New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-09
BROOKLYN NEWS.
W ARDEN HAYES PUZZLED.
He STEAMERS AN EXPLANATION OF
WHAT ALI. THE FOOD Is FOR.
SAYS THE PENITENTIARY MUST BE PRE-
PARED FOR A SUDDEN INFLUX
OF GUESTS

PARED FOR A SUDDEN INFLUX
OF GUESTS.
The publication OF the schedule OF food supplies
for the Kings County Peni,entiary for the ensuing
year seems 10 have been followed by the most
natural results. The list OF supplies included deli
caces so varied and In such abundance that the
inmates have received six members in the last
twenty-four hours. Thursday Warden Hayes said
there 373 inmates. Yesterday he told Tribune
reporter that there S79. This gives average
Of one newcomer for every four hours. II could
not be learned. however. how many OF the new
arrivals had brought their trunks over from the
Waldorf-Astoria and other uptown hotels
Among other things the list OF supplies was
an assortment OF eleven different kinds OF fish. II
would appear that the convict has his pick OF
Boston steak cod. blueish blackfsh. whitehsh.
and. leaving the colors out. salt mackerel. hall
but shad. smelts, trout, founders and sea bass.
or all these kinds except there is an allowance
OF about three hundred pounds. or salt maclerel
there is an order OF ton and half In eXpana-
tlon OF this huge order OF fish Warden Hayes said
TO a Tribune reporter yesterday:
I'VE have 10 be ready for an emergency. That's
plain. isn't It? The number or convcts incar-
cerated here is likely to take sudden jump at any
time. We have 10 be ready for emergency.
Isn't that plain? Why. we had lbs inmates here
time"
when was that" was asked.
"Well. ! don't quite remember. No It wasn't
the last year Let's see" and here the Warden
began to count off the years on the fingers Of his
left hand. There were not enough fingers. how
ever and ne finally had TO give up his reckoning.
The reporter thea asked what became of the
60 90 oysters the 900 pounds OF currant jelly. the
400 pounds OF Ooong tea the $1,000 pounds OF
onions and 25 boxes Of tansefoot hy paper
Il would hardly Ike to say the Warden an
swered you see Commissioner James j. Kir-
win. has already made statement on this sub
tect and do not feel that II becomes me- az a
subordinate official, to make any further com
ments"
The Commissioner states that the oysters are
never given 10 the prisoners Is that correct"
asked the reporter.
Wen ~ he said 30. It must be-" answered the
Warden
Then the oysters are eaten by the keepers?
They must be- II the Commissioner said So
was the answer. and then he added
you see these keepers get about &c" year
To be sure they go home about CLOCK 10 ' ~,
afternoon in the winter but they ought TO nave HI
they want 10 eat"
"ThA Commissioner said that there were thirty
five keepers. three engineers. three mauons' aho
a man I'm charge Of the Bertiilon system. Is 'nA'
correct" was asked.
Did the Commissioner say that? aSAeu ''''
warden with emphasis
,c1,bot &c his statement" replied the reporter.
We'll. then it must be So" was the answer.
do these fortytwo people, then eat oo'V'' oS '''
a year?" was asked.
Such mathematical deduction was 700 M com
for the warden. and after some reflection ne co.-
fessed his inability to explain Where the O's''''
The subject OF Jelly was then discussed. 1t seems
that the con1ics get nearly eight tons o. sd9vs
,ey ra Se~F men bread for breakfast Such
allowance gives each convict about half pound Juno
vas asked II thew did not find It quite task TO
spread pound Of tey at one sitting ne ASKED
regard 10 The SUBJECT When told that he had not
the warden refused to 20 further into details
The question OF 5000 pounds Of bologna sausase
100 pounds Of saltpetre 900 pounds OF COMPRESSED
yeast and 600 gallons Of syrup was then takeh up
Kirwin When Warden Hayes was asked who wa
the authority to decide what were classedi as !uT
L lay entirety tire outside OF his province. ,u
isn't il that we are ready for an emergency? As
the Commissioner says We need not buy the wnole
5n We Want VI s" 10 be- readS for an emergency We
don't want 70 run short OF tool, 90 We ma ma
It's always best to be ready for whatever may hap
pen. l think that is plain ISM II ..,..,u.
call and the reporter had no opportunity 10 learn
whether such articles OF diet as 800 pounds OF
English hay- were treated as luxqries or not
beef" continued the reporter Is Il possible for the
conyicts to consume all this lL meat? ,,,, no,o q,
the hand, Il refer you 10 the Commissioner on
that. He saws that all this meat may not be used
put it is better 70 adyese Ior IT, Just me same anne
but as said before want 10 be prepared
The wonderful array OF choice edibles which &C
cording TO the published schedule Is 10 be furnished
for inmates OF crow Hin has caused no end OF
comment and discussion in Brooklyn.
Why" said man az he glanced his eye down
The list of dainties III Commissioner kirwln
says. many OF those delcacies are for the Keeper
only. AMI they should eat the quantity that IS
named in the estimate. they would all grow so Fat
and equity before the wear was out that every
prisoner in the penltentiary could walk right by
their stall fed guardians and escape.
But don't you fool yourself" continued the critic
IAN OF those things in that list will reach
the Denitentiary. That list is fixed up so that
certain contractor who is favored. put In a
balanced bid and secure the contract and yet not
lose any money
1T is this way. you see. For example. II a con-
tractor knew that although smells were 70 be in
cluded In the schedule he would not be called upon
TO furnish any he could schedule them In his esti-
mate az price way below their cost. This could
be done IN other items. The bidder who did not
know that smells would not be called for would
have 10 put them in at a fair price. and thus his
total bid would, OF course. be much higher than
that OF the favored contractor.