New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-08
4.SO0 Cells House 5,O52
New York Men and
Women ConviCts.
UPKEEP COST GROWS;
REVENUES DECREASE
State Superintendent Advises
More Outdoor WOrk-Re-
forms Successful.

Albany. Feb. a falling Oft in reve-
rue, an increase in the cost Of main
tenance and larger number Of con
yiets than ever are shown in the an
rual report Of John 3. Riley, State
SUPERINTENDENT Of Prisons.
The report, which viii be submitted
70 the Governor tomorrow, shows that
- cost SPAS. SO4 39 90 run Sing sing IN
1914. an increase of $4,000 over 1918
!, also shows that while the total sales
a. goods made by the prisoners AT
Sing Sing has stood al about S5lO,'op
IN The LAST three years. the prohts Ias'
wear were S40s33 50, as compared WIN
$76.sS4 G3 in 1912, falling OF OF al
most 90 per cent
Tho rcnort also shows a decrease IN
the revenues of the other two Dig
prisons Clinton and Auburn-the
Earnings Of the three combined last
wear being Sl33.SG0 81. inns repre-
scn,cd q loss Of nearly $4,000 as com
pared with the previous year ana
decrease OF more than >3l,oJO as com
pared with 1912. II
The total cost Of maintenance OF a.!
prisons jumped 10 Sl,2i4,ioo 40 Iss'
wear. In the three big prisons the IN
crease was nearly 100000.
The report shows that on January
l,st .bore were 5.O52 men and women
convicts. in Z 500 cells. BY April next
Superintcndent Riley estimates there
VIII be NJ least $500 prisoners.
On Scptembcr 30 last prisoners mum
bored Asp. an increase OF 248 over
the corresponding period in 1913. ne
increase IN the winter months oil 'He
last two wears is charged to uHemp!oy-
ment by the superintendent
Statisticians employed by HIM found
,bot men and women convicted at the
age Of twenty-three were IN the ma
ioritv. At this age 1886 were sent 10
urison last year. The Oldest received
Was lightweight years OF age.
"Tbe maintenance Of the alien prison
nonulation." says Mr.. Riley, cost the
state last year more than a quarter Oh
s. million dollars Many Of these Aliens
yero sent 20 prison when they had
boen here only a short time Tor carry
inc concealed weapons and Ike crimes.
This class OF aliens should De oe-
Tho averare daily attendance at the
nrison schools was 1917, with an en-
rollment Of 1872.
Concerning the parole system super
intendent Riley says;
1.-THE parole system has WORKED say
irfactorily and should be eNlehIeu. -.
- is not thought wise TO make hrsI
oForders now confined for the lesser
.r;roe ELIGIBLE for parole in one 'ear'
Tho pToyision fixing minimum terms
ebould be repealed, so that judges may
have wider discretion in imposing sen
teEce. e o,forc-
inc discipline have been graduallV
made The regulations when as
S,,naod oCice we're based on the theory
,bot punishment should follow every
ATTRACTION Of the prison rules IL mas
been found. however, that by grah'lh :
certain privileges for good conduct ana
efficient work, and Withholding Ihenl
from the undeserving, a remarAao pic
change i'm the attitude OF the lhInaIts
toward prison officials has Deeh e.
fected." -, tina.
Mir Riley deals in detail with the use
NJ convict labor during the summer Tor
outdoor work. when the prisoners llNed1
in tents and farmhouses. Inc cost OIL
feeding and guarding the prisoners was
erarrely more than when they were
within prison walls. Six hundred ana
ninetv-four convicts were employed on
road construction, the others working
at forestry. farming and numbering
The experiment was a success, and MI
Riley suggests that the number Of con
victs employed on highway conStruc,,
tion this year be doubled, lie ADVISED WISE
that the Legislature appropriate SIVV'-
900 for that purpose.
The plan of granting conyicts greater
privileges and more time Tor exercise
and recreation proved success LaSi
summer they had baseball teams anu
were allowed an hour each ior recrea-
,ior sfter finishing their days work
This added time for recreation mate
rally improved their health. BY the
nurcbasc OF a state farm the prisoners
would benefit from more outdoor work
aud nj the same time furnish vege-
IL. L. IL r.r-a nul-