New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-11
SFVdTOR WILLIAMS PLAN

Senator Mcmillan, OF buffalo, VINO Is general
" recognized as one of the most evel-headed
and Trustworthy members of The present Legis-
lature. has introduced bill which provides for
a commission to investigate ond report upon
the prison problem. The Babdlo Courier
creets the bill with sneers at what it is pleased
70 call the incapacity of Republican Lcgisat-
ure to deal with the prison question. Consider
ing the record which the Democracy OF TINS
State have made on the prison question, me
Curriers' criticism is conspicuously maadrolt.
4 few years ago when The COmiers party
friends controlled both the Senate and Assem-
bly they III effect confessed that they were ln-
competent to handle the prison question by
eyading it altogether and sending it to the peo-
pie to be voted upon.
The Democracy only retained the upper hand
in the Legislature for one year. Having afford
ed them an opportunity to gain the public con-
idence by good and faithful service and the
opportunity having been wasted, the people
sent the Dem Ocrats to the rear and restored the
Republicans to power. Ever since the Repub-
leans assuming the burden to which the De-
mocracy had shown itself to be unequal, have
been making an earnest effort to solve the pris-
on problem without resorting to the discarded
State inside of newspaper office or out who
happens to know just what system ought 10 DC
adopted If so, why did he not shed MS ~
formation upon the Democratic Legislature OF
1883 and thus render unnecessary the reference
to the people, in all the incapaclty and coward
ice that it implicit The difficulty that lies in
the WAY of a solution of the problem is this
The people when they abolished the Irlson
Commissioners and placed the prisons under
single head aimed at making those institutions
self-supporting; under the contract systc n the
prisons had become sclf-sustainin4 the adOp-
ton of any one of the other systems that has
vet been proposed means money out of the
pockets of the taxpayers. The Superintendent
of Prisons has been given SSOD,OOo by the
present legislature 1t is n large sum, but he
will need that and $500, more if the State
account system pure and simple, Iather than the
niece -plan system, or modification OF the two
systems, is to be adopted.
In these circumstances Mr.. Mcmillan comes
forward with his proposition for commission.
| II is to investigate and report upon the follow
ing points
First-The various systems OF employing con,ics, and
especially eiormatory feature, which Involves the
convcrs interest and the selt-su>anlng principle
| OF maintaining cOuNlcts WltuOUl cOsI W The
Secpnl-T The intro iucon OF systcm OF employing con-
ycs In the prisons other than the contract system ana
upon shat articles OF anfacure prison labor can Des
he employed with a view diminishing TO the minimum
the competition which exists between prison labor
and free labor. Third-Nhat Experiments should bo
| made in the employment of conycts upon any new In
dustry and in which OF the prisons the ine should be
tested under the direction superintendent OF state
| Prisons Fourth-Thc best method by which can be
established a graded system in the commitment custody
and employment all conyicts in this state with vie
to classifying and separating the del taved and vicious
from those possessing type OF character susceptible OF
moral Improvement. Th-What abuses, II any, obtain
in the management and discipline OF the cony9ts, and
what new method I'll ould he adopted in tbs behalf
! There is Il wholesome prejudice i'll the public
mind against the creation of commissions by
Legislatures, but we believe that a large ma
jorty of the taxpayers will be i'll favor Of Nh.
McNIillan's bill. The votes that have been
taken in the Senate and Assembly this Year and
the discussion that has been had in the news
papers show that neither Republicans nor DEM
ocrats are agreed among themselves as to what
it is best to do. The right sort OF Il commission
might clear the way for a concerted action that
would result in giving the State the wisest
Prison policy that the wit OF man can devise.