New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-10
ELMTRA REFORHATORY UNDER FIRE.
ITS METHODS DEFENDED BY SUPERINTENDENT
BRoCKwAY AND THE BOARD OF MANAGERS

ITS METHODS DEFENDED BY SUPERINTENDENT
BRocKwAY AND THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
Albany. Feb. s-Assomblyman Green appeared
before the Judiciary Committee Of the Assembly
In support Of his bill for the abolition of the in
determinate sentence and of the system OF trans
fers from the Reformatory 10 State prisons SUI
perntendent Brockway and John NJ. Diven, or the
Board Of Managers OF the institution. were present
eft has been said that the late Theodore w
Dwight helped to draw mp the charter OF this IN
stitution" said Mir Green. but he did not include
I'm that charter provisions for the use OF the
paddle and the strap. the favorite instruments OF
torture In this Reformatory. j have here inc re-
port Of the Commission that investigated thal III
sttuticn in 1894. In which 1t Is stated that inc
cruelties and abuses practised there were a ois-
grace TO the STATE Of New-York. The greatest
discrimination is practised in this INSTITUTION os
the petty officers there. and they are Responsible
for hundreds Of persons being detained longer for
their offences than had they been sent instead 10
a State prison.
Mr. Green asked Mr.. Brockway II he had ever
struck a prisoner In the institution hut the super
intendent refused to answer. and Chairman Arm
strong or the committee upheld him in his refusal
Continuing Mr. Green said Il have received a
letter from an Inmate OF that institution stating
that about one hundred and fifty prisoners are 10
he released from the Reforma tory in the near
future who might be able to give testimony asaI NJ,
tho INSTITUTION In case of an Investigation MT
Green read from the annual message OF me Gov
ernor TO show that the Executive favors changes
I'm tho law governing the institution.
Mr. Diyen read a letter addressed 10 the conirtt,
tee md signed by all OF the members or the BOARD
Of Managers of the institution. In Wnlcn II WIS
stated that the three supports or the heiorndto'y
were. ~ The indetermnate sentence. W me paIoe
or conditional release (3) the grade or marking 81
tom If either OF these props should ne reino'eu IL
would obliterate the reformatory system Inc thevly
NJ tho dererminate sentence Is punishment that
~ tho indetermnate, reformation. Inc letter re-
viewed the entire theoretical and practlcal "olh.
ing schemes OF the institution, ana declared tntI
there eas no need OF such a law as was proposes.
THE average term of imprisonment, as SHOWN ny
the records of five thousand prisoners taken con.
sacutiyely from the records, was twenty. elsHs
months The record OF eighty prisoners trdnSIeIleu
70 Auburn Prison during the last year was SVEN III
detail both their confinement IN ths ~
formatory and in the prison. and the transfer o.
nrisoners was declared to be a desirable exponent
w NJ + Round secretary OF the state PRISON
Aeso-iatI spoke In opposition TO the BILL and also
expressed the opinion that its adoption would ue-
stroy the reformatlve principle or the lnsttuti9n.
He said that his association had constantly on lts
hooks the names OF $50 paroed prisoners VINO re-
norted regularly. and he had never. except III one
ar two Instances. heard any complaint against the
system from the men ,.-, 1880 ,,.or
Sunerir tpndent Prockway volunteered any lhlor,
nation which the committee desired or MIN, ana
answered. numerous questions as to the erect OF the
adontion Of this law and the offences for whiGn
nrisnners were transferred to the state prisons ne
aIso agreed TO file with the committee much other
Information TO he taken from the records or the
Reformatory