New-York tribune., 1897-07-24
NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
CONVICTS AND LABOR.
GAIN TO THE CITY WOULD RESULT FROM
THE EMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERS.

~Hr FAST SIDE LANDS AND VARIOUS PARKS AND
ROADS NOT LIKELY 10 BE IMPROVED UNLESS
SOME WAY Is FOUND OF UTILIZING MEN
WHO ARE now MAINTAINED IN
IpLENEss - LEGAL CoMPLICA-
r1oNs BAR THE WAY.
Two methods of employing the prisoners In the
xinrs County Penitentiary have been sug-
rested One 10 to let them manufacture sup
plies for the city departments: the other is to
use them in building such roads and improving
such parks as would not otherwise be built or
improved The Tribune has explained the legal
problem that will have to be solved before 'he
city departments will buy penitent'ary-maoe
goods. Yesterday Tribune reporter iearheo
at the Department Of Charities and Corrections
that there were likewise legal entanglemen's
over the use OF the convicts on the roads or III
the parks.
There seems to be q great aversion on the
part Of city officers to being quoted as sayihs
anything on this question. as they feei tha' "
Is a poker red-hot at both ends--the union 'aoo'
end and the taxpayer and humanitarian end'
A lawyer who holds q high place IN one oi '"e
city departments consented to explain the point
that has been raised against the use OF coh
victs of the Crow Hill institution on roads ana
name would not be used.
"It is nv offhand opinion" he said. that
II is a violation OF law to take prisoners out
side OF the walls Of the penitentiary for the
purpose of working them. The commitments
under which they sent to the institution ex-
pressy stpuate that they shall be committeo
70 the penitentiary and confined therein TOT
certain length Of time. The confinement tse'
is the punishment required
There is a law which provides for the en-
ployment Of convicts in State prisons q" ''os'
but that law offers no hope to the taxpayers q
Brooklyn. 1t is Chapter 26G of the Laws OF
1894, and the first section reads:
".The Superintendent of State Prisons may
employ or cause to be employed. not 10 exceed
800 Of the convcts confined In each State prison
in the improvement Of public highways, within
a radius Of thirty miles from such prison ana
outside Of an incorporated city or village
This law applies only to inmates of State
prisons and does not apply to peni'H"''aries'
The law distinguishes clearly between state pris-
ons and penitentaries. This law was not re-
pealed or supplanted by the Legislature of 1885,
nor, so far as / know at the last session OF the
LEGISLATURE The last few words make 1t ap-
parent that the Legislature intendeo tha' pr's-
oners should not be used on city or village
.treets But so far as that is concerned. II
this law does NOT apply to penitentiary conVic's
neither does the final prohibition apply 10
them"
BARRED OUT OF PARKS AND RoADe'
Park Commissioner Dettmer was not in town
Yesterday but q recent conversation whlch lie
had with John H. Burtis Commissioner or Char-
ities and Corrections, makes 1t highly impropaoie
that he would consent 10 use convicts 10 90 al!
kind Of work in his department. Mr.. Burtis caiieo
10 inform him that the penitentiary was III d
position to furnish his department with orooms'
brushes. printing and large number OF other
supplies.
IF our prisoners could be put to work making
good roads" said Mr.. Burtis. "mes Of roads
could be built. and it would not cost the tax
payers one cent.
THAT is undoubtedly true" replied Mr. Dett-
mer but there is an existing prejudice against
using convicts for such purpose wouiu
be compelled TO decline your offer.
Il understand the situation replied Mr'
Burtis. and there the matter dropped.
II a clear legal right use the prisoners on
such work could be shown and II Mr.. Dettmer
would consent to use this class of labor on work
that will not be done in any other way, II is
agreed that the city Of Brooklyn would be vastly
the gamer The Department of Parks is IN
greatly crippled state financially. and next year
there is no doubt that the Greater Ne"-iorA
will have to issue bonds TO make up deficiency
in this Department. Under the old waste1ui
Democratic administration the Department OF
Parks received more than $oO0WW a year Tor
taking care Of nine parks ana two OF .nres
boulevards This year the Department mas hau
only Stj,j4 1876 IS to cover the maintenance anu
Improvement OF thirty-fve parks and eight
parkways. But for next year the unusually
hnC
This, it is said. will not maintain the parks
much less improve the n.
EAST SIDE LANDS NEED LABOR.
The Legislature authorized the issue Of $4,000
bonds for the purpose Of improving the un-
slightly East Side Lands. Owing to the prox-
unity of the city debt limit II was out OF the
question to sell these and many other bonds
In response 10 a loud demand, however, Mr..
Dettmer has spent $4,000 on the East SIDE
Lands, Gripping the work to do II. renee
has been built. some shrubs set at the hoI.n-
west corner and some Of the most unsightly
Tin cans and other rubbish removed. He can
spare no more money for the work. ana IL IS
coming to a close Before the place can pe
taken out OF the eyesore class II VIII De neces.
sary 10 level the land. remove more rubbish ana
rocks sow grass plant trees and cut out paths
This work is all such as could be done by prs
oners and unless they do II there Is no prospect
that II will be done for a year or SO
The same may be said OF the Dyker Meadow
Park The inexpensive work or improving the
highlands has been nearly finished. The de-
sign OF Frederick Law Olmsted requires the
turning of a stretch Of marsh land into lagoon,
with a pleasant shore line and islands In the
centre This expensive work will not be done
The prisoners could be utilized In the work or
throwing the mud from the lagoon part OF the
land to build the shore and islands.
The Canar5ie Park is now only name. The
prisoners could make II also a park by digging
trenches. filling in swamp land. forming pier
line and laying out roads and paths. And II
they did this they would not take jobs from
free labor, because otherwise the work will
not b. done The same may be said OF the
Improvement OF Rockaway Parkway to Jamaica
Bay, which Is authorized by a special act or Of
carrying some Of the worse than useless hills