New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-05
NO WORK FOR THE CONVTCTS.
MUCH SICKNESS AMONG THE IDLE IN
MATES OF STATE PRISONS.
A CONFERENCE OF PRISON OFFICIALS OVER THE
DEPLoRABLE CONDITION OF TIE INsTL
TUT1oNs UNDER THEIR CHARGE
rsy TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuski

TUTIONS UNDER THElh thhhcH"
Tsr rxLxsRArH TO THE rRrBuski
Albany. Dec 4.-Tho state prisons are in wretchcs
condition There are 900 idle convcts in Sing Sing,
400 at pannemora and 1000 at Auburn, max
ing total OF 1900 conviots who arc daily locked up
in their cells in the State prisons because herc Is no
vork sor than to do This misfortune to tho state
s caused BY tho law passed in July by tho Legislature
at It's extra session and signed by Governor ii ior
bidding the sale Of any goods made oy inc ooh''''S
and restricting the profitable labor OF tne coh'"'s
the manufacture Of articles needed ny the prsohs vi
by charitable institutions Experience mas sno""
that the charitable institutions already manuiacture
o., ,h.mse,v,s With their own inmates IL .605 in num-
her GO per cent OF the clothing and other articles they
need Experience has also shown that 100 conV''.s
out of tho total Of zoos manufacture all the gooos
that arc yearly needed by tho prisons ana Charitable
institutions
To-day Austin Lathrop, the superintendent OF state
Prisons held conference with the three Wsruons OF
tho prisons-Mr Brush, of Sing Sing; Mr.. Durston,
Of Auburn and Mr. Fuller, of Danncmora, In regard
to tho condition Of the convicts All tho Wardens
reported that the convicts were suffering In health
owing their enforced dleness and expressed fears
that before spring thero would be much sickness In
the prisons. The prisons were also, they reported,
running behind badly in financial way. In regard
the Of the prisons to the State under the pres
ent system Superintendent Lathrop subsequently,
said
"There was dencit in the State Prison profit and
loss account on September 30 amounting to $l64,OoO
In another year, II the present miserable system is
continued the taxpayers of the State will be compelled
to make good deficiency Of 100000 That VIII DC
the cost to tho state OF supporting tho convicts In
idleness Nor IS this all. Tho Legislature, when IL
passed tho recent lsw, Intended to include penten-
ar1es IN It's operation but the courts have since de-
cided that tho law was worried by accident
az
authorities to stop rcmunerstvo work But OIL
course some demagogne in the Legislature whcn
meeta In January win sock 10 amend the present
law so as 10 bring pententaries within It's scope
In that case the taxpayers will have presented TO
.hem next year at this time bill OF sl,Oooooo for
the support of tho convicts in idlcness HOW 0hs
the taxpayers of the State will stand this sort OF
thing do not know but should hope they would
not stand Il long But aside from tho financial bear
ing Of this subject there is that OF the humane ca
mont Of our fellow creatures to be consldereo
prison cell is no place in which to keep man. IL
is narrow and low chamber unit for constant
human occupation. As fact We do not Keep the idio
convcts constantly in their cells We march them aDou'
the prison-yards for hours and In the meantime have
their cells aired. We strive in every way to MAINTAIN
their health but tho weather gets more inciemeht
We cannot march them about the prison yards as
frequently a do now and we shau Dc 1orceo Z"
keep them In the prison cells longer time escn day
Nervous diseases will break out among the cohV'ce
fear before spring In consequence OF this rigorous
confinement Men only maintain their health by
keeping their nerves in good condition One OF our
devices is to have some Of the convcts dress stone
at Sing Sing but never sell the stone uiider
the present law, and therefore, 1t Is deIa Ioss ..
ard who does all the printing for the State t@Isuns @
Ffsh, the accomplice of Ward, VINO IS a, Auourh
has nothing to do and sits idly In his cell -
"One amusing circumstance about the present law
s that several members of the present LeHsia41 t 1
who voted for It have to me and nave sald Gia
Constituents of theirs complaining that they hsd
lost good deal Of business with the chariaoie IN
with certain goods. DO not think those memoe,s
would vote for the law now II IT should como up
readoptOn.s