New-York tribune., 1875-11-27
TIE HOUSE OF REFUGE.
VISIT OF TIE COMMITTEE on CRIME-TEsrrMoNY OF
TIE pREsIDENT ANp oTllER OTrICEEs.

VISIT or TIE COMMITTEE on CEIME-TEsrIMONY OF
TIE President AND OTHER oFFIcEES.
The Legislative Committee on Crime visited
The House Of Eefuge, Randl.'s Island, yesterday.
They visited the workshops, dOrmitoIies dining
rooms scloorooms, and chapel There are at present
725 boys, and lac girls In the House.
Edau Ketcham explained 10 the Committee the
me hods in in the management Of the House. The
Iudentur ny Committee attend 10 Che departure OF those
who been IN the House FOR u time, nndng then
Places and aiding them ia securing employment
The history OF each child is recorded IN the
books OF tho Society and tLis record dc;eraiDes
whether be child shall be returned to parents or friends
ndenturtd, or refused GischaIge. CAil,sren arc rc
eeycd from nearly all parts OF the state No question is
ayke1 to tic religion Of those received. and the
Religious teaching of the institution is fte hpm secI
snisn. TIE punIsbmcuts used in the House include
system of marking in which there four grades Of
merit. Corporal punishment mast be authorized hy
the superintendent There are Fairgrounds
where the children Hre allowed n certain
amount OF freedom. The labor Of tie boys
sold under contract to business firms The girls wash
snd mend for the institution, and have time for oter
work. Al present they engaged in stocking weaving
TIE boys are separated into classes according o.
their age End character Many Ilaced IN the younger
class whose age would lave ank Ell them vita TIC ether,
because they ere hot vicious Violent children are al
times shut IN cells, where they SLEEP Children no more
thu seven years old have been received at tie house,
ond the lew fords the magistrate To sels thOs over
sixteen. though many are in fise statements.
Tic managers have the privilege OF sending children
back courts with protest but Uiay be Compelled
o. The average receipts Of the House
shout tie those Ol last yetr-Sll 1,027 81.
Israel G. Jones' superintendent OF the House sid thai
each hoy at his arrival was gwen ndhher 10y which, ~
well as by his name hc known. This numbering be
gan witt first boy received ami teIe have been
tlan IGO0O boys in The House The power ~ the nfe
Comm tiee discharge does not extend to liz
OF these WI have been committed for Crcs Cases 81
vaclancy disuidtry cor duet, and like Oi;cnaes
ac,ed u1On by the Committee. In iud.nuIng
boys the arrangements IG9je such that the
boy rs DeVef, uum certain axe, lett To
Ahiit for himself Oflcers OF the H0us
the boys in the workshops and uiiict what
ever pullsIments TO be inflicted. Ibis - made
part tne contract The escapes from the House
physician, and sickness il physician visits the
House daily. At present there are aD0uI 20 cases Oi
measles the Island. Mr.. Jones thought that II minis
the various churches admitted Ia the House
the purpose nstructng children N their bellies,
result would 10 Injurious the good OfdOr of the
stiiutiUu. No 0ior.On is made U he teaching of any
clergyman long sectaT1n topics not touched
upon.
A boy whose house number IS 1914, and who had
committed fer tuaHcy, said that nc was not con
med. lie punished wnen he was bad, winch Is
bpOut week tie well led, but did not like y,
because le could not see the city. lie
kindly treated, and had special cause Of compliant
George II Smith, chaplain OF the House, said that he
teaches thr b0ys in the institution Sunday morning,
assists IN the SUNDAY yschOOis Ia che afternoon Many
suloct which he Teachcn Are suggested by the boys
OF girls, aud subjects interesting to them Hc
said that his intent, in his labors, " be entirely un
teCiaran.
The Committee will meet to-day in the City Han, AT
IL a. NJ