Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-11

Stale Institutions
Generally speaking, the penal and
charitable institutions of our state are
well managed and Maintained at a high
order of excellence. The fact tina this
can be said is due. largely. to the x
ceptional ability of their respective
superintendent or other head officials.
and the care and attention given by the
several boards OF, management. It needs
to be remembered that the managers of
all these institutions, except the in
spectors of the State prison, are serv-
ing without compensation.
In this system of voluntary scrv-
ice j do not believe. The state has
no right to the enforced service of
it's citizens without mt least a par-
thai recompense therefor. II is un-
fair 10 complain of "A man for lack
of attention to public AFFAIRS who
is giving his time and service as a
free-wf1l Offering.
The board of each institution should
be required to meet at least monthly.
The president should visit the institu-
ton at least weekly. l recommend that
each of the boards of the several in
stitutions of the State be r~eorganized
eaAo ti4Sd Ut N CA1CCAiL6 olA lk1ClitbGtc ,
that regular meetings of the board be
required to be held monthly, and that
all laws now providing for the payment
Of the expenses of the managers be
repealed, and a definite sum-say $15-
be paid to each member for each egu
lar monthly meeting, and that a like
sum be paid for special meetings called
by the president of the board, in case
OF necessity, not, however, to exceed
three for n n year; that the men,
bers of the boards be hereafter ap-
pointed for terms of six years; the first
appointment being for one, two, three,
four, five and six years, respectively.
and thereafter to fill vacancies or for d
full term of six years. This would limit
the possible expenses of the managers
of each institution to 81, 400, and would
be the wisest possible expenditure of
such a sum. This reduction OF the
boards would insure a quorum at every
meeting, which frequently is not now
obtained, and would concentrate re-
sponsibility.
Penal Institution suggestions.
The act creating the Railway Re-
formatory authorizes the transfer of a
certain class of it's inmates from the
reformatory to the State prison. There
are in the State prison several young
men confined for their first offense;
some of them under II years of age,
They should not be there unless their
offense be murder, and it is not clear
that they should even be there for
that.
/ recommend the enactment of a law
authorizing the board of inspectors, on
the recommendation of the keeper of
the State prison, with the approval of
the Governor, to transfer from the
State prison to the Halfway ~reformatory
such inmates of the State prison as are
first offenders, III who are under the
age of 20 years, as they may deem 1t
to be of advantage to the inmate to SO
transfer.
l also recommend that the law in
creasing the age of girls who may be
sen to the State Home for Girls from
II to 10 years, be repealed and the
maximum age be again placed at II.
1t is shown. by experience, that girls
over II years of age should not be sent
TO the home. If a woman's ~reformatory
be created they car be sent there. Girls
under II years of age In the State
prison Qf any such there be), should
also be transferred to the State Home
for Girls in the same manner as here
recommended as to transfer of boys to
the reformatory. An easy method of
such ansfer will be of great advan-
tage to all these institutions.
AT present the law permits the send
ing of persons to the State prison for
any period of not less than six months.
This is wrong and should be changed.
The State prison should not take any
offender whose term of sentence is less
han IL year. Prisoners sentenced for
less than one year should be sent to
the county Jail.
/ recommend such legislation.
! further recommend that on all SEN
fences to county jails. the prisoner be
entitled to be credited with one day In
every six for good behavior, and that
the boards of chosen freeholders of the
respective counties be empowered TO
make the necessary rules for the dis
charge of such prisoners by the warden
or keeper of the Jail, when, In his judg-
ment, the behavior of the prisoner war
rants the same.
] also recommend that the age which
offenders may be sent to the Railway
lClOl lAitltoly w Nv ~
Experience shows that persons over q
years of age should not be sent in as
ISOLATION with boys under 20 years OF
age.
All these recommendations are in line
with the best thought on penalogy, and
are the result of experience in the best
Institutions of the country. 1t is thu
desire of all to see our penal and re
form institutions conducted OIL lines OF
the greatest good to the inmates, ane
in such ways as will lead to the future
good citizenship of those within theii
care.
Purchase of Supplies.
The present method of separate pur'
chase of staple supplies for the seyera
state institutions is wrong. I recon-
mend the creation of a State board TO
this urpose the board to consist o
the commissioner of charities n cor
rections and the official of each Of thu
institutions who now makes the pur
chases for it. This board to aggregate
the needed supplies and to purchase
for all at one time; deliveries to b.
made at the respective institutions
This is the New York system, and !
has shown great savings. At present
different prices. are paid for he sam
article at the different institutions
This is neither good business nor wis
policy. No subject is~of greater con