New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-14
NFW- YORK CONFLICTS.


There were one or two important points in
Governor Clevoland's message to which we
wish to direct especial attention.
The first is the fact that the earnings OF the
convicts in the three State prisons during last
year exceeded their expenses by $6,257. ibis
seems triflng matter in itself, but 1t has
significant meaning. The question whether the
State ought to be the gamer by the presence of
a large DO DIV of criminals in her borders is not
so easily settled as may be supposed. Here Is
the convict man who voluntarily has made
himself at once non producer, dangerous
influence and dead weight In the community.
When he is in prison the cost OF his mainte-
nance falls on the industrious, law abiding tax
payer This Is so manifesty unjust that the
first object in his treatment there would be ap-
parently to force him by his own labor to
tighten this burden on the taxpayer That, SO
far, has been the only object of our prison
systems in New-York. There has been for
years o rivalry between Auburn, Clinton and
Sing Sing in this matter, each striving to make
itself self-suppOrting. Out OF this rivalry have
grown many of the abuses, cruelties and imper-
fections Of management which have been found
in either of these institutions. The convict and
his well-being were In measure lost sight Of
in the sum which he could earn.
Let us look into the facts for a moment.
1t seems fair enough at the first glance that
thief or rufflan in prison should earn his
own living as he ought to do If he were
free man. But when his earnings equal his
expenses, as in 1882, he not only has done
this, but also helped to earn the support of
all the officers Of the prison and to keep up
its costly appliances. In 1882 he did this,
and more as is shown by the surplus fund.
This all may seem fair if the only object in
his imprisonment Is to punish and to compel
him to support himself. But there is broader
and deeper object, which is to reform him and
to render him self-supporting after he leaves
the prison. Ii this is not done, If the fangs
of the snake are not drawn, if he is to be turned
out to expend the venom which has accumulated
during his confinement in poisoning the COM
munity there was absolutely nothing gained by
bis confinement. There are three ways in
which this desired change In the convict and
his relations TO society can be brought about.
First, by his moral reform second by teach
ing him trade which he can follow on leav-
ing the prison, and, thirdly, by allowing him
his surplus earnings lover the sum which sup
ports himselD either to send to his family or
to save as fund to start him in life on his
discharge. How many cOnvicts, under the
present treatment, 60 out reformed men9 How
many, under the system of divided work, really
do master any trade or will be able TO apply
the partial knowledge they have gained, out
side of the prison That no money is saved
by them, or applied to the support of their
Gov, 70 hair on in
know; how much they might have saved is
shown 10y the report of surplusage. Our prison
system in New York. it is true, is immeasura-
bly, in advance of that of Georgia or the Caro-
linas, where the wretched convicts are in re-
atty still slaves, working for the State instead
of for individual masters; but there are
garing defects In it defects which work In
Justice both to the convict and to the honest
man who totters under his weight.
Another statement In the message which
calls for consideration is that the number of
insane persons in the different institutions to
which they are sent in this State Is 384 in
| excess of those sent last year, and that the
number OF the insane steadily increases with
every year. Now there is no reason why New
Workers should be more likely to lose their
reason with each year, nor is 1t true that they
do it. The true explanation Of the statement
| lies In the laxity Of the law and of its
application, which regulates admission
into these insttutionsj and secondly, in the
manner In which the county poor-houses
| where these poor creatures are herded are
misconducted. Once in them it is impossible
for any penniless wretch with diseased brain
to find his way out, and assuredly he never
grows sane in those walls.
The question of prison reform has fallen
into neglect lately In this country. There IL