New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-02
COZ. HILL APPR0TES THE PRISON BILL.
HE ACCEPTS IT. HOWEVER. AS ONLY TEMPO
RARY EX PEnIENT-ITs IMPEEEECTIONs

RARY EXPEDIENT-ITs IMPERFECTIONs
Albany, Aug. 1.-AttOrney General Tabor. to whom
the Prison bill referred by the Governor for an
opinion to its legal effect, has submitted his opinion
wherein 1t Is held that the bill applies not only to inc
State prisons but to the State IefOrmatorcs, AL local
pcnItentares, houses OF refuge and tho State In
dustrial school Tho Attorney General comedies that
great difficulty Will be experienced in enforcing the
bill far local penal institutions are concerned
owing the omission from the bill OF necessary pro-
visions 10 carry its apparent intent into effect The
Governors document approving the bill is in parts as
follows:
The desrabty OF providing some proper system for the
employment OF convict labor has long been recognized
For four years each OF my annual messages, called
the attention OF the Legislature the SUBJECT but no
definite action taken. and the Legislature again al
lourned its annual session IN May last leaving the prooe
unsolved. convened the Legislature in extraordinary
session consider the whole subject and the Dill no"
before IS the result
The bin is approved, notwithstanding It IS Imperfect
and subject many objections, because It seems 10 p
the best IS obianable at the present time IL may
well doubted however whether Il Is adequate to meet
the situation 1t aboshes the machinery in all the
prisons, pcnitentares and other penal institutions IN inc
State, and provides that the convicts shall only Dc en-
poyed Of such articles OF clothing ana
other necessary supplies commonly used IN the pubic h7
tuons in the State supported whole in part by the
STATE and requires managers OF such public Institutions
procure necessary clothing and supplies from SUCH
penal institutions does not provide FOR any other
labor 1t fails declare what shall be done with the
convcts when the public institutions have been fully sup
Piled This is an important feature because am al
ved that four months time the conviets can manuiac
ture. hand labor and without any machinery
enough TO supply year all the public institutions In
the State required supplied. What is to be done
the rest OF the year, Are the convict' there-
after 10 cease and 10 remain laie
or arc they to continue at and accumulate vast
stock for which there no demand and which cannot Dc
to any under the law These are serious ques
tons which under the BILL and their solution Is
not free from difficulty
Under the Yates BILL" so-called OF last winter other
methods OF employment provided in addition to the
sole mentioned In the present BILL and other valuable
provisions were contained which entirely omitted
here suggested that under this bill the managers
OF the State Soldiers Home will be compelled to cothe
the soldiers under their charge with prsonmade cohe
and there escape from that conclusion. am
opposed such proceeding and believe that the Soldiers
Homo should have exempted from the provisions OF
the BILL
The scheme contemplated by the bill seems to be IN
complete and fear practically incapable OF operation 80
Tar as local penal institutions are concerned
1t should be borne in mind that all idea OF the prisons
or pentenaries being ssupporng is abandoned in the
scheme contemplated by this bill 1t expressly limits
the products prisons and other penal institutions 70
the OF State for ia use and necessarily
arise large annual financial deficit greater
than ever before In many respects the BILL although
defective has much commend 1t. II prevents absolute
dleness for least part OF the year II does not TO-
the system IT prohibits the state account
system so far as selling third parties Is concerned
The bill VIII Immediately require amendment at the
very o. the Legislature and unfortunately
the whole subject will necessarily be reopene1 and es-
peclaly in conceded fact that the bill Is de-
ncent provision carrying its intent as 70 local
Institutions The avowcd purpose Of the BILL however,
may be regarded step In the reht direction II can
be amended and must be accepted or rejected as
q whole.