New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-03
PART II.
JAN. 3, 1894.


THE STATE PRISONS.
The number Of convicts in the three State prisons
on September 60 1896 was Sisl. being lA less than
on the same date OF the previous ?ear, and the
lowest since 1889 The average cost Of care ana
maintenance for the fiscal year was si3 ~ for each
convict.
The financial results OF the industries in the state
prisons were not as satisfactory as usual ms was
owing TO the depression In business which afectea
Inc sale Of articles manufactured: TO the recent
legislative restrictions as 10 the kinds OF inunrisss
which should he permitted, and 10 the amp,oynent
OF some OF the convicts in BODYBUILDING and In the
construction OF new workshops ana olner p,,son
ou1,usS work. and az the same time not to
permit their labor to compete Win thst o, =" ~
productive Industries on september - lN@, COM
pared with 2,iC2 the sane day IN ~ rms iai,-
ing off could not but affect The prison i.,,s ron
industries At the same time II u ;rauYng 20
know that the employment OF So,vlc, MDor ~.
has given excellent results IN and ras
saved the State abou; $1,000 | lYsygst me Do
prety OF Incorporating In al egls.aiNe n.'1 msn,ns
appropriations for the reconstruction o. improve
men. Of prison 6p sba bs 9GDs oy ac aSor
Many OF the convicts at clinton DTl.pn ha'e I'm
employed TIA, a. iD tb nature og an cs crment
and the warden reports that tne ies,i's @,T -
factory. There were three escapes q e"H'ie'S ot
whom was recaptured
INDETERMINATE SENTENCES At THE Eli
MIRA REFoRMATORY.
The transfer Of prisoners from TIE ',i-sra n--
fornoatory 10 the state prisons is riDj'ct CO
serving careful consideration. The statute a"tnpr-
ICES the managers Of the roforntiory 20 u~hs'er
temporarily with The written consent 'i M 'ofS"
ntendent of Prisons 10 either Of toe sac Ift'hr
any prisoner shown t. hava been ~ me time %
his conviction more than thirty yelrs ~ 1r' ,os
10 have been previously convicted o.. CTR 20 "
any apparently incorrE!ole p.i' 'itI WI 49,
ence In the refoTraatOry apr cas- - .e i,s 49,.
rlmeatal 70 the Wei-leng q N, -, . - tho -
managers may also require 'ne I,, LII ~ ,o,i,o
formatory of aay pc.son 80 ta-s;errlp Nc,hs
under this authority tie manssT ,c hs ro NUM-
bets than | think could have bc-l cl".e Hi.i'seo
when the l as e made tenn 5rary but raaly aad
with the intent that Ii" remaining poiHo. 81 10
terms Of these transfers ahaH D. S'''' III '"'
From reports made to m ~ ne ardens, 4 ap-
lss8 10 prisoncrs we're transferred from te Elmra
Refo5;iat2ry ~, to G nember 7T i 200 We're rans
ferred 10 auburn Prison and Ip 10 ihe irst Gay o.
october last only one OF the HHo,y L-i ~ ~ s''
been returned TO the rcfOrna orr. Wien Il ~ con-
sierel that these prisoners re no. on Oh -hIels'
blu. are undergoing punishment iof in,.F ~. ~, -
fence that many OF them are r1e"' Jas, mat INC
purpos, of sending them to the refollstory 80
to administer light punishment ana II poa s,,ne
them the state prison prlcca!y eossrS e sni IN
to to- sn a for Sr s e he sro MUS
tice OF making the transfers upon me system now
prevailing will be at once ap1reciate'. . 49,,
In my judgment this sys en- should % altogether
abolished. els. 50 far modified as erec,u"hs 70
prohibit abuse The managers ought not 20 ne
clothed with the arbitrary power ~ committing 20
prison foi long terms persons sent By the courts
to the reformatory Tor purposes Of reiorHatl9n.
Transfers should be made only FOR good causs
and upon application TO the court IN wnscn ING no
tha. tho punishment may - properly adjusted, or
else srch other legal proceedings shoad b. fe1nred
s2ec,ful.y recommend such legislation ~ill cor
rect the evils now existing
EXPLORATORY MANAGEMENT
With ny approval the State B)lrd OF Charities
has been making inves,.Sation into published
charges against the superintendent, OF the hlmiia
Refcrmatory Pending the CONCLUSION OF that IN
vestiga,ion and the Boards report thereon re-
frs.n from commenting upon the matter. But the
publication OF the charges and me Invests ''i9n
nv n State Board OF commissioners WIZ can oIy
report the testimony with su2sesusSiha5' %a'H
power,ess 10 correct any evils Wnic' M. %
discovered suggest the prophet OF sGcl ca3Ages
in ali tte laws governing reformltores viii i've
the Governor the power or removd! over "tp-:ui-
and after an opportunity TO the accused 20 be
heard in his own behalf the pcwer d ,apbo nieht
lodged whers it is now-~ltn tn 'ocai managers
but it sec@s to me th1t II would De wiSe l'o-
PREVENTION OF WASTE BY FIRE.
r,e large Increase in losses by ire IN The Tinted
States and particularly IN the State OF Sew-YorS.
iur,p recent years is worthy OF the serious con-
s,deration OF the Legislature. - the end tnat
remedies may be levisci II possible i"T nihimz-
ing this great evil. The average losses ~ NE III
the country during the last axe years Hy\e 1'e"
L
the year lust ended will probably SNOW Ei'a'y
ncrea sod aggrocate Of waste Many hr" isy. ,.h-e
companies have gone out OF nus ness anu '''''''
have been Obliged - increase rate ,, ir.,-ance
Il II not from the point ~ NirE OF ~" ~ ,n
companies however. that would c1p Ny", ~, "ve ~
ton this matter. ~. from ne point - ,ir,yx
the general pubic Great lose py i'te ar
to be depored The dc1'n 10, ot ~ emp.oy-
ment they cripple business. th'N deS Toy S'pi.a.'
they wipe out profits x,r, they syr s.GT on properly
owners by Increasing the rates o. hsur a. IL. :,
insurance companies must taNs Ensa a, ,-eater nTe.
the insured will be compelled 10 pay greater pre-
miums. - , ,,. . ,o,,,o III.
building laws have been sussesied A. "a sIso
instituted local officers Il has also been brought;
to my attention that part OF me recr. ~. l,hss
OF buildings where lecricity Is 10 be used iof
light or power. and the s1gg sston mas "eh nns
ings should be compelled 20 snow licenses CERTIFY
ing to their fitness for ihe work, aili SSH ry -
manner that steam boiler insnfcson ana Ger,lnos a,
ton are required. | comhend ms suplsct r 20
your attention and trust that some proper Measure
Of legislation may receive your favorable c3nsdera.
ton Certainly is gor t frq sre p me me
number fires that there are In the pIineipi Strs
Of Europe ana MORE re- ,an statement IL said
OF property YET 'h's co'p"'" " " ~
to be accurate
AMENDMENTS TO THE BANKING LAW
The conservative management OF our state banks
was abundantly demonstrated during the financial
manic Of last year The proportion Of banks under
State supervision which suspended was very smaN.
There were instances Of reckless management now
evar and the question is presented whether the
-, banking law cannot be strengthened 10 -
70 con,peI even greater conservatism III methods
and more rigid inspection by the BANKING DePa''-
la,
Two suggestions in this direction are particularly
submitted 10 your attention. one Is that no oHcsr
or employe OF any bank or other INSTITUTION sun
tect to the banking laws should be allowed 70
borrow directly or indirectly any or ITS funds,
withnuf first making application 10 the board OF
directors and obtaining the consent o. at ieas, .
ouor,,m of the board The other suggestion u tnat
banks should be Obliged to get aside certain pro-
nortIon say ten per cent OF their net pfonts eacn
vear as a surplus account until such surplus
EQUALS twenty per cent OF the capital stock. In
behaif of this requirement IL Is urged t1at many
Of the smaller banks instead OF acclmulatlns
SURPLUS declare and pay out their entire net pfohts
az diyidends thus leaving the bank nothing WITH
which TO pay losses withou, impairing It's capital
There may be other legislation upon TINS subject
needed for the protection OF public interests. ana
YOUR attention is respectfully called 10 the matter.
FISH PROPAGATION.