New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-12
SING SING PRISON REPORT.
REVELATIONS NOT TO BE so TERRIBLE
AS ORECAST-WARDEN SAYS
COLLINS Is ATTACKED

Il has been known for some time that commit
tee of the Prison Association has been making a
thorough examination Of the conditions at Sing
Sing Prison. Its report is almost ready to he pre-
scented. and will probably be made public Thurs
Gay It will expose certain grievances and abuses
from which the prisoners sufTer but will reveal
anything nearly terrible as indicated in the
alleged forecast Of the report published yesterday
Charlton T. Lewis. who is president Of the asso-
citation well as a member of the investigating
committee, said yesterday:
It would be manlfestlv inuroper for me in any.
way 10 anticipate the report. but expressing my
sbea today Il 6eeas say sast ng as COM
psIsa VIII. WITH any Presentment 10 be made oy the
committee There is no doubt that the constitutional
amendment prohibiting the employment Of con-
Wet labor in the production of manufactured aTIi-
its effects upon the discipline Of the prison Most
OF the time and fdleness especially among near
eeTated human beings. is productive Of the worst
said:
me management Of Sing Sing and other prisons are
eOnvicts in the prisons and the lack Of employment
for the prisoners Since the repeal Of the Contract
system the prisoners Eaye not been employed on an
a failure.
Mr. Ward added that he believed there IA
voritism shown to certain prisoners, but he de-
other member Of the committee could cite specific
instances Of extreme cruelty such as were cited
IN the alleged forecast of their report published
yesterday
Warden Addison Johnson of Sing Sing Prison
denies the charge in the forecast of the commit
tees report He said yesterday:
What object could we have in sending prison
Lssoe sSoGS outside the State or TO private indi-
Nlouaisg The State would get the money; we
would not. We obliged BIZ the Contract Labor
Jaw 10 sell prison made goods TO State institutions,
ana We GO bat no prison made goods are sold any
am willing to nave a fun and searching inquiry,
srous Of having Il, that such reports as these
are out, and win insist upon one.
This whole matter arises from feeling that exists
collins on account Of Warden Sage. my predeces-
sor The association did moi approve of Mr.. Sage
through me- IN NOT tho one thex Tan+ n l,1,rt
The charges made by this committee must be sub
stantlsted by il, As TO the assertion that black
mail is levied mat is made up out of whole CLOTH
5ust like the rest Of the charges
an IN a position To know whether there is any
1n.acknau IN this prison. and I know there is not
why Doesn't the Prison Board have the officials
deemed guilty of it indicted?
The death rate in Sing Sing Prison is lower than
u has been IN seven years Only eight have died
here IN the last twelve months and most Of them
entered the prison. The longest period a prisoner
hss been confined in a dark cell is four or five days
was very ugly As to the charge thar pTso maP
was kicked of the roof Of a cell block by keeper
eide, IL is wholly false No such case ever hap
pencil and no prisoner has ever been reported as
jumping off the cell block in my administration
The association committee consists of J. seely
Ward. jr. chairman; A. NJ MADDEN, ]. G. Phelps
Stokes. James McKeeu. Henry E. Gregory Charl-
Ton ]. Lewis. Eugene Smith. William j. Schieffelin
and Samuel ". Jackson. Its Investigation has coy
cred many State institutions