New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-17
sY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

A
PRISONS.
By TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
Albany, n. Y, July 16.-1he corridors Of tho
hotC-s Of ASJany had slight sprinklng OF members
of the Legislature to night who had arrived to attend
the extra session that will begin There
was prodlgious amount OF handshaklng and mutual
inquiries about health. Most Of the Senators and AS
semblymcn had sunburncd faces, and said that their
vacations had been interrupted, and therefore they
impatient TO return their homes. 1t was evil
dent that whatever business Governor Hill might put
before them would be disposed of in short order. A
session Of only two days the universal prediction
of the members. There a common belief that the
coming deficiency In tho appropriation for the sup
port OF system OF labor in tho State prisons would be
the main subject Of Governor Hll's message.
Assemblyman shechan. OF Buffalo, the Democratic
leader in the Assembly, visited tho Governor this after
noon. When he returned to the Dclavan House. he
solcmnly declared that the Governor had not told him
anything about tho message Mr.. Shechan Is a truth
full man, but this statement received with con-
siderable ncrcdullty The Republicans said that they
did not care to know in advance what David b. Hill
would say. They sure It would contain nothing
but peanut politics. They would not act on tho
recommendations of the message until they had held
Caucus. Speaker Cole said
ave shall meet at IL o'clock tomorrow, listen to
the Governors message and then adjourn until tho fol
lowing day In the shall decide what ctIon
TO take the Governors message. was in favor OF
tho regular appropriation the close Of the last
sion, but have changed my views since on a careful
consideration Of the subject Now / would not grant
an appropriation, IL could help It, OF 100000
and would provide that the prisoners should be kept
ployed at hard labor abolshng the use of machinery
In tho State prisons"
Ex-spcaker James W. Hustled said We Republicans
VIII hold and appoint committee con-
ssting of five Senators and nine Assemblymcn to draw
up Prison Labor bill II looks to me now as II there
would be a compromise between those who oppose
any appropriation, and those who would appropriate
all that Superintendent Lathrop OF the State Prisons,
desires The compromise. Think will be upon an
appropriation of $500 900, and the prohibition of the
of machinery in the prisons. We then should
appoint committee to report to the next Legislature
on the subject of prison labor
HAND LABOR FOR CONvICTS ADVOCATED.
Most OF tho Republicans who here favor a small
appropriation, and the limitation Of labor In tho State
Prisons to hand labor. The Democratic Senator'S and
Asscmblymen say that they will follow Governor
HIPS advice but that they agree with the Republi-
cans that only a small appropriation should be made.
and the convics should be employed only at hand
labor. Assemblyman Yates, Of Schenectady, whose
county plan bill Of prison labor largely occupied the
attention Of the Legislature its regular session. has
arrived here with his bill again. He says that all
its Objectionable features have been eliminated. The
bill has the support OF the State Trades Assembly and
OF many other labor organizations. Thomas J.
Bowling, Of the State Trades Assembly, will
appear before the State Prison Committee of the Leg
sature, and will support the Yates bill and
oppose any appropriation to carry tho present
! State account system.
Austin Lathrop, tho superintendent of Prisons. is in
town in company with Charles X. Baker, his chief
clerk and Warden Brush, of Sing Sing Prison, and
Warden Durston, Of Auburn Prison. They are inform
Ing the members of the Legislature of the needs Of
the prisons Mr. Lathrop said tonight:
at is positively necessary that should have
| 81 100000. We cannot get along with less"
Warden Brush said II only 100000 Is given
us, shall have to employ at hard labor, and 1t
Will take us year TO instruct tho cOnvicts how TO
mako shoes, for instance, by hand labor. We shall
have instruct the convicts in every line Of labor
the prisons II only small appropriation IS made for
| us"
Tho Senators and Asscmblymcn of the County De
! mocracy Of New-York under instructions from their
| organization. Will oppose appropriation being mado
for the PRISONS except be used in hand work and in
the manufacture of shoes, clothing and like articles
| for State Institutions and the State militia
| no REPORT ON THE AoUEDUCT INVESTIGATION.
Senators Hendricks and Pierce. who are both
members of the Senate Committee which has been
Investigating the Board of Aqucduct Commissioners
of New-York said tonight that the committee would
not make any report at this session the result Of
| their labors.
at would be unIust,7 said Senator Hendricks, to
make a report in the middle OF investigation.
I doubt II Governor Hid will make any recommends
ons In his message regarding tho investigation Of
| the Aqucduct Commissioners we have been making
| am in favor of appropriatng only a25000o for the
prisons and of hand-labor for the cOnvlcs Tho ring
! IS making vast amount of money under the present
| State account system The prisons are primarily
| Institutions for the reformation of Grim
nals and not money making manufactures
| Governor Hill waited upon this afternoon by
| John Morrison and Edward Finkleseln, delegates of
| the Central Labor Union Of Ncw-YoTk who in behalf
OF that organization requested him in his message to
the Legislature tomorrow to ask that body to modify
| tho cons piracy laws Mr.. Morrison said tonight
A recent decision of the Court of Appeals In re-
gard the penal code makes 1t crime to take part III
| a strike OF TO organize. We think that unjust, ana
| ex Judge John Henry Mccarthy. Of New-York. has
! drawn up q bill to remedy the fault I'm the laws. We
shall present the bill to Governor Hill tomorrow
morning before he sends his message to the Legslat
uro Tho Central Labor Union went into politics In
! 1856 but absaIned last year. We have not done
ANYTHING In regard politics far this but we
mean to keep ourselves Independent this year. and TO
attack that political party which we think injurious
! TO our Interests" ~
| II Is hlned by Democrats that Governor Hill
snubbed Messrs Fnklcstcn and Morrison, and that 1t
is doubtful If he complies with their request. Mr.
II indeed to night II is said may limit his message
TO the Prison labor question. There was rlmor late
tonight that he would merely state the condition Of
| affairs ard make recommendation whatever.