The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-31
OFFICE CRY ATTORNEY, C1TY HALL.
New Orleans, July 80, 1878.

merce:
iSir'-In answer to yours of the twenty ninth
instant, am of opinion that epolce officers
detailed by the Mayor to serve in the re-
corders courts, under the provisions OF sec
ton of act No. 131 Of 1877, are subject 10 tne
control and orders of the recorders, ana TINS
applies as well to any additional officers fur
nished to the court as TO the four mentioned
w. go b. f. JONAS,
City Attorney.
| Mr.. Cavanac moved that the resolution
pass, the Mayors veto to the contrary not"
withstanding.
| Upon call of the roll the vote stood:
-Cavanac, Denis, Diamond, Edwards,
RengstOrff-5.
Financial Business ON Final Passage.
| Mr.. Brown called up the following ordi-
nanees, which, having been read twice, We're
now on their third reading, and, the yeas and
nays having been called, they were all
adopted unanimously:
/. Resolution appropriating $1807 So in IA
vor Of W. w. Walker, for 10 per cent retained
in guarantee on contract, and interest on same
to date, for furnishing lumber for repairs Of
wharves, as per resolution No. 1887 Admin
istration Series.
2. Resolution appropriating $50 in favor OF
estate of John Clark, for 10 per cent retained
on contract for constructing new boilers for
Dublin Avenue draining machine.
s. Resolution appropriating $4,000 out OF
the revenues of 1873 and previous years, in
favor Of Edward Bermudez in full Of COM
promise settlement for commissions on col
lections OF taxes, as per ordinances Nos. 708,
N. S., and 257S, s.
Reports of Committees.
By Mr.. Cavanac-
Favorably by resolution on the petition of
f, T. Hansell to erect steam engine at No. 36
Camp street.
By Mr.. Diamond
/. Favorably on the petition Of st. James
A. M. E. Church, for permission to hold
camp meeting in Orleans Park, provided police
regulations are complied with.
2. Unfavorably on the petition against the
brewery of G. Lusse, No. Ats Charities street,
Adopted.
The Mayor, as chairman OF the committee
appointed to examine into the management of
the Boys House of Refuge, submitted the fol-
lowing report:
New ORLEANS, July 30, 1878.
To the City Council:
The committee appointed at the request of
the Administrator Of Police to examine into
and report upon the representations OF the
Grand Jury, in relation to the management
of the Boys House OF Refuge, submit the
following:
That we have the utmost confidence in the
ability, impartiality and integrity OF the
gentlemen composing the present Grand
Jury, and In many of their structures entirely
concur; in others we may possibly present
such modification obtained by q close and
thorough examination as will temper the
harSher features of the report without i'm
pairing its general purport.
We examined thoroughly into the condi-
ton OF the inmates, numbering fOrty-tive
white and seventy-five colored. TO outward
appearances their physical health and condi-
ton was good but three were in the In
Urinary of whom only two were suffering
from malaria, which is remarkable consider
ing the unhealthy surroundings of the insti-
tuition, which has been referred to by every
successive Grand Jury for years past. With
proper drainage in the rear the Refuge could
be made most healthy and valuable institu-
ton. So far as relates to the cleanliness OF
the apartments, the preparation OF food and
service of the same the quantity and quality
supplied, and the general department OF the
inmates with the exceptions hereinafter
noted, nothing offers any subject OF COM
plant.
We come now to consider the question of
the treatment of the boys, and in this con-
nection it is proper to note the fact that the
great majority of them have been placed
there by their parents after every punitive
measure had been unsuccessfully resorted to
to reform them. Still further, that many are
addicted to secret vices and the violation OF
each others persons, requiring in exceptional
cases strict discipline and severe punishment
Out of the whole number we found nine col
ored and one white bearing marks Of caStiga-
ton {; but three of the former and one OF the
latter gave evidences Of having been punished
with undue and improper severity. One OF
these cases admitted that he had been pun
ished by his step-mother with cowhide,
drawing blood and making scars before he
was received into the institution; others adj
mitted that they deserved the punishment in
fltcted. Nevertheless we are constrained to
believe that In some cases punishments have
exceeded the bounds OF propriety and must be
condemned.
The stick, portion of fat hoop, used to
infiiet punishment, was presented to u.s. and
bore the appearance of streaks OF red along
it's entire surface, with some resemblance to
blood; but microscopic examination, care
fully made by DR.. Chopin, revealed the fact
that it was only the c0loring matter OF the
bark, without the slightest trace of blood.
The gauntlet" which was used on two oc-
cas1ons, with switches, had not left any marks
to show Entertainment; but this practice is re-
prehensible, and has been abolished.
The confinement In cells, 1t seems, Is not
continuous the boys being let out sometimes
three or four times during the week to saw
wood ana Go OGner JODS aDOuJ G10 eSIaDllSu-
ment. These cells have formed part of the
institution since it was first used as House
of Refuge and are entirely too small and con-
fined to be occupied for any length OF time,
and the proper remedy will at once be ap-
piled. The dormitories of the white and
colored will at once be separated; this gives
more room, air, and better opportunity to
suppress the spread of vice.
In concluding this report we find that
James Riley has treated the boys in some
cases with improper severity, and ought to be
discharged We also condemn the superin-
tendent for being absent from his post, and
leaving the boys at the mercy Of his sqbor-
there ia an absence of that constant moral
training necessary to reform the boys
owing. it may be, to the frequent changes OF
superintendent, whose administration, from
their own testimony, seems to have been as
satisfactory to the boys as that OF his prede-
ceSSorS.
Ed. PTIsBURY, Mayor.
SAM chopin, NJ. d.
JOHN E. RENGSToRFF,
Administrator Of Assessments,