The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-10

- In . apCA SOA Ia lug
character, and on the commissioner is inn
posed all the duties formerly performed by
the secretary Of state, acting as commits
sioner of insurance, and the duties of the
board Of bank commissioners and other
boards relating to these corporations.
The commissions is charged with the
execution Fl all laws relating to insurance,
banking, savings, trust, guarantee, safe oe-
posit and other similar corporations.
At present 260 corporations are reporting
to and under the supervision of the COM
missioner. Careful examinations have been
made into the condition of most of these,
and successful efforts rave been made
through the courts and by other means to
retire weak and failing institutions and to
eradicate fraudulent short term organ
izations.
During the last session of the legislature
a bill was introduced to provide for the in
v~estigation of the origin of fires, but failed
to pass. 1t provided for an investigation
by the chief of the fire department, and in
cases in which there might be a reasonable
ground of suspicion that the fire was by
design sn inquest was directed to be held
by the coroner. The purpose Of the act
was not only to punish persons guilty of
arson, but to reveal special sources of dan
ger and point out faults in buildings
through which fire might originate.
After careful consideration of the sub
ject / am satisfied that a law should be
passed providing fer the appointment of a
state officer by the governor, to be con-
firmed by the senate, who should, when
directed by the governor upon the request
of any insurance company, investigate any
fire in which such company was interested.
The creation of such Office should not en-
tail any expenses upon the state, but the
investigation, when made, should be paid
for by the companies interested in the in
surance. The linited revenue paid by these
corporations to the state does not warrant
expenditures from the treasury for this
purpose, and their pecuniary interest in
the result of the investigation makes it
reasonable and proper that they should
pay the expenses thereof. Such officer
should report to the commissioner of bank
ing and insurance and be under his imme-
diate direction and supervision as to the
character of the investigation n the ex-
pense thereof.
The daily average of prisoners confined
In the state prison during the last fiscal
year was 975, of whom 946 were males and
80 females. This is an increase in the
4oIAJ O2c5 "a - AAo
oners at the close of the fiscal year was
BAT, a decrease of 40 over the previous year..
Thelaw authorizing the parole of prison
ers by the court of pardons upon their OBJ
tanning the certificate of the keeper that
they are proper cases for parole, accom-
panied by a certificate guaranteeing them
employment upon their release, is highly
approved of by the keeper of the prison.
The system of parole, while it releases the
prisoner from physical confinement, does
not pardon him or restore hin to citizen.
ship. His being at large depends upon his
good behavior, and he can at any time be
returned to the prison to serve out his SEN
tence if his conduct is not that of a good
citizen. The question of restoration to citi-
Eenship Is left to be determined thereafter
by the court of pardons il it is found that
he has continuously during the remainder
of his sentence conducted himself in such a
manner as to warrant the court in remit
ting the further penalties of his crime. Its
good effect is shown by the fact that only
two out of seventy-eight paroled have been
returned. The remainder ave shown by
their conduct that the clemency of the
court was wisely exercised. Under the pro-
sisions of the Law requiring separate con
inement for each criminal the prison will
only accommodate 706 inmates. This pro-
vision cannot be complied with because
the number sent to the prison greatly y.
ceeds the limit, and if it were not for those
released on pardon and parole the con
dition of things in the prison would be
intolerable by reason of overcrowding.
/ again call attention to the recommends
tions in my message of 1891 in reference to
the reorganization of the state prison man
agement SO as to decrease expenses and to
my suggestions for increasing the income
of this institution. The annTlal deficiency
is a heavy drain upon the state treasury.
State Reform School for Boys.
At the close of the fiscal year ending Oct.
81, 1892, there were 348 boys in the institu-
ton, an increase of 10 over the previous
year. During the year SO boys were com
mitted to the institution and SO boys were
returned, making the total number cared
for the during the year 400. During the
same period rs boys were released on their
own recognizances, 80 indentured, IA es-
capped, Z were discharged, 5 died and 2
were returned to court as incorrigible.
Thu boys are engaged farming. printing.
manufacturing brushes and bricks and in
various trades useful in carrying on the
institution.
The state reform chool received during
the year for maintenance the sum of 49,
50s.2 and for manual training a special
appropriation of $1,000. In addition the
school received from the sale of farm prod
uce and live stock the sum of 50, 500. 10;
from the manufacture and sale of brushes,
SIC, 732.S1; from the labor of the boys in
the manufacture of brushes under the old
piece price plan, 1926. "a; from the manu-
facture and sale of miscellaneous articles,
$493. 81; from provisions INC board, $71.A
from the sale of old articles, $46.6 go. The
trustees also received directly from Nthe
state treasury 1924 for travelling expenses
incurred in the performance of their
duties.
Industrial School for Girls.
At the opening of the fiscal year there were
10 girls in the school and 20 out at service
under indentures, making a total of 90
girls under the control of the trustees.
Oct. 81, 1892, there were 81 girls in the
school and 81 under indenture, making a
total of 108.
The treasurer reports the receipts for the
year as follows:
hecelpts.. $40, 1888 E
expenditures. 36,105 81
Nznae -
Balance on hand Oct. 81, 1892. go. $3,477 6S
Home for Feeble Minded Women.
The superintendent reports that the In
stitution had IS patients on Sept. 80, 1892,