DUTY OF THE DEPUTY KEEPER.

The Deputy Keeper, as an assistant to the Agent and Keeper, has a general and constant superintending care over all but the pecuniary affairs of the Prison, especially its police and discipline; and is reaponsible to the Agent and Keeper, that his orders and all the internal rules and regulations shall be promptly and strictly observed: and, to that end, he must always be present at the opening and closing of the Prison, in the Chapel during Divine service, in the mess-room while the convicts are eating, and also at all other Prison hours, except an hour, each, for his own breakfast and dinner. He is to be constantly moving about in the interior of the Prison, visiting irregularly and without notice, the Hospital, kitchen, shops, yards, and all departments of the Prison. He sees that the Assistant Keepers are vigilant and attentive to their duty, that they keep their men diligent and in order, and that none are chastised, for disobedience, with unreasonable severity. He attends to the convicts' clothing, and is responsible that it is properly changed and in order.

He receives reports, from the Assistant Keepers, of the offences of convicts, and reports the same to the Agent and Keeper, who lays them before the Inspectors at their weekly meetings. He goes frequently into the lodging department, and to the Hospital, during the evening, and, occasionally, in the night, to see that all is right, and that the Assistant Keepers and Guard, on night duty, are vigilant and

faithful.

He attends, personally, to discharging every convict, whether by expiration of a sentence or pardon, and sees that his clothes are in arder for that purpose.

He has the more immediate direction and control of all the Assistant Keepers and Guard, gives them such instruction, advice and admonition as become necessary, and informs the Agent and Keeper of any neglect of duty, or impropriety of conduct

and, in his absence, the Deputy has the full powers of the Keeper.

DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE AGENT AND KEEPER.

The law directs, that at the New-York Prison, there shall be one Agent and one principal Keeper.

It is made the duty of the Agent to make all contracts, purchases, and sales, and to manage all the fiscal concerns and operations of the Prison, and in which he is required to keep his Office.

It is made the duty of the Keeper to superintend and direct the subordinate Keepers and Guard, in all their various duties, manage and be responsible for the police of the Prison and the safe keeping and regular employment of the convicts; and he is required, by law, to reside in the Prison. These officers are allowed, each, a salary of $1250.

At this Prison, the law requires that the duties of both those offcers shall be discharged by a single individual, who shall be denominated Agent and Keeper,

The duties of this officer are, therefore, as various as they are complicated and responsible; and he is required to give security for the faithful performance of his duties, as Agent, to the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars.

The nature and extent of his duties, will, in some measure, appear, from the duties of all the subordinate Officers, for whose acts and conduct the Agent and Keeper is responsible.

The general duties and powers of the Agent, as such, appear frond the following section of an act of the Legislature:-

"Be it enacted, That all the contracts and dealings on account of the said institution, shall be transacted by and in the name of the Agent of the State Prison; and by that name, the present Agent and his successors in office, shall be capable, in law, of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, answering and being answered unto, defending and being defended in all courts and places, and in all actions and suits, complaints, matters and causes concerning the State Prison. And by that name, the Agent for the time being, shall be, and hereby is authorised and impowered to sue for, prosecute, recover and receive of and from all persons indebted to any former Agent or Inspectors of the State Prison, or to the people of this State on account thereof, such sums of money as shall be due or become due, of and from any person or persons:" and the Agent is also authorised to refer disputes to arbitration.

The same act requires, that on the application of any prisoner to the Agent, requesting him to take charge of his property, the Agent is to collect and receive and sue for, any goods, chattels or monies due or belonging to such prisoner, and to keep a correct account thereof and to pay the amount to said prisoner when released, or his legal representative-and if such prisoner should not be released, and if no legal representative should demand such property, then the same shall be applied to the use of the state.

The Agent is required, by law, to close his accounts, annually, on the thirty-first day of October, and render them to the Comptroller of the State, on or before the first day of December following. The practice adopted and pursued, by the present Agent, is to settle and pay all accounts, due from him to the officers and all others with whom he has dealings, the first day of every month, and immediately thereafter transmit, by mail, to the Comptroller, the vouchers for all the expenditures of the month preceding, with an abstract thereof, duly ex amined and certified to be correct, by the Board of Inspectors, and sworn to, by the Agent and Clerk, as directed by law; but the Agent does not render to the Comptroller a detailed account of monies received by him, until the annual settlement. All the money received by the Agent, personally, he deposits in the bank, and all he pays out, is paid by checks, from a bank check-book, in the margin of which he states the name, amount, date and for what each check is given, besides taking necessary vouchers and making entries thereof, in the proper books of the Office, the same as if no entries were made in the said check-book.

These remarks apply to all monies, except such as are received from visiters, and some other trifling daily receipts, which, from necessity and convenience, the Clerk receives, pays out and accounts therefor, to the Agent daily, as mentioned in speaking of his duties.

By a late law, the Agent is directed, on or before the first Tuesday of February, in each year, to make a report to the Secretary of State, of the names of convicts, pardoned or discharged, the preceding year, the crimes for which they are convicted, the terms of time for which they are severally sentenced, the counties in which they were tried, ages and descriptions of their persons, and in cases of pardons, the time unexpired of the term for which such convicts were respectively sentenced, when such pardons were granted, and the conditions, if any, upon which they were granted; and, by the same law, it is made the duty of the Secretary, to transmit copies thereof to all the County Clerks in the State.

The law prohibits the Agent from being concerned in contracts or dealings with the Prison, for his private benefit.

CONTRACTS AND CONTRACTORS.

For many years after the erection of the New-York State Prison, the Agent purchased all raw materials, had them manufactured and sold from a prison Store, on account of the State, and after this course had resulted in very serious losses, the Legislature wisely abolished it, and directed that no materials, beyond a very limited amount, should be purchased on account of the State, but that the Agent should make contracts for the labor, simply, of convicts with those who would furnish materials, and dispose of the articles manufactured, exclusively on their own account, by which means, great risks and losses are avoided, and much private capital and personal interest and enterprize are brought into action, in promoting the active and profitable employment of convicts. After the building of this Prison was so far completed, that convicts could be spared for mechanick employment, the Agent found great difficulty in engaging the principal and most responsible mechanicks, in the vicinity, to enter into contracts. They were afraid to trust their materials in the hands of convicts, and to encounter the publick prejudice against Prison manufactures, and were extremely doubtful of success and apprehensive of danger and loss. Hence it was not in the power of the Agent, to make so favorable contracts, as may perhaps be made, when the existing contracts have expired, and they shall have been found profitable to the contractors. Several of the first contracts were lately changed, as appears by the following schedules, the time was extended with some small alterations favorable to to the contractors, and, as an equivalent therefor, more specific provisions were introduced and more certain and prompt payments required.

Contractors are allowed, at all times, to visit those shops, where the convicts are employed by them, but never to speak to convicts, or give them any directions whatever. They must give all their instruction and directions to the machanick Turnkeys in the shops, who have the

E

particular charge of their business. Any other course would lead to favoritism and confusion, and lessen the authority of the Turnkeys over the convicts. In the Carpenter's and Blacksmith's shops, there is, from necessity, some exception to the above rule.

In the Carpenters' shop, a contractor employs about ten hands in making Carpenters' and Joiners' tools; and the officer there, not being acquainted with that particular branch of business, the contractor is allowed to oversee his work and give necessary directions, there being an officer in the shop; but the contractor is never allowed to chastise convicts.

The same remarks apply to the contractor for manufacturing rifles, in the Blacksmiths' shop, for the same reasons. It will be observed that the first Coopers' contract, with Mr. Worden, has been divided, and part of the business contracted to Asaph D. Leonard, who makes all the fine or painted ware.

SCHEDULE, OR ABSTRACT OF THE CONTRACTS FIRST MADE, AND ALSO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED OR EXTENDED, WITH SOME GENERAL REMARKS.

COOPERS' SHOP.

Allen Warden's first contract, made 3d March, 1824, for seven years. This contract provided for the payment of work six months after sold. A new contract was made, 8th December, 1825, for six years-payment monthly, with a credit of three months on each month's work.

The following is a contrast of prices between the two contracts :—

The above are the leading articles, and exhibit the average on the smaller.

Sixty-six men employed, including waiters, shop-tenders, and apprentices, averaged about 15 cents per day in May and June; and the business has been since rather improving.

Asaph D. Leonard's contract for Coopers' work, painted ware-commenced 8th December, 1825, for six years-pay monthly, with a credit of three months on each month's work.

About thirty men employed, average about 23 cents per day.

TAILORS' SHOP.

Stephen Van Anden's contract commenced the 1st of January, 1824, for ten years-pay semi-annually.

Great Coats, $1 50-100-Coats, $1 00-Vests and Pantaloons, 37 1-2 cents, and other garments in proportion.

The average earnings, for four months, ending the 30th April, 1826, were 15 cents per day-about one third of the men apprentices, and the business rather improving since; but will probably be soon rearded by the removal of several of the oldest and best hands, who are getting out of health.

This business is the most injurious to the health of the convicts, of any that is pursued in the Prison, owing, no doubt, to the position of body in which they sit, and the want of adequate exercise, with which it is difficult to supply them.

SHOEMAKERS' SHOP.

Erastus and Jabez Pease's first contract commenced the 25th January, 1824, for three years-pay semi-annually. Second contract commenced 1st December, 1825, for six years-pay monthly, with a credit of three months on each month's work.

Fine Boots, $2 00-fine Shoes, 62 1-2 cents-coarse Shoes, 37 1-2 cents-Second quality Boots, $1 25-coarse Boots, 75 cents-small Shoes, 25 cents---Cacks, 18 3-4 cents.

There are employed fifty-eight men, who average about fifty days' work per day, and for six months past, about 25 cents per day.

The remarks in relation to the health of convicts in the Tailors' shop, will apply, in a considerable degree, to the Shoemakers; but not to the full extent.

There are many more Hospital cases, in proportion, from the Shoemakers and Tailors than from the other convicts-though weaving is injurious to some.

TOOL SHOP.

T. J. Mc Masters & Co.'s contract commenced the 20th June, 1825, for five years-ten convicts employed-three at 50 cents, three at 31 1-4 cents, four at 18 3-4 cents per day-pay semi-annually.

In this shop, there are (in addition to the above) three Turning Lathes, with two convicts each, hired out on a temporary contract, and there is also considerable work done for the Prison, and some for outdoor customers.

WEAVERS' SHOP.

Worden and Wiltse's contract commenced 20th June, 1825, for one year-pay each three months-weaving per yard at fixed prices. Since the 2d May, 1826, Weavers, Warpers, Dyers, Harness-makers, and Shop-tenders, at 20 cents per day-Spoolers, Bobbin-winders, and Waiters, 10 cents per day, and one to repair looms, 50 cents per day.

Inder the first contract, the Agent was bound to furnish and keep in repair, the looms and fixtures, and all necessary tools. By the new