The sun., 1894-03-31
sRockW1rs enEAr wosx.
Ths Fvtsos Assesssuo. Rs..,.,- M. ma.
ttugsisbes Services - IN, s,.,..


uugs'shes Services - th. state,
ALBANY. March 3o.-The Prison A..o.,s,,or
OF the state Of New York has m memorisllzed En-.
Legislature protesting AGAINST the bill intro
dueed which provides that the Governor sh.il
appoint the supsrintsndent Of the Elmira
Retormatory instead Of the Board OF MapaRers
The memorial says in part:
The effect Of the act will be precisely In.
contrary to that which II aims to accom- mnlisb
Will increase. instead Of diminishing, the
power OF the general Superintendent. and will
invest him with sn authority that ia inde-
pendent both In its source and in the account
ability for its exercise.
Another objection TO tho proposed act lies
In the Injustice II does to the present general
superintendent OF the reformatory. We pro-
pose 70 treat this phase Of the act quite inds-
psndently OF the question whether the charges
made against Superintendent Brockway are
true or false. There are certain facts relating
to the history Of Brockway's career. and Of his
connection with the reform atory that are
unauestioned. and that have 30 important
atearlnR upon the action now proposed that
they cannot be ignored.
The Elmira Retormatory is. perhaps, the
most widely known and distinctive enter
prise the state Of New York has ever UNDER
taken. II was the frat prison esta blished in
this country upon broad and enlightened prin.
ciples OF prison science. 1t stood for q system
OF prison discipline and training that would
effect the actual reformation OF the criminal.
Its system was absolutely unique, and proved
to be wonderfully effective in it's results. Its
methods and it's statistics commanded atten-
tion and were eagerly watched and COM
mended. not only at home but in every civil.
izsd country in the world. For years past,
wsn tSs h1 been sn.n
has zealously fostered this enterprise and has
sxpendod money lavishly In It's support and
1T must never be forgotten tina. Brockvay
this reiormatory FROM it's Inception. lie IL the
author OF the system known over the world as
lns Emirs system-a system uniyersally adj
any other scheme OF prison discipline ever de-
s s u @s SCuns' aSd 'op s aisT Ss wSf SGS
As philosophic writer and thinker on crime
Sht Sd +, or hST aS.. Isn and Sns q
compare with him in. celebrity:
as Justification TO Brockway. or as an answer
TO the charges made against him. but simply
Of extreme gravity which the ,Lsgslatpro
would perform by the passage OF this BILL We
Is S. S
exalted position he holds in the public estima-
tion. entitled him. In special degree. to every
throws around an accused person. We insist
that he 10 entitled to q Judicial trial before
% for defence % and We insist that the pssssss of
this bill closing bis career In disgrace and In
Moud 81 o act o most ssu n,psce and
The personal charge against Brockw.y ia
ments Into the merits OF this charge We do
not propose to- enter. or sven 70 express any
oPiPBtSa Bfws 90 nG' sHDsas S ss III:
Roipt we have but single gesti,on to make: &
s irst and moss indispen sable re@uislts in the the
discipline there must be force In what A., form r.,
soHViet 10 dsspeGat. and hardened character;
or or mild ID measures; % his MOI moral nature is Often
50 dsbauched that he can only be subdned r to
S ssipns plsSn
tisems mt iniiicts smaller Injury upon The con-
ton er 'oaR os WSsbsr 5 L should be utsfy Excluded
from the prison regime. are questions regard:
in opinion. IL 10 question. not OF ss- dment.
but Of expert prison science
Dor. .Sbnittsd 1 to % The Legislature | BS ii. com
mittes Of the State Board of Charities. and no
e hs but
/. That the report q the work Of one man.
acting In q capacity which. In reference TO the
Legislature. is not official
"2. That there Is a widespread feeling
whether Justly or pnjustlyl that the inyesti-
cation which eliminated In this report was
instigated By personal hostility to Bro,kway.
and that IL was conducted with bias and with
the sum mary methods OF Q court martial. and
its conclusions fail to mmand the unquali-
fed con fldence OF the public.
"a That the investiRa alton was In no sense
such q fair and impartial trial by competent
tribunal a. would Justify the Legislature in
So m arily condem ming distin inguished public
servant as guilty Of barbarity and gross Dru-
tally.
ture bsfore passing this act legisiatlng out OF
once the superintendent OF the reformatory
upon charges which will end an honoIsS
career In ignominy. and ruin. to give him a fair
trial In the name OF Justice: to institute an in-
vestigation by a competent and impartial
com mittee. which shall be conducted In such
a fair and judicial method as to command thu
public assent and confidence. And we protest
that the passage OF the bill before such trial
would be such an act OF injustice TO the super
intsndent not less cruel than those acts OF
which he stands charged"