New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-30
REPORT RIOT OF WASTE
Prison Industries Criticised by
Commissioners Named by Dix.
DISCIPLINE FOUND LAX
Defiance of Statutes Alleged
Consideration of Attorney
General Recommended.

Albany. Dec 29.-In a final report 10 Gov
ernor Dix. William Church Osborn, George
NJ. Van Kennen and John d. Mcmahon.
commissioners appointed by the Governor
to investigate the management and affairs
OF the Department OF State Prisons. de-
clare that their investigation OF the prison
industries shows a riot OF management,
waste and wrongdoing." The commission
ers say the evidence has indicated that
there has been a constant defiance Of the
statutes and frequent violations of the
penal law, and they recommend that the
report be submitted 10 the consideration Of
the Attorney General.
! The report has this TO say in regard to
prison industries:
/ OF a possible market to the state and
municipal departments OF not less than
/ $50 oG0,00 per annum, the prison industries
/ with the free labor Of AGO men and no
! overhead charges. except supervision, have
supplied less than N,0O0,O0J per annum.
/ With an ample field OF labor, prison indus
! try has paid only 1919 per cent OF the cost
/ of prisoners maintenance. The failure TO
! fill the orders open 70 the prison industries
keeps a third OF the prisoners In absolute
| idleness. Those who are given work are
occupied much less than the legal work
ing day and are allowed TO idle away most
/ of their time at that. We believe that
! the prison industries must continue TO oe
unsatisfactory until the more pIontauIgI
industries are extended and additional
facilities are provided for the employment
/ Of the idle convict population and the WORK
Of each convict is so arranged under the
present statutory conditions that his et-
forts will be Of the highest efficiency from
/ the point of view OF production.
4 We conclude that the prison industries
| have not mad fair chance in this state:
| If managed under the Superintendent OF
Prisons by such man as would ordinarily
be employed to conduct a business OF 3d.
I 900 to $lo,0o0,0c0 year. they would give
better results. 1t IS possible That they
would make the prison system set-sup-
porting.
our examination of the plans for more
prison facilities shows that a saving per
! haps of 100000 can be had by reconsid-
Grafton Of the scheme In contemplation at
/ the present time The superintendent OF
State Prisons informs US that he now mas
/ a separate cell for each prisoner, so tnat
we cannot feel the urgency Of expend lng
/ 81. 900 900 or more on this department. When
| the other custodial departments OF bunacy
and Charities are in dire stress Tot nous
/ ing their wards.
While the investigation was confined pri-
marily 10 business methods, the commits
| sioners say they incidentally found condi-
tons Of discipline 10 be incredibly lax.
! This. thew say, has been particularly the
! case at Clinton and at Sing Sing. The in,
I
I lax discipline have become manifest In the
hampered efficiency OF the prison INDUS
/ tries The report says
It Is the direct cause, also. OF the many
murderous assaults and the revolving
/ crimes which have occurred at the lnstltu-
! tons mentioned. great number OF con-
/ viCts secure materials from which 10 man
/ ufaCture knives. \ more effective super
/ vision would have prevented numner o.
! serious attacks upon prisoners and ofhcers
/ with knives and firearms which nave taken
/ Mace in the past This lack OF discipline
! has imDeded an effective operation OF the
( shops and has had a demoralizins eHec'
upon the population. - IL
! The Investigation at Clinton prison dis
closed a serious lack Of means % enforce
and preserve discipline. Of the hfteen
signals in use. communicating from the
various guard posts 10 the guardr0om slN
were found TO be out OF order. ana az an,
/ nunciatoTs reporting from the guaI1T or o ~!
! TO the posts were not in operation. or the
1 shops and stations necessary to guaru
, tb-ae we're found TO be without a, telephone
/ or othe. apparatus with which the guards
might signal for assistance If required.
The Investigators censure State Archi-
/ tect Ware for alleged failure TO take sufti-
Gent precautions to guard against quick
/ sand I'm the construction OF the new Great
/ Meadows prison at ComStock- ~ the tTne
| 10 buildings were designed, the report
savs. il appears that the state Archltect
} had no report as TO the nature OF the SOlI
! or horings thereof as IS his duty under TN
Eterms Of his employment. -..-..., 49,
/ The commissioners devote mucn atteuuol
/ To the Instances Of alleged Acknowledgement
ON the part OF John p. Powers former su-
/ perintendent OF Industries at sing Slns
/ irison who recently was dismissed on
charges fled by Commissioner McMahon.