PRISON DIRECTORS.
Mr. COMSTOCK offered the following:
Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives concurring, That the Senate and House of Representatives will, on Wednesday, the 2d day of February, 1888, meet in Join Convention of the two Houses in the Hall of the House of Representatives, at 2:30 p.m., and proceed to the election of the following officers, to-wit: One Director of the prison South, three Directors of the Prison North.
Mr. LANGDON moved to refer the resolution to the Committee on Prisons: inasmuch as that Committee is seriously considering several propositions in the shape of bills providing for a reorganization of the Prison system.
Mr. COMSTOCK opposed the reference, thinking the Committee was not so competent to act upon the resolution as the Senate. He favored a consolidation of the two Prisons under one management, and thought the proposed election of Directors would not embarrass that or any other legislation on the subject.
Mr. LANGDON thought the Senator had suggested enough to convince the Senate that this resolution should not be passed. If this proposed election takes place, in a few days or weeks the Senator himself says he is willing to declare the offices vacant. It seems like a stulification, unless gentlemen are in favor of continuing the old system. There no practical business sense in adopting this resolution at this time. There has been a little rascality all along under the present Prison system, and it ought to be reconstructed.
Mr. SPANN insisted the question of consolidation of the prisons was not connected with the matter before the Senate. As a matter of justice to gentlemen who have come here and made a canvass for these positions, and succeeded in obtaining the nominations, he favored the resolution.
The motion to refer was agreed to.
