New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-22
A TALK NTH ISAAC ?. BAKER.

| THE REPORT OF THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE oN
PRISONS FAIR oNE-No LEGISLATION NEEDED.
Isaac V. Baker, Superintendent OF stare
Prisons spent the greater part OF yesterday az sing
Prison. Ho was at he Breyoort House. IN TINS Guy
last night, when inquiries wero made or MN Oy ihi
usE reporter IN regard tue report OF the Assembly
Committee on state Prisons which wa' suDntteut 10 tue
Legislature on Tuesday. 4" have scea only synopsis
OF the report" Mr. Baker said, aud therefore, am
hardly pre- arcd TO express an opinion upon IT. IL Is
clear however by the report OF the majority OF tue COM
mttee that seeks only 70 improve the prison SYSTEM
and not for any political advantage think lts re-
port fs fair one although there may he difference Of
opinion In regard to the advsablty of some OF the bills
"Wha do YOU think OF the proposed commission to in
| al think IL a wise rec ,nmendsuon Massachusetts,
SONS and believe they ali reported against the
abontion OF tho contract system, u ,,,h WIZ W.
Question:" 49, -. A., ,..,, 4.
the nn nbe OF prisoners Dyed should be reduced to
the minimum allowed OF tue terms o. tne axreeme n
Would thai interfere with the pr sent management
"No; tor The reason tait, VITA o one Gm
WHO has so large number of prisoners employed us hs
contract ca for In thc one case tere AN Ike IS ~
br,tsr TO allow even tuosc seven men to do nothing
ra cr tIan employ them In the manner they are no"
"W6 4 nave you TO say in regard t. the Recommended
ton tuat the Superintendent should make regular and
raat aui tue next RECOMMENDATION that the
Narens exercise G,Sgr cs1 ~ e aave
be,n Office tnln year. during wn ca time nave
inspected ia PRISONS over lorH uTS, i"e p'oPPs'',o
Wilt 10 perform work In es, ~ Their re Itr tasks,
~ n God one n ,cca lie Ole objection that wn le
q q ma m " work good zeal hare tlin asOtder, set,
ecau less rOng or sHlfa ue IN y NOT D. hDIg 10 %
an tnng more tnan his regular task 1t cans g dscOn-
re i'm sea eases. rucre are o,her objections, oat they
"what do you think OF the proposal 10 promOt alto
Cether rpOrl punisnmeutI
think any bit Tor such purpose would have TO de-
1ue stric ly wna, q nieudrd supreme CO9it J"dSe
SAID to TO-DAY has suoL term mis"t 9e nei 70 pre-,
ven, vent ~ ' AT q the body lie ,ai .aat cYe
rl'onment Itself might be held to DC
,rpUra, punishment White 1 DO not thrk
Ina, could be tn- case, sill he term IL m elastic
In read 60 doubling mp tIere are two SIDES 20 the
SdieorInn e suia offers Tor sDcli uprIyem nj
nv, known men 10 tan grrat Interest Ia iUstrdchng
n so ioth OF COARSE unlcs- graf care il ttksn 10
keep hardened crmiuas In Their cells, injury may
r.sut see indt recommend itOn - IuO
"a rear 80 i al te ,ioy~rn ~ RAJ
u tie cas-. now. prisoner can go me pcrs ma "
wnen visit pri on sometimes l see Glasses Of twenty
'wh,t rs your opinion OF the recon nendafion re-
gard to In tracing tno prsoIcrS In common EHslsh
think It q good one. II proper persons provided |
carry There are no rooms nat can be used TOR
rch ol puri Oses wIen Mr.. Pillsaury was |
sapsrinend.u, he allowed g employ instructors
for this purpose, but the pay hled b. Jaw was /
small tIAt he cIuid not get c'mrei1ht men Ihen
they na 40 II cell TO eel" aud IA Il made tho
i'm ractiol OILS. lie id tia IL lrOy dSd under
ground Of communication 70 afcOplc outside,
AZ he abolished II. systcn OF instruction sbOu be
r -esabli-nei rooms shod be PROVIDED ny tho State
for tn purpose"
naye t.e prisoners at sing Sing quetel down yeti"
Z" Yea Nine men used 10 WORK lat week,
them to ters and they went to work again TO day the
trouble been that have not h1d enough dark celia
20 PUNISH the Prisoners. ~ long a3 they could
renan IN their .gular AID work when they
chO e. tucy likely to strike At any Time. We have
rrm die mat detecL There are oily about $50
that dicut OF confo Out OF tue WnOle number Of
prsiuers."
Wat arc you going to do witn tie prisoners at
thai tDe hat contracts have been abOl
Haed I"
have advertised their iaoor, but. OF course cannot
tell vat Will 10 the rcsulL Ia proseut unsettled
affairs. with tao Legislature threatening
ifcnl TO get suy tocontra for tie labor {
i1o ngurcs. Tue question ought u Do decided one way
Or he other, d this uncert unity removed
Under the Old sistem. the people uf tue State
sere called upon 20 pay between s"O0OOO aud
.be bodied prisoners. rhe Taxpayer. demanded n
,hanko, W ten ELECTED uacel Superintendent Pills
Jury Tue prisons made so,fsustining, tnink
n once ono year and will show surplus Of
ARM 81 over expenses to tie amount
4 $1,000. Now, II the people want tIo
ysem chang ed, aud the prisons conducted more
-cIO0 something else, 10 ~ my 0dsihcas TO OBEY
ne Irrespective ot my persjual views aud will
10 So"
From your experience what legislation do you think
needed Tor the prlsOns I"
think they need let alone and The tenure Or OF
Ice OF prison Oiuias SnOuu permanent during good
ennyiOr 80 Long tBey competent. hay0 ! ,
Le soc appointment OF the waruens, chaplin, ,
nd 20 forth, and | not sin gle !
uange have been In once. The ent NJ AuDnrn
OF cOurse uAd appOiut ms successor That
, tho only Appuiutuelt made