
practsed at the Penitentary is now almost ripe
and unless change is made, and that quickly,
such another storm will be raised about the
of the supervisors forced them into acqui-
escence to the demand made by the humane and in
telgent portion of the community respecting the
Poorhouse and Insane Asylum. The measure which
he sIn eryis Of he hes
elements of society. is enlargement of the Penten
tiary, sought in the interest of morality well
humanity. The institution has always and does now
receive malefactors of both its inmates being
contributed by several neighboring counties, as well
as Onondaga The present construction and arrange
ment OF the Penitentary buildings admit of actually
non-isolation of the male and female prisoners.
state of affairs which has Of late been topic of gen.
eral interest among thoughtful people. The Board
Of Supervisors who were looked to for correction of
this shameful system have been divided in sentiment
upon the enlargement proposition The people, on
the contrary at least that part of them whose in
fnence should have been felt, were unanimously in
favor of making the onondaga Penitentiary credit
instead Of disgrace to the county.
AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION.
Knowing, however, of what were called the honest
differences of opinion in the Board the crusade
assumed by number Of ladies, the wives and
daughters of the clergymen, lawyers, physicians
and merchants of the city, who had ut heart the anne
Iteration of the condition OF the less fortunate men,
bers of their Late in November these good ladies
waited upon the Board of Supervisors and made
known the object of their visit. They presented q
brief petition in which reference made to the
report the Inspectors of the Penitentiary setting
forth that the institution had yielded the county
and above all expenses, income of $4,000
in the year past This profit had been the result of
the contract system, by which prisoners from other
counties are received and cared for. The inspectors
gave it as their opinion that tho system good
one and should be continued in force. To do 80,
however. enlargement was necessary. This the
ladies in person to urge They were accom-
panied by Right Rev. +. d. Huntington. Bishop of
the Diocese of Central New York. who made
eloquent plea for enlargement Of the peniten-
tiary. The effect of this salutary, but not suf
fcent. In spite of argument. in spite Of the public
and in spite of everything the Board of Super
visors defeated the measure of enlargement To be
sure they did go far to call the inspectors for
additional information. and although assured by
those officials that the enlargement would be pub
lie benefit and humane and moral innovation. the
cost of which would be more than betrayed out of
the past years income, the Supervisors lodged the
issue by 'directing that division wall be built in
the north wing Of the edihce. wall OF brick from
floor ceiling" thus shutting in ut the further end
forty-thrce cells, Ito be used exclusively for female
prisoners"
LOCATION THE CELLS.
To furnish q accurate idea OF the makeshft
resored to- the following diagram of section of the
north wing of the Pententiary and the location OF
the cells is submitted
NORTH