New-York tribune., 1896-12-06
WORK IN THE PRISONS.
AN EXPLANATION BY THE PRISON COM.
MISSIONS SECRETARY.
lie SAYS THE COMMISSION CAN ONLY ASSIGN IN
pUsTRIEs AND IT Is THE sufEnNTEN-
Dents PnERooArrvp TO DIS
TRIBUTE AND CONTROL THEM

TRIBUTE, AND CONTROL TliI1M
present PLANS.
Albany. Dec. IA great deal o, discussion mas
taken placo regarding the work OF the State Prison
Commission in regulating the question OF convict
labor under the provision o, tho new Constitution
Augustus Sherman secretary OF tho Commission.
in discussing the subject said to-day:
The s;atemen: by some members OF the Commits
sion tina, the Commission has evaded Us duty and
thrown upon the State Superintendent OF Prisons the
entire responsibility for the employment OF tho con-
,tcts IN the State prisons seems TO require an eN-
PLANTATION At tho last meeting the Commission dis
charged its duty In accordance with the laws bearing
upon the subject OF convict labor. BY chapter ~ or
the Laws Of 1896 II IL made the duty OF the frisoh
Commission assign industries 10 the state PRISONS
and section l0i Of that chapter reads ,ha' IL sha DO
the duty OF the Superintendent OF State Prisons to
distribute among the penal institutions under MS
jurisdiction the labor or Industries assigned py '"c
Commission 10 said institutions
"r, will be seen therefore, that the solo duty OF
the Commission IS 10 assign labor and Industries 10
the prisons ana there lis duty ends Ihen IL De-
comes the duty Of the Superintendent 10 distribute
such labor and industries so assigned by the COM
mission among tho penal institutions under his juris-
diction.
"At i,s last meeting the Commission assigned 10 tho
sunerintendent several industries 10 be pursued III
the penal institutions OF the State Later otheF IN
dustries also will be assigned. This Commission mas
no control over the labor or convicts IN tho ota'o
nrisons CHAPTER 40 as originally drafted gave the
commission somo control over the labor In the
WILSON'S hut Il was claimed as we were informed. by
Tho A,torneyGeneral and Mr.. Lincoln the Governors
legal adviser that any law giving tho Commission
authority 10 regulate the labor OF the convcts wouid
be unconstitutional as It would aoridge ne
~ ,bn srpcrintcndent given him by the Constitution
Tha cornmsslon in other words. can but plan the
amount OF work and kind TO be done but the supeth
tendent must execute or see that these plans are car
ried into operation . ,,.,.s,or n, tho In a.
.a,'nc nd ,,pon which there was some difference
~ oninion was whether the Commission, snoui9
simniy assign an industry or should go iurther anu
oss9pn n certain specific number OF articles covered
h" thoso Industries For instance, instead OF as
Signing simply a clothing Industry. lor inc "iu ia,
ss,mre ~ Clothing for tho inmates OF state nstl.
,a,tone some members OF the Commission thought
q would be well TO assign to the Superiht,ehuenu ,
ner,oin number of pants coats. etc 70 ue nil,u
ss.,rad &C. Eut the Commission nnaiIy decldeu
70 send to the Superintendent mo eShihirs hin in'
w,,.ions fo be supplied and tabulateo stateihrnt
- ,ha same II was decided best NOT 10 asslsn aor W
tha nrcsent at least, any NUMBER OF arlcIes uuea
.~tio ~ P.Sus,ries in excess OF what those estimates
called for. ,,..r, ,oreo In the belief that tho
nc g can and will be kept employed Inc Som-
ssion "a 10 prepare blank requsltiois wn'ci ny
institutions are TO M OUT ana sei,u u. snr t
At Is the idea OF ihe SonInission
f,nr belnC Informed Of the Kind OF artlcies
rnnu,red the Superintendent sna go VI, rs ,,i"ns
,,nnlv 10 be ready 10 meet those requisitos
up s"Pi,,y ynmission seeks to have Inc use OF az
y,ng machinery In the prlsoms5 aoaiiJonea'
-. 70 have all the convicts possu'e elnPu, ca
rSo Commission, howe'er, can OILY 4, .eSu,'e0 ~.
this The Superintendent must carry !" ou''