New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-19
4 COWED LEGISLATURE.
VAIN ATTEMPTS TO END THE SHAMEFUL
PRISON SYSTEM.
ROBERT RAY HAMILTON SURPRISES THE AS
sEMBLY-YoTEs ON THE FAssErr AND
YATES BILLS TO BE HAD NEXT
WEDNESDAY

fYRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT oy THE rKInUNE.l
Albany, April 15.-speaker Cole expressed tho
thought OF many leading members Of the Legislature to
day when he said To adopt popular phrase, the
Legislature has 'rnonkeyed long enough with this
ptsonlabor question: and II should to work Of once
and settle Il. In my opinion, We should substitute
Senator Fassetts eceenty drawn bil for that Of Mr..
Yates and hope the Assembly Will act the sub
ject today
But the Assembly did not act on the subject To
day. The eanse was obvious to any one who has
lived ycar so in Albany, and Is acquainted with
the cowarlice Of members OF the legislature Standing
outside the bar of the Assembly but within tho As
sombly Chamber three or four labor agita4ors.
Among them was q small manufacturer who II he had
spent the time at his factory making shoes that he has
at the Capitol opposing bills to mako convict work.
would have made great deal of money. The Sen
atofs and Assemblymen have been terrorixed for
several years past by this small group OF residents OF
Albany and II 10 not that the taxpayers OF tho
State win this year be compelled TO pay tax Of
900 for tho support Of the stsb Prison concts IN
dieness the respect with which these men arc treated
by the Legislature would be highly audaclous.
To-day, as usual Mr. Yates of Schenectady County
was their champion. He opposed the adoption Of
Senator Fassetts bill TO put the conviets at work at
remunerative mployments-elnpioyments that Will en-
able the State to sell the articles ey make, and thus
give the state some return for the vast It yearly
/ Mr.. Bush, Democrat Of Chen,rng County, who
introduced Senator Fassetts bill In the Assembly.
moved that IL be substituted for that Of Mr.. Yates,
which, It may be remembered, proposes TO introduce
into this state the barbarous chaingang system Of
employing the convicts tho public roads, and en-
iarges the ideness system in the State Prisons by
bringing the county 1aiis and penItentartes within the
scope of the Yates dlenef law' of last year.
Mr.. saxton Of Wayne County, heartily supported Mr.
Bush In this notion and exerted his large influence
in the Assembly to persuade that body 10 accept tho
Fassett bui 1--WE have delayed too long 70 pass q
buI which viii pub the State Prison convicts at work.
said Mr. saxton, with great esrnestness, :" and we
should grapple with this matter at once'
Mr. Hit, of Albany, as the mouthpeee OF the labor
of Albany, suggested that the Fassett bill
be referred TO the State Prison Committee for examina
ton. This suggestion was, OF course, heartily sec
ended nv Mr. Yates who said that he had discovered
that the Fassett bill had been framed In the interest
Of the 1Prson Ring.s Mr.. Yates has never revealed
10 the Legislature the names Of the members OF this
alleged sPrson Rings II there is Prison RING"
making profits out Of the PRISONS IT Is his duty' az
faithful oBeer Of the state, 10 go before the Grand
Jury OF Albany County and have them indicted Loose
assertions against officers Of the state who, 10 al a
pearances are only cndesvorng to persuade tho Legs
lature 10 give them power to put the conylcb ~
some remunerative employment, incline many As
sesnbfymen 10 think that Mr.. Yates has weak case
Ernest H. Crosby also supported the Fsssett BILL
ana opposed burying II In the room of the Prison
Committee aThe gentleman from schenectady, Mr.
yatess so said has had week within which 70 ex-
amino this bin, and be must Know Us character
Permit me 10 say slso,s Mr.. Speaker, that TIE ne
pnblican majority cannot afford to BE- led afouna oy
the nose sny longer by the nbof sgitatorsi and l
arm most cm9bstcaily In favor Of acting ~ favor OF
tho Fasseft bin At once.s
Mssor Bavery. the chairman OF the State Prison COM
nittec who, living IN Czguga County, as he docs has