New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-23
STATE PRISONS FULL
PRISONS FULL TRIP
HARD SERVICE RULING - a..
HARD TINES 4 CAUSE
G., ,,eri;ufcnGcnt Collins Wdnts Parole
Lac -fmcnded.

.,L.,,- lar. e2-Never in the history Of New
=. state prisons has the number OF prisoners
minated that recorded in the last fiscal year,
90 - ! collins superintendent Of state prisons,
80 out in his annual report to the Legislature.
a. ,r,r1Ic to-day that the prison records seem
- .erraut the conclusion that the reaction in
ICES affairs that occurred iii October. 1901. was
nc degree the immediate cause of many OF
- -ir,fnal acts for which men were committed
= n-ison during 1903. although the reports of the
a.,1aius show that ss per cent of the men rep
entln- the increase in population were en-
.so,ed when their crimes were committed.
Tl,a dali, average of prisoners in the prisons
,-irg the fiscal year ended September 80. 1905.
,;.l7 mas S.S7. 361 greater than in 1907, and
,.ses the average OF The eight years from 1900
- rsr- by SIS The total number OF prisoners in
= ,,,s.odv OF the wardens September 80, 1903.
vas 1851
larger appropriation for officers salaries is
,asres BY Superintendent Collins. in Order that
,,a prolonged detention OF convicts in their cells
,rer sunday may be avoided
c-nerintendent Collins devotes considerable
-,ion If his report 10 the subject of indetermnate
f.cr,as and recommends that the law be amended
- as 10 provide for longer parole periods and for
,,1irr1n, sentences. never exceeding the maximum
,altv for the crime OF which the prisoner is con-
+icted less the Communication allowed on definite
sentences He says in part;
rp. ,beory o, IN. penoIogists, who advocated the
pSsS9S 5nrisoned for punishment but in order that
~ hev nav be reformed and corrected; therefore
mai they should De kept in prison only SO long
IS NAV be necessary TO accomplish this result ana
- n shall be the province Of the board of parole
Ser reasonable restrictions. to say what the
Srsfion OF confinement shall be- and also to decide
W. lr the prisoner NAV properly be paroled ana
emf 70 suitable place OF employ iileht "lSIe'
n5er the restraint OF friendly official SUPERVISION
he shall practise habits Of INDUSTRY ana corIect
So nd strengthen him and create IN MIN the
ss-e 70 live reputable life and maintain himself
Nv honest labor after his discharge from lPrlson-
The results attained with state prison convicts
Under the indeterminate sentence law nave beeh
,etisfsctorv so far the term limits nXed by tne
rarole features Of the law In many cases now
srsT the terms Of the sentences have been so IN.
consistent with the evident purpose and intent or
he law TO render its parole provisions "hoiS'
or 10 q good degree, inopeTStke
srnerintendent Collins states that in the last
eight months OF the fiscal year every department
- the prisons that was dependent the mainten-
s,ca fnns for support was seriously embarrassed in
ifs operations by want OF sufficient funds 10 meet
jrs actual and necessary requirements. He says:
The maintenance appropriation for the current
II i yerv clear that this sum VIII not De sum
cent TO meet the requirements OF the year. IT is
probable that the number Of prisoners VIII con, con
cate that supplies will be cheaper The need OF
rnsnv essential requirements that could not De
provided last year is now imperative only py, a
rsdical change in the methods OF prison admins
ration can the period Of Tetrenchment be further
extended If the reformatoTy. educational and
that il has taken many years TO build up are TO
ne continued. If the important work OF the tuber-
cu!osis hospital annex at Clinton prison is TO be
effectively prosecuted. and If the prison build
ings are 10 be kept in suitable repair. further
srprcpriation for the maintenance or the prisons
viii be required for the current fiscal year.