The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-06
STATE PRISON NEEDS.
Governor Werts Investi-
gates the Condition of
Affairs.
Special to The JERSEY city Ne,os.

Speci6t 10 Inc Jersey CttB NetoS.
TRENTON. July 6. 1898. -Goverucr Werts
visited the State Prison yesterday to In
vestigate for himself the needs of that
institution. He arrived at the State
House from Sea Girt, where he is now re-
siding with his family, soon after ten
on his desk called o cab and drove away.
He was unaccompanied, and when he
arrived at the prison he was met by
Principal Keeper Patterson. Under the
guidance of Mr.. Patterson the Governor
went over the entire prison. He ex-
amined all the cells aud scrutinizsd the
shops where the prisoners were at work.
There was no show or demonstra-
tion over his visit, and very few of the
prisoners knew that tina tall. silent
man who accompanied the keeper was
the Governor of the State. From the
Prison the Governor went to the old
prison. which is now used as the State
Arsenal. The authorities want the
ground upon which the arsenal Stands for
additional prison buildings. Keeper
Patterson pointed out the needs of the
Prison to the Governor as they went
dAgoks 1A0 V0 hlH " Y
more prisoners than cell room and how
he was obliged TO maintain many of the
prisoners in idleness for want Of facilities
for quitting them to work. and how it
would be impossible TO provide those
facilities unless the Prison was enlarged.
He showed that upon the ground
used by the arsenal, shops could be erected
which would give employment 10 over
q hundred convicts who are now idle.
The contractors now pick u the most
expert among the prisoners for the work
at hand, aud If there was more siop
room those now Idle could be employed
at work which did not require skill or
previous training.
WORSE THAN He THOUGHT IT.
When tie Governor bad completed his
tour, which took about two hours, he said
he had a better knowledge of the condi-
ton of the prison than he had ever had
before. He also %intimateo that the coDdi-
tion of affairs IN the prison WAS worse
than he had any idea they were. At the
conclusion of his inspection of the prison
theGoyernor took dinner Withkeepsr Pat
terson and The Board Of Prison Inspectors
who held q meeting in the prison yes5er-
day afternoon. The Governor was ex-
ceediuRly reticent rs to what changes he
would favor. and gave no intimation as
to what he proposed to do. All that the
Governor saw was known three years
ANU dDG dL GUdU ttIlC JIClG Wa6 paE9C0 d
bill approprlatirg 100000 for the erec-
ton of u wing aud hospital. The APP
propriatiou for the new wing was to be
expended by a commission to be ap-
pointed by the Governor, with the con-
sent of he Senate.
THE INSPECTORS WERE JEALOUS.
The Board of Inspectors did not like the
idea OF a special coniinissie ion doing that
work, and they hung the whole matter
up aud the overcrowding of the State
Prison continued. Last winter three
bills were passed to have the State vacate
the arsenal property, which adjolus the
prison, and to have the site utilized for d
hospital and additional shops. These
bills were passed because 1t was clearly
shown that there was money enough 10
make the changes. Governor Ahbeit's
message showed that there was $2l7 ,532. 10
balance in the Trea4ury, and with this
knowledge the Legislature passed the
State Prison improvement bills. In
the meantime the S3i7, 532 melted
away 100000 was given to the
Chicago Fail Commission, 500, 900
that was borrowed from the school
fund was given back, and extra ex-
penses of the one hundred aud seven
tenth session of the Legislature swal-
! lowed mp what was left. aud the State
Prison bills We're not signed because
there we're no funds, aud, secondly, De
cause of the opposition of the State
Military Board. which wanted to get
SIC, coo for q new arsenal building. Tne
failure of the three bulls to become law
keeps alive the law authorizing u COM
mission 10 spend S100. 900.
There is some talk snat the Governor
will call Il special session of the Senate
IND send tp. that DO y the names of cotu-
missioners to build the new wing under
the act of 1890, rs he is convinced that
something should be done to remedy the
evil