New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-20
NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
A COMPLETE VINDICATION.
OUTDOOR WORK FOR CONvICTs AP-
PROVED BY THE STATE COM
MISSIONERS.


QUALIFICATION OVER THE SUCCESS OF THE
VENTURE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
THE SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE
STATE PROBABLE.
The agitation which was started and has been
followed up by The Tribune looking toward
furnishing work on the public lands for the con-
victs in the Kings County Penitentiary. who had
been forced into idleness by the Anti-Convict
Labor law. received triumphant and sweep
Ing Endorsement yesterday, when the Peniten-
.iary visited by committee from the State
Commission of Prisons. The committee con-
sisted Of Charles j Boyd, OF Mddetown. and
w +. Remington. of Canton. w. Il. Sherman,
secretary of the State Commission, also accom-
panied the party.
Commissioner Boyd in speaking of the visit
said Our principal. object in making visit at
this time is to look into the causes of the I'M
usual amount Of insanity which has been re-
ported from the Kings County Penitentary
since the first OF the year. and TO make a close
observation OF the method Of employing con-
victs on public lands. which has been adopted
TO remedy the trouble caused by ideness In
the upper part Of the State where come from,
The Tribune Is the only New-York paper which
is generally read. The people UP there have
been much interested in the able articles printed
In your paper the subject. and l have re-
ceived many inquiries regarding the situation
I therefore determined TO make our regular IN
spection at this time. and make personal OBJ
servation of the situation.
Warden Hayes who heard Mr. Boyd's re-
marks. then spoke up and said: Yes. the news
papers are always making US trouble; people
would never hear all this If reporters would let
US alone"
This led Commissioner Burtis to rctort with
much warmth:
The idea Of putting the convicts at work orig
mated with The Tribune, and ii has pressed the
matter with so much accuracy and appreciation
both in its news columns and editorally. that
desire 10 give that paper due credit for its great
work Other papers have also assisted
The State Commissioners went to the peniten-
,iary escorted by Commissioner Burtis' or the
Charities Department. at 10 o'clock IN the MORN
ing Here they met by Warden hayes
and conducted through the institution inspect
ing carefully all the departments Inc Nls'oiS
asked many questions and were satsIed WIN
tho renIies which they received At noon they
dined at the wardens table. At O'CLOCK 'hey
took their carriages and drove to the Flatbush
Hospital Here they found the inmates pussy III
screaming the walls in building an additional
grounds c,o
The nevt noint of interest the East SIDE
Lands where the practical side Of giving the
convic,s labor is being demonstrated Here tht!
found about one hundred working quietly ana 10
all appearances satisfied
The State Commissioners expressed III sUohS
language their qualification at everything 'i's
had seen and minated that the system no"
employed by the Kings County commissioners
would solve the much needed problem OF P'l9o"
labor I, would benefit the taxpayers without
conflicting with organized labor. Ihey lh'nhaI
ed that while the idea Of having c"nor,'s Now
on uuhlic improvements was al present ii ~"
one II would soon gain favor and become sa'iS-
factory to the public. $3.50 :, oo,,,
There are three objects which II accom-
nlishes" saws Commissioner Burtis, mrs. !.
saves the prisoners from dementia' secondly !.
saves money for the taxpayers ARD thnoH, ~
acts an example before all those VINO might c"hi-
mil crime for knowing that they Will If con
viccd. be subjected to hard public labor VIII III
a great measure deter them. -.
The State Commissioners also minated that
they believed ii far better to employ the prisoners
out-of- doors on work which could not other
wise be done. than 10 give them indlNldua! Nolh
inside the prisons articles which Wouiu OH in
pete directly with outside labor rms Is s'sh'n
cant as il may lead to the adoption throughout
the state OF the outdoor method OF emplo! lhen''
as onnosed TO shopwork. In this respect the
Kings County Penitentiary Is ahead OF any
other PENAL institution Of which the visitors have
any knowledge -, ,.
In fact since the plan OF sending onN sh"rl
term men to the Kings County penitentiafy mas
been in force il is impossible to work the men
AZ skilled trades. When this fact was brought
10 the attention Of Mr. Boyd, he sad; Now
Mr. Commissioner. | observe in driving ABOUT
your city. hundreds and hundreds OF miles OF
streets which are not in shape. II left TO pald
labor they won't be in shape for many years
The city has no money to improve these slre''S'
So there would be no loss to free lanor II con-
victs are put to work on them. Such work on
the streets needs no expert knoWiedSe ANY VI
your drunks and trampS could do H. Inc Guy
would gain and no one would be the loser
Warden Hayes then plainuNely remarked thd'
this employment of cOnviCts on publc improve
roents would arouse the antagonlsm or inc lapor
organizations and in1ure me l1ontioi PAL :.
which advocated it. The State Commissioners
entered a demurrer to this, and SAID that, on the
contrary they agreed with commissioner sur
tis that eventually such fearless action for the
welfare Of the public would prove OF peheht 10
any party which dared 10 indorse H. -
on leaving the Institute Park the party was
driven through Prospect Park, visited the Union
League Club. and the Memorial Hospital AT
Classon and St Marks AYES. and were then l'''
at the Twenty -third-st ferry by COMMISSIONER
Purtis This was the first visit OF the olhclals 10
Brooklyn and they expressed themselves as
SURPRISED and gratihed At the puhhc lnSuIu'loi'S
Of the city To-day they Will visit the Queens
County Jail in Long Island city ana VIII theh
return to Albany -.
he had moi the slightest doubt that tn" com
r1ittee would mako a report fully JustlN ing ana
annrovinc the course which he ana ms COL
leagues have pursued in giving work 10 the
Kings County cOnVicts
II am intensely gratiiled. ne saln, al 'he W
nrsciaiion of our work was surprised to re
ceive such unqualified praise, and IT has pieased
me more than anything which has occurred in
long time"