New-York tribune., 1903-01-12

The Weak Link IN the States Penat
System, Superintendent Collins Says.

Albany. Jan II (SpeciaD.-Cornelius V. Collins.
Superintendent of State Prisons. in his annual
that the new system of paroling convicts Is sue
cess He says:
This law is an innovation in penal admInIstra-
ton In the State. since il places under the imned
ers in the prisons who are ,5der senfeneex fT
crimes. the maximum penalty for which is irlpris-
provided they have served one-thiTd OF the terms
st the meetings in the several prisons in October.
tjos t tne 2oard of parole considersd the applea-
number and granted pardOns 70 17s
He adds:
The success Of the board Of parole, with the ma
that thev did the work Co-scientot1sl,r and in An
effective way exercising great disCriminat ton and
The results that have thus been achieved seem
to warrant the legislature in extending the jurts-
dicttOn Of the board far to embrace all first
and tRc eastern n NewYoT K 'S. sxcePs
those under sentence to life imprisonment
Regarding prison industries Mr. Collins says:
The ,requis;tons for the products Of the prisons
have been more numerous during the last year
than in any Other year since The present industrial
ings $s4.755 O9
Taking Up the question Of professional criminals
Mr. Collins suggests that where criminals have
served three previous FOR felonies they shou
be sentenced to state Prison for life. but shall be
subject to the jurisdiction OF the Commissioners
for Paroled Prisoners lie says:
Prisoners who are returned to the prisons term
designated persistent criminals and the other as
professional criminals The State has borne long
them respect for therseIvss a. and regsrd For The h
laws and lights of Others All refornnatory theories
have been applied to them and have failed: they
BertilIon records Of these men are reliable and
of s P Prosd S RP95tGs Psoner- I5s bs, STa ss
onstrated lts ability to decide with high degree o.
In the Berton system and the Board OF Com
dealing effectuaiy with these classes OF criminals
through the passage Of a law providing that arv
prisoner convicted Of felony w-o is shown By ts
records in the Bertlon Bureau. or the records OF
the penal institutions in which he has been con
fined to have served three previous terms fnr
but shall be subject to the jurisdiction Of the Com.
missOners for ParOled Prisoners to release upon
believes that this course would tend greatly to
lessen crime in the State, as it would not only
but would also deter those who are at liberty.
Superintendent Collins points out forcfbly that
the Jail system OF the State needs reformation.
| Speaking this subject, he says:
In previous reports the superintendeut has r.
ferred to the fact that MANY prisoners received
| at the prisons who are morally poisoned and con
crininaIs Which is pernittad in tbose irsft9rTons
This Is especially true of the younger class OF first
offenders who come to the Jail having respect for
oF their nenaI terms are fbev so sscs-1+frIe " e.
ternal influences II, at this period practical re-
CORRECTION can M In m8St cases 5e aSGonpiishsd 5g5
influence OF degraded companions their respect ro
| law is soon destroyed and they become hardened
| OF the confirmed criminals their own
The superintendent does not know where a pest
for a hospital; such is the plain relation Of the
}aS anune o tHg and seeve @ 6TganzoR in No
/ state for the salvation Of criminals and alleged
| system