New-York tribune., 1886-02-11
LABOR IN STATE PRISONS.
MONEY WANTED FOR THEIR MAINTENANCE.
DEBATES on THE BILL APPROPRIATING OVER
MILLION DOLLARS.

DEBATES on THE BILL APPROPRIATING OVER A
MILLION DOLLARS
ALBANY, Feb 10.-The Assembly went into
Committee OF the Whole to-day on Mr. Kruses Dill ap-
proprating 81 90 900 deficiency In the nante-
nance etc. of State prisons AR Krusr moved to strike
ont the 81 600 and to insert $500 He said that
the peceprce system being practically prohibited Dy
the decision OF the AttorneyGeneral that 1t Is only
another of the system. 1t seemed TO MIN
only and that was the state
account plan. To keep the prisoners in deness would
cost 100000.
Mr. Bltcheller said that the present efficient State
Prison superintendent doubted much about the
propriety OF committing the State to the
state account system In his annual reporl
he recommended that Is such plan should be decided
upon there should be separate system, leaving the
superintendent his legitimate functions OF superin-
1t the part OF wisdom first to settle the
details OF system map the complete plan before
entering upon any large expenditures. Dir. sheehan
said he surprised at the action OF the chairman OF
the Appropriation COmmittee The Superintendent OF
Prisons had stated that 100000 would be necessary
to keep prisoners under the State account
system until the end OF the fiscal The committee
had recommended the bill ia accordance with these
suggestiOns but the chairman asks TO reduce the
appropriation more thun Ouc-halk He was willing TO
vote all the money The present embarrassing
situation due to the refusal of the Legislature to
make the necessary recommendation
he regarded it duty of Legislature to make
liberal appropriations at this time The bill merely
authorized officer OF the STATE TO use State money
here might not be more than 100000 out Continuously
Mr.. McCellnd was willing to appropriate any amount
o 9 Hoo myed d9 to re e % tnG b be
matter would b. divorced Ir0Il politics ,,
Mr.. Plat fhyOred Mr.. McCellants amendment III
that amonnt was appropriated be DrleVeu tnaI there
wound be more money IN the treasury AZ the end OF ne
year than II the smaller amount was authorized Attne
same time he wanted IL under'tooi lnlt ne was posi-
uvry aud rrdby opposed to tue state account sys
contract system Under the state account system
S2jOOOOO will he required next year. an wheG tne con-
sing shall expire not less than $0OOoooo
Mr. ErIT, ttvored the 100000 appropriation 1t
would. said. sufficient until system should nave
been agreed upon and then whatever amount was re-
Mr. tirrruc was unable to understand why the Super
iutcndrn should he hamprrcd by the refusal OF the
Legislature appropra the necessary money to carry
out the state icc1un system. conceded through
ont Cnrlscnion mat the contract system was in
furious the prisoners as well a. To dl'cphT Iney
lrlrd thrm~ryes nothing hut cLattrs. Ihe con-
system h,d been abandoned by all England hai
been cOnurmn by the Prison Association ana ny tne
people. ana had zen repealed by IN" statutes OF Tue
lie offered amen mcnt. intended a. section
ot the Dill authpH%h Inr 'onttol'l 10 .'ho , -, ~
all purchases etc.. nniT the state account p an and TO
appoint clerk In eacn prison In addition TO
the one now authorized.
'ir. Mccrurnr1 amendment that Sl5oo.oOo be ap-
prOpriutri was l1s by "A vote Of - [" 81
Nr K.u-c's nduent for IN" appropriation OF
100000 was also nrsAtiyed ayes. 43 nays. Gl
BIZ 90 appropriate Sl.lOO.OJOj was ordered to third
Tne bll was pissed by vote Of % TO 3 Messrs A. G.
Allen, Douaid Eis'n Erwin, Langley Rea' storm ana
spcct. order IN the Senate blll appropriat
Ing rjOJUOO Tor the maintenance Of prisons.
Mr.. -.ulu stated tuat the appropriation had been
reduced from 81 90 900 to SjOOGJO. believed
tht before lS dOurm"ut tue Legislature would rstap-
ll,h pn cy with rrfcfcuce prison labor possibly the
urc price plan. There mlscoucepton, he SAID,
concerning tn, apprnprttinn. II wH M not pe nrSes-
-ary to include It all within the tax levy "a the money
would not il - raised 10y taxation Under the state
account rhc state hts To invest money n ma
teri MS, cc n gets the money back IN few months
Thus far "a" state account system had been successful
and the prisons for year had been nearly selSus-
Mr. Low believed that the statement did not
fairly pr the condition OF the prisons. He believed
cnargrs the present balance OF the prisons
would snow deficit FOR lat y"lr
Mr.. Fasan ,sscrtrd tht $50 900 wouli be ample TO
cou,iuct the con cmplttcd experiment
Mr Ft-S~t explained that the nil merely gave the
Eld p,1"% en- superintendent 0'"N account Win '"0
Mr Sloan asserted that the bill did not commit the
Lrgisltturc that system. II s 10 meet present
emergency It's question OF Keeping the prisoners at
Mr. Reilly would for the bill u any portion OF
tn money To lee spent for the Pece-price system,
which only the contract system IN disguise.
Mr Low believed that the experience of the next few
years would demonstrate that II would be better to
march the prisoners mp aud down thhh To emp2y
them under the system now proposed. lie
believed It would be better to ro,I,,SG h1Ss
burdens under which thoy hal neen put II the
e5O1"oOp The legislature ~ ~ as Wen race tne mat
aud restore the contract System. II II "a re-
stored the people VIII ratfy the act by an oyerwhelm'
Sir Comsrock asserted that the contract state % ac,
and prcrprico plans were the only ones TOT the
Mr Ra.ncs Interrupted To say that It had been pro-
po-cd tuat each comfy care for its convicts
Mr. ComstorR sail that the state account system had
carmel surplus ir pno9 ne sS nave made
profits now let the state make THESE profits: ,
Mr.. Ralurs wished TO know whether Mr.. Comstock
proposed forget honest labor In order to make money
Tor the state.
not the demneSgical friend" rctaated Mr.. Raines.
The bill was then ordered To u third reading.