The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-22
OSBORNE REFORM UPHELD
BY PRISON COMMISSION
sing Sing Gets Clean Bill in Report to Governor, New
Methods Being Praised, but Old Buildings
and Overcrowding Condemned.

prisoners. In addition to the health.
iui results secured for the prisoner RS.
me financial returns from the revenues
OF the farm n the additional
labor provided In the construction of the
buildings and the grading OF the sit,
me prison industries should be trans.
lively" ~
Regarding the Industries the report
says: '''
The shoe Industry Is said to be pro-
uucing more than at any time within
me last four years. and the Increase Of
.ne nrst SIX months Of the present year
over last year is 1898 per cent The
c,othihE industry has made "a gain of
aoout 5000 during the same period. The
Khitting and hosiery industry il also
.eporteu ahead OF former years. The
printing shop In behind Ia its work and
not up TO the standard. The ma. shop
Is also behind in it's orders. The car,
ana wagon shop, which was burned ON,
IN 1913. has been reconstructed and
Orders are coming In and its
product should in a short time exceed
the output OF other years.
Prisoner. work All Nay.
The prisoners formerly were required
10 produce a certain amount OF work each
uay' known as a stint and as soon as
the Work was completed they we're per
mi,'ed 10 rest in the shops. This stint
mas oeen taken away and prisoners WORK.
Turing the whole Of the working day
me ioremen reported that more work
was being done under the present re-
Quirements."
III reference 10 the Indulgence in
sports by The prisoners and Of tho "a.
ception Of visitors the export saws
annette sports are encouraged.
sparring ring has heen built and 4, /.
Ieported that prize fights have taken
pace at times. Ordinary ana r-,nr exhi-
billions and friendly contests OF sfrenr,h
should be sufficient and prize con,es,s in
the ring ought to be barred.
Many entertainments are given In
the chapel Moving picture exhIb,,ions
pays by theatrical companies, concer,,
ana other entertaining features are pro.
vided by the warden.
screen syatcm Abolished.
Formerly prisoners wro receivsd
visitors talked 10 them through a screer
separated by several feet. The reason
ior tnis separation was to prevent tn,
transfer OF drugs or other contrah,na
articles. TIE separating screen is no,
now In use. Instead OF T. sixteen small
booths are provided in which the prls-
oner and his visitors meet face TO face
In close contact.
The Mutual Welfare League has I'm
dertaken an inspection OF these visitor,
IN order TO prevent the smuggling o,
drugs and contraband. The meeting q,
husband and wife. mother and son.
father and child face TO face. and the
human embrace are elevatlrg influences
II remains TO be seen whether the ex.
pertinent will work out successfully.
Visitors to the prison are shown
around the grounds by members Of the
league. II Is reported that women un.
accompanied by men have bean showu
through the yard by prisoners. Sight
seers are not a hopeful influence "a
prisoners. The public. however, has some
interest which should be gratihed. /,
is unQuestiorable whether any perso-
should be sfown through the prison ey
cept by civilian officers, but In no case
should women be taken around the
grounds by prisoners"
The report concludes
q That so long az there are vacan,
cells in any Of the State prisons the
population or Sing Sing prison h. kent
at not more than lt3O by transfers {
other prisons.
THAT the Osborne plan Of adnr'nlstra.
ton al Sing Sing prison he fairly tried
over a sufficient period 10 ~demonstrats
its success or failure. II successful /,
represents a noble contribution tc
prison reform.
That recreat oral sports ana enter
he Encouraged"