New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-22
" POLICE TOO JEALOUS"
State Prison Board DepJores Nmmer-
Gus TntoTicdti0n Commitments.

Albany. Feb. H.-Important recommendations are
made by the state commission OF prisons in its an
nual report to be transmitted tomorrow TO the
Legislature. The commission recommends. among
other things the establishment OF state reform
atory for male misdemeanants sixteen years of age
and over and the establishment of state work
houses for raisdemeanants, TO take the place OF
the present penentiaries. Many facts given in the
report OF the Superintendent of Prisons
peated.
Commenting on the fact that there were 80 $50
commitments during the last year for intoxication,
being drunk and disorderly, the report criticises
policemen for being too jealous in making arrests
under this classification. The report says that in
toxication in any case lacks one Of the essential
elements Of crime-the element Of malice. 1t is
rather weakness than crime-in many cases
disease-and should be treated such. Arrests
should only be made where the offender is a men
10 the community and grossly intoxicated
Some provision should be made for the proper care
OF this class Of offenders other than by committing
them prison
The following is a brief resume OF the recon-
mendations contained IN the report:
First-A liberal appropriation TO progress the
work of the new prison to take the place Of Sing
Second-The establishment of a state reformatory
for male rnisdemeanants- sixteen years of age and
Thrd-The establishment of state warehouses for
misdeneanants TO take the place Of the present
Fourth-Provision for the following additions TO
the plant of the New York Eastern. Reformatory. at
ton building, domestic building. chapel and addi-
tional land for farming purposes and sewer beds.
FIfth-Either make the New York City ReTorma-
tory for Nisdemeanants a state institution. under
the care Of the board " managers Of state re
formatOrtes, or, If continued as city Institution,
vest its entire management and control in q board
of managers. to be appointed by the Mayor
SiXtk-Amend the law relating TO commitments TO
the state prisons ndeterInnate sentence so as 20
make il mandatory for the courts TO make the dir
ference between the minimum and maximum sen
tence not less than the amount of communication
which the prisoner could earn by good conduct
Seventh--An amendment of the law relating 10
commitments by inferior courts. giving to county
Judges authority end jurisdiction to confirm or va
cate commitments made by such courts or suspend
execution of sentence. and place defendants on
probation. without formal appeal
EiEEth-Amend the law relating TO vagrants flrst
by excluding from its provisions truant children
between the ages of five and fourteen: second. by
penitentiary except upon proof that he is an
habitual criminal has actually committed some
criminal offence.
Ninth-The Installation of large windows in the
old cell block of Clinton Prison.
Tenth-The installation of sewage disposal plant
for Auburn Prison. and a like plant for CLINTON
Prison and Dannemora State Hospital
DISQUALIFICATION for charging the tuberculosis
hospital Clinton Prison and for additional equip
rnent for this hospital
TweIfth-Amend the county law so as 10 provide
for the construction of open courts or outdoor
Yards for ails for the exercise of prisoners, espe
cially those awaiting trial, and allow prisoners
awaiting trial work for compensation, TO De pad
them or their families the plan proposed IN the
report Of the committee industries
Th1rt eenth-Anlend the law providing colnpeISa-
ton TO the inmates OF the state prisons so as 20
give these prisoners larger compensation on the
method suggested in the report Of the committee
on industries