New-York tribune., 1908-01-17
ACCOUNTS IRREGULAR /?
GIynn Makes Charges Against
Prison Management.
TBy Telegraph to The Tribune.


Albany, Jan 16.-Grave irregularities in the ac-
counts of the state prisons the most notable OF
which was the existence of a charge the books
of Clinton prison of s4.0oo against Senator James
A. Emerson since 1896, alleged to-day in the
annual report of Controller Glynn His report
charges that the records and to a certain extent
the management OF Clinton and Auburn prisons,
especially were in bad shape. and recommends that
an expert accountant be allowed his department,
TO devote himself exclusively to examinations OF
the prison records
Controller Gynn has had an interview with Sen
ator Emerson about this charge. Mr. Emerson
says he knows of money which he owes to the
state The Controller is not satisfied with that
reply and has turned the affair over to the Attor-
ney General
Much comment has arisen here over the Con-
troIers declaration. Mr.. Emerson, who became a
Senator last year, was sales agent for Clinton
prison Dannenora, for ten years. He and
his brother Lou formerly Congressman are po-
litcal leaders of Warren County, and because OF
their political connections and large numbering
transactions influential in the north country.
He said to-day that in the ten years in which ne
was sales agent for the prison products he never
had than account which was disputed.
and in this case Attorney General Davies. to whom
the dispute referred by the warden and him
self settled ii in his favor.
There is record of another outstanding account
the books of this prison, amounting to $4,000,
which. according TO Mr.. Emerson himself may
"
in the prison records are vague, so that even the
Controller is in doubt about details of these trans
actions.
On this subject the Controllers report says:
Two outstanding accounts, existing. for many
years and aggregating So 43S a, found the
books Of Clinton prison. One is an account of the
manufacturing department, amounting to N817S 81
Co. of New York city. This has been standing
SINCE lS Two separate af5ions nave oeea pTo4gn{ T &
determination. Julius P Baumann and David H
against the state for alleged breach of contract
but the matter has never been brought TO trial
Warre8sbTg \ V for the sum of 81 55q S. There
IS record that suit was ever brought to recover
this sum
7 haven't the faintest idea what this is all
about said Senator Emerson when his attention
called TO the Controllers report He added:
l was sales agent for the prison for ten years,
OF s420O. A concern In New York think,
of the bill The firm claimed extra discount, or
something OF the sort which the warden wouldn't
check ntigate for the slo. for which, in the
m @ Months mS9d De anS en the m hfd wen t
bankrupt He tried to collect the whole amount
and ID produced proof that the firm was perfectly
solvent when IT gave the check. The Attorney
This $4,000 might be most anything, for all
know never had any account REM rendered to me
send a bill? There's never been day since 1886
l !
to guarantee the customers to whom l sold goods
and If they didn't pay the charges were taken
out of my 10 per commission. This may have
been something of that sort. but 1 never heard
I am sure it had nothing to do with the. Bau--
mann case That was entirely different bin OF
goods was sold to the Baumann - Arm and the
writing About that time the law concerning ing
goods when delivered were stamped prison made
The firm, as / recall IT, would not take them, and
for breach OF contract don remember Whether
they charged my commissions on the sale
against me or not
Mr. Emerson said his commissions frequently
exceeded $4,000 a month.
MANY other instances of laxity shown by
the Controllers examination Of the prisons. The
books of Auburn show that sS.125 Is is owed By
somebody TO the Piece Price Industry" sys-
tenn Of permitting convcts to do manufacturers
work IN piece basis which killed some years
ago There is absolutely record TO show who
owes the money The Merchants National Bank
of Plattsburg has had balance Of s2S Is to the
credit OF the hospital of Clinton prison
since 1896 but the books of the prison show
record of this.
The accounts of Clinton show that the mante-
nance department owes the industrial department
s5 $40 13 for goods purchased, which seems to be
the result of a lax method Of conducting the fnan-
cial affairs of the prison for a period OF years"
the report says In Sing Sing the maintenance de-
partulent has owed the industrial department S.,
572 81 since 1899.
Controller Cflynn recommends that machinery,
stock and materials Of the old and defunct indus
tries OF the prisons be sold and the books balanced
At Clinton he says there is machinery of the long
dead toy and novelty industry. valued at moro
than $4,000 but rapidly depreciating. The Con-
troer told verbally to-day Of another case.
"one prison has old machinery and material car
ried as assets at S159Ooe" he said. ITS worth
about 50 cents. It's fit only for the scrap-heap."
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