New york State history-nothing changes but the names and the date

waverly sun | 1932 | unknown

[pricilla]

WaverlySun and Nichols Recorder,Waverly, N.Y. Thursday October 20 1932

Prison football season opens

Albany,Oct 18 - Under the present prison administration of New York,by which criminals of the state are provided with more lixeries at taxpayers' expense than many of the taxpayers themselves enjoy,the football and entertainment season in the penitentiaries has opened.A reporter who attended a football game at Sing Sing the other Sunday reports that the players were better equipped than the team at notre Dame with which he formerly played.One prisoner whose time has expired is so pleased with his treatment is staying two weeks longerto play in some important games.A five-day show has been started at the same prisonand other forms of entertainment are planned.

Open House for gangsters

While there are no official reports,it is thought that in spite of the golf course and other country club features,conditions are not quite so attractive at Great meadow prison,since three of the inmates there have gone away without leave during the past few weeks.The latter is the prison where Joe Wilson,the warden,had as his guest over night Vannie Higgins,the racketeer and beer runner of Brooklyn who was killed a day or so later.Wilson would not tell newspapermen why he was entertaining at his housethe famous criminal,further than to say,"you know I'm not a believer in the Eighteenth Amendment."He also admitted that the gangster had been discussing a "business deal"with him.The public expected that for his conduct Warden Wilson would be severely reprimanded,and many believed he should be dismissed.All that happened was a gentle word of caution-and that did not come fron the Governor.

Breakdown in many departments

Nearly every department of New York State has broken down during the four years that Franklin D.Roosevelt has been devoting his time to working for the democratic Presidential nomination and at the same time trying to fool the people into thinking all was well with the States affairs.The most disastrous bank crash in the history of the State and nation occureed during that timedue to the neglect of the Governor and his appointees.One banking Superintendent is now in the penitentiary for his conduct,and to save another from conviction the Governor went on the witness stand and assumed responsibility for his acts,while Lieut.Governor Lehman,his close advisor in all banking matters,also testified for the accused official.The State's financial affairs,almost entirely in the hands of the Governor,have been brought to such a deplorable condition that the people face a deficit of $100,000,000 this year,in spite of the increase of $90,000,000 in the State's bonded indebtedness during the Roosevelt administration.

A disgraceful department.

Bad as they are,it is doubtful if conditions in the Banking Department and the Governor's own financial division are any worse than in the department of correction,though in the latter there is a better chance to hide it.When a warden entrusted with the the care of criminals openly consorts socially with criminals himself;when prison officials and their families are furnished with high-priced cars and drivers used for social purposes at State expense;when criminals are coddled and entertained and provided with living accommodations that thousands of taxpayers who foot he billwould be glad to have;when demands are made for a $75,000 housefor a warden's residence-which by the way was cut to $25,000 by a Republican legislature;when prisoners who are let out on parole return to their crimeand are not molested;when in constructing cells,local building stone of high quality is disregarded and marble imported from another State at great expense;when New York City police authoroties report that one of the great obstacles to the detection of crime is the use of automobile plates supposed to be still on the unissued list of the State;when prisoners are coddled and pampered until they have good reasons for thinking that crime is rewarded instead of punished,it would seem Mr Roosevelt should have been giving a little attention during the past four years to the job for which he is being paid,instead of "smiling off" these serious matters when they are called to his attention.

[pricilla]

Interesting article from 79 years ago,newspaper has been defunct at least 40 years.

[Munz]

change a few names and dates and you could run it today and be current.

[The Mayor]

Welcome to New York, pay toll ahead.