The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-07
ORR, WHITMAN'S AID
j MAY SUCCEED RILEY
Governors Secretary Talked
Of as New Superintend-
cnt Of Prisons.
CHARGE IN LETTER SENT

trRhXr. y. v. Jan. 6.-William A.
Orr. GOV. Whitman's private secretary.
may he appointed State superintendent
q. Prisons temporarily II Supt. John y.
E!ley complies at once with Gov. Whit
mans request. transmitted 10 him to-
day. to resign Immediately. Mr.. Orr has
cf,cn been mentioned as a possible sue
ccssor TO Supt. Riley. but the Governor
docs not want Mr.. Orr to leave the
,Seci,ive stan. md for that reason Il
t. believed that II he is appointed It will
b. only until a permanent successor to
Mr.. Riley can be chosen.
Resides Mr.. Orr DIR. George W. Kirch-
vcy. now warden OF Sing Sing. has been
suggested by some. Charles H.. Strong.
appointed by Gov. Whitman as commits
sioncr under the Moreland act to inves-
,lgatc the State charities. had a long
talk Will the Governor this afternoon.
and II was suggested that the Cover
nor might be thinking Of him.
Has StsdieA the Prisons.
Mr.. Orr has spent a large part Of his
time visiting and inspecting State insti-
tutions and has some decided ideas on
prison management. He believes manu-
featuring In the prisons should be put
on a paying basis. Another Of Mr.
orr's IDEAS Ia that Of granting ~convicts
from 10 TO Is per cent. decreases In
their minimum sentences AZ rewards for
hard, faithful n Industrious work In
the shops. Productive labor Is the key
note Of Mr.. orr's theory. when he
visited Sing Sing he estimated that
about one-third OF the 1000 convtcts
spent most Of their time in the prison
playing and lounging.
Gov. Whitman was asked tonight II
eupt. Riley had ever told him that he
could have h resignation any time he
wanted II.
He never did" replied the Governor.
The Governor was asked about the
time Superintendent Riley would have
for his answer before being removed.
He replied that there was no provision
Tor any special time.
Tells Of Qaick Removals.
Theodore Roosevelt removed Asa y.
Gardiner in five minutes he said. smil-
ing. superintendent Scott was re-
moved In about twelve hours. wasn't
he
With the withdra wal of Superintend-
ept Riley. 1t is believed. there will be
= general cleaning out in tho Prison
Department. II WAS said yesterday that
George 5. Weed. Superintendent Riley's
clerk. q position corresponding TO a
deputy superintendent. IL likely TO go.
as well as Iohn Farnsworth. confidential
clerk, and I. II. Mcdonald. the Superin-
teHd"nt'S confidential agent.
The position OF Superintendent OF
Ir!sun pays 5000 a year. with 81 200
for expenses. In removing the super
iutendent 1t is not necessary to get the
spr~ oval of the Senate.
The term is five years. Superintcnd-
et i;ley's term does not expire until
March -. 1919. Mr.. Weed took to
Superintendent Riley At Sing Sing This
afternoon the letter the Governor sent
TO the superintendent office. The let
,cr rcids:
q have just been appriscd Of an
order. mad" hN you. directing the trans
Ter rom Sing Sing to the state prison
Il banuemort of siNty-siX convicts.
some Of these, as has been
a." transferred as tubcrcular patients.
Most Of them. II appears, have been or
ar al present prominently connected
viii tho Mutual Welfare League OF
tie prison and are regarded 10y tho
warden as trustworthy and necessary.
Under the present conditions. for the
proper administration of the affairs Of
Tie prison, The warden was not con-
suited at all in this matter.
sees Blow Al New Warden.
1T was distinctly understood when
Or kirchwey went to Sing Sing. which
70 did AT our earnest solicitation. that
he should be given an opportunity thor
oughly tn familiarize himself with the
conditions and, so far as practicable,
should have II free rand.
'NnI LTa1l- "a - uali a. chat n rama.
fer from Sing Sing to Dannemora, eX-
eept In cases OF t%ubercular patients.
's regarded as punishment and has been
TO- Years.
Your drastic and p~recipitate action
Without conference either with the war
den or with the Governor. II seems
10 me. can be- inspired by but one mo-
tive. and its effect, as YOU must know.
Y carried out. must he to break down
the administration and render the new
warden's position intolcrablc.
II ave felt and still feel that In
you cnfcebled condition OF health you
may not altogether realize the full Of
feet Of your official action on this and
on other occasions.
But this order is so clearly a viola
tion Of our understanding II OF the
terms under which Or. Kirchwey went
% Siug Sing, as well as, II seems to
inc, OF our official obligation to the
PEOPLE of this State. that | deem 1t my
duty 10 ask for your immediate resig-
nation"
\ statement sent by Supt. Riley from
New York was read to Gov. Whitman
Tonight Supt. Riley said that he had
Instructed his subordlnates not to in
',li" IN among the prisoners to I've taken
from Sing Sing the convicts prominent
in the Mutual Welfsre League. After
the statement had been read the Gov
emo" said
the fact remains that these men are
80 'ulucntial men OF the league and
lends OF Mr.. Osborne n some OF them
Witnesses. II Is a very serious situation
and YOU can see why, While II is en-
''rclv unfair that Mr.. Osborne should
remain At the head of the prison while
tasra are witnesses there both for and
against him. II is equally unfair that
: eSo Witnesses should be intimidated by
Transferring them TO other prisons. 1t
vas agreed that DIR. Kirchwey SHOULD
'a'" an absolutely free hand in running
= Prison"
w." Governor was told that II was
'hUprcd that he would appoint Mr..
E'"y'S successor tonight. lie replied
"Frtt IS absolutely false. II Is not
a. Iu any WAY. haven't even con-