New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-19
THE SING SING PROBLEM
Where to Put the New Farm Industrial
Prison for Overflow.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: The long fight against the infamous
Sing Sing cell block and in favor Of farn
prison TO take rs place has cu'-
minated this year in the Sage ard Io1ner
prison bills Both bills have passed the
Senate and are now before the Assemble
The Towne. bill has been amended DO many
particulars TO conform TO the Sage bill, and
the two bills now stand as follows:
With regard 20 Sing Sing itself, both bills
provide that the old cell block shall be 3e-
molshed and that Sing sing be converted
into receiving and distributing sta'ion and
an industrial prison.
The Indignation against Sing sing has bre1
in the public mind demand for The removal
Of the prison ard the sale OF the siie' This
has been opposed on the ground OF economy
Upon analysis. 1T becomes apparent that 1t is
the damp. old cell block which is the real
object Of adherence, and tha, sing Sing
though handicapped by its location in
thickly populated d.str.c. and by Is small
and rough area. has certain advantages.
As an industrial prison. Sing Sing has
besides nearness to New York the adyariag'
of water transportation for eight months o.
the year and of rail transportation with SIDE
tracks on it's own land IN a general way, II
IS now proposed to reduce the Sing SING
population OF 500 70 500. consisting Of nc
new men and the factory workers, the 70
naming 1000 men being sent 20 The nc"
farm industrial prison. which ls 70 Do ]"
Gated on land now owned By the state ei'n''
at Beekman or Wingdale.
l. is here that the Sage and To~ner olN
differ, the Sage bill providing for eomm'''
sion Of five. consisting OF tho Superintendent
of Prisons. the Superintendent Of Fuo"'
Works. the State Architect and two ap
pontees Of the Governor, 90 select the sie
The Towner bill provides that the state ~
perintendent Of Prisons and four appoin'ee'
Of tho Governor should be compelled 20 &c
cept Wingdae as the site which prooao''
would mean that " J. Beardsiey would ~
the architect
The Attorney General has recently gwen
decision that Mr. Beardsley's right 70 %
the architect OF new prison II nult .
Wingdale would depend upon whether Ue
old prison work there was suspended o.
abandoned II only suspended. Mr beai''
ley is the architect; if the work has pee
abandoned. the commission can seiec' a..
architect it pIeases. The grave danger IN wv
Towner bill is that lis compulsory provision
that WinRdale shall be the site OF zoe NV
prison carries with 10 Mr. Beardsey "
architect. which II IS feared would mean .1'
erection OF a steel cell block OF the ois','
tied bastiie type now being aoanaone' -
almost ell states. The former plans Tor ,'
old prison at Wingdale. drawn by hr. D '''.,,.
ley. are in existence and consist prac'i'S'D
of reproduction OF the Sing sing pa~
involving a high wall surrounding CO 0n
Pregste prison. huge steel cell o.o'A -
feet long to house 500 men. and Aies
unnece ssary building consisting OF iso,'.,
cells for punishment. The rowner Di' .,v
vides that these plans may be modiheu' -
one examining them can see that tne!
incapable OF modification. m
The State Commission or Prisons ma -
on record against the steel cell block w,
of construction. and as the law PROVIDES NC
its consent is necessary 20 the erection "a
new prison buildings. any attempt 20 pu.,
such a cell block would doubtless be auo r.
fought and long delayed by the Prison ~ ~.
mission. Moreover. il Is quite clear '"a
the principle in the Towner bill - N'',O.m
IN that all choice should be taken away III III
a responsible commission appointed 20
new prison and looking solely to me oes' :,
tercsts Of the state. The Governor III
record as being opposed TO the Io"ner,
for this reason. ard favors the Sage p'',,
II is to be hoped that al citizens IN m.
York safe interested IN prison be''''" .Ls
will urge their Assemblymen 10 pass ~,
Sage bill. which is fair measure, places .
responsibility where Il belongs. ana "n'N, :,
enacted, would be long step iorwsr nn
prison reform. RICHARD NJ nv
State Commissioner OF Prisons
New York Aprii H. 1916.