New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-06
NETWORKS PRISONS.
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERlN-
TENDENT OF STATE PRISONS.


Albany jan 5.--Austn Lsthrop, the Superin-
.endent of State Prisons, tomorrow will transmit to
the Legislature his annual report for the year ending
sepember 80 1889. The following is the glst of the
report:
The last prison year was perhaps the most I'M
satisfactory and most unfortunate that has been eA
Seriencsd in state certainly for long Term ~
years. The causes OF TINS condition dld hoI me
provisions OF Chapter $50 of The Laws OF 1000, o,o
pursuit OF the usual industrial operations IN me s 80
rrisOns was almost wholly suspended. and the credSeu
population OF the prisons was doomed 10 uVlc 90
spite of the sympathetic efforts OF the Administrative
officers Two results inevitable; the minor one
Is ne distinct and deplorable d,integraton OF prison
Industries and deterioration Of the morale Oh Ie Pil
oners as mass and an unprecedented death rate ana
1neouaIled numerical lapSe of convcts into insanity
An extended system OF business, IKE lhdt VI ,llo
State prisons, moves with massive momentum With
1t is started In any dnecnQnd vbeher II he ND or
ever strenuous and weIldrected the effort may be:
IThns nnon The adoption of the constitutional
reform system. it took five year. time under me nc
State Prisons TO turn the dthct account OF the prisons
superintendent the widest discretion in the selec
ton of Industries the present law regulating
prison management and labor. which was passed in
June 1859 had but little tangible effect on the actual
operatOnS of the business of the prisons 10 the
close of the fiscal year. Activity vigor and energy
in the convctS not he Immediately rcSained. The
loss which follows dlencSs in these Institutions VIII
not be limited to the last year. 30 much seems to
he proper to say in order to clearly define the rca-
tions Of the executive department of the prison system
to the existing tuation in the State prisons which this
report Will set forth.
THE PRISON POPULATION.
The whole number Of prisoners i'm the state Prisons
increased again during the last year. II Will he
by an examination of the table below that for six
years the increase in the number Of prisoners has
been constant year by year. The minimum number
was reached in 1773. For six years before that. with
single lr1ing exception. the reduction had been
constant year after year. in 1777 the new system
began with the mailman number Of men, The more
effective the operation Of the system became the lower
became the number II inmates IN tic prisons. From
the maximum of 1877 10 The minimum Of 1oo3 the
difference is 73g more than - PEI cent If the
maximum. ~ the highest industrial efficiency
Of the prisons became impaired ard ldne>N succeeded
labor, the ebb current of criminals AT the prison gates
turned TO an inflow. IT does not seem that this can
be accidental; it has probably adequate ciu>e
The fact to which the superintendent mites at
tentOn Is patent. II II pro- able tdt when the state
Prisons in the swing of useful labor and all tire
men in them who We're capable employed. that
the discharged men were to a large extent 50
dtOn and by their habits of industry as TO 90 ont and
engage in work with good success. And II Is probable
that since the labor system disorCanizcd and the
cOnVictS were in idleneSs greater less extent.
Wei fitted 10 out into the labor market. hence a
great many Of them have fallen into their old ways
the number of recommitmcnts IS large. These f1ctN
make il quite apparent that the real cost of prison
idleness j, not wholly shown in the deficit in the
state prison accounts. but to the deficiency cost
must be also added the expense OF arrestng, trying
and putting into prison again all such men a have
been fitted. not to be honest and capable but to bc
weak at work and weak to resist temptation when
they must face the world again and live Crlmnally
If they can not honestly. Therefore 10 those who
study the subject of prison reform and those who
charged with the hiSn duty Of legislation u regulate
WIT wit p''o' ''' ''''S III '' ''O'S arc '"'''''''' "
Table showing the total prison population for a