The New York herald., 1878-11-28
THE CUSTOMARY THING.

THE GRAND JURY PRESENT TO JUDGE sUTHER-
LAND RosE-coLoRED PICTURE OF THE IN
sr1ruT1oNs ON BLAcKwELL's 1sLAND-THEY
ALSO MENTION CERTAIN EVILS"
Good wine needs bush. the saying is. and
some philosophers add that mans mellowest time Is
after hearty dinner. Howbeit it is matter of fact
that the members of the Grand Jury who recently
visited tho institutions Blackwells Island under
the charge Of the Commissioners of Charities and
Correction not inhospitably entertained. The
following rosy picture embodied in the present
ment handed by the Grand Jury to Judge Sutherland
presiding yesterday in Part of the Court of General
Sessions
We find the condition Of these institutions and their
general management to be very satisfactory. Clean
liness and good order everywhere prevail. Special
attention is given to the sanitary condition and the
comfort and recreaton Of the patients of tho Asylum
Hospital and Almshouse In the penal institutions
good discipline to be maintained. The man
Of the local officers with those under their Charge
is intelligently kind and sympathetic The grounds
well kept and utilized and the labor of all who
work is turned to good account as the powers
possessed by the Commissioners will admit OF. The
creased to enormous proportions and impose respon
sible, manifold and perplexing duties. One hundred
and six thousand new cases were sent to
the institutions during the last year. Maay
of these went into the criminal hospitals,
where the difficult task of mingling humanity
and justice in the same administration requires high
and qualifications There ten hospitals five
asylums ten prisons and ten other distinct de-
partments under the management of these Com
missioners. SO important branch of the public
service should receive corresponding share in the
public attention.
Evils part of which from existing laws and part
from bad usage which has acquired the force of law
list and should be removed There Is crafty evidence
that the Commissioners are lsboring with commend
aple diligence to overcome these abuses. There is
cruel oyercrowding particularly in OF the asy
lums and hospitals. The main building OF the Luna
tic Asylum contained during the last year 400 pa
to accommodate IL $50. Another building has l26 pa
tients. although IL was intended tor only o. Either
larger accommodations should be provided or there
should be distribution of the patients, especially
the incurables. TO other suitable quarters
Another OF these evils is the employment of uil-
connection with there institutions is properly pro-
fessional. No one should be put in charge OF any
branch of this work who furnish satisfactory
evidence. by examination and good reference. Of
being expert in the particular duties they
perform and no one s'lould be allowed TO remain
who lacks such qualifications. whatever influence op
poses his removal. The commitment tor short terms
to these penal institutions of Of confirmed va
grancy, drunkenness and petty crimes is another
growing pernicous evil. This practice is viru-
ally insking these public institutions recruiting
places for the great army OF idcrr, debauchces and
criminals which is the pest and terror of this city
Some of these cases found, with short
intervals. every month OF the year tine Island. The
Superintendent OF the Workhouse estimates that the
10000 who were received into this department the
last year represented only 800 individuals. The
pense OF this practice but chiefly the cncouragement
TO vice and crime makes IL great public evil ~ 10
demand the passage OF stringent laws for its summary
correction.
The terms of commitment of these criminals should
be increased their crimes repeated. Then the
commissioners should be empowered to compel from
them from all others such labor their health and
capacities admit Of. Subjects Of loathsome and
tagious diseases should be compelled to remain in
confinement until they cured. The Commission :
should also have the power TO sell such products
OF the labor of these criminals not required for
tho OF the department part of the proceeds Of
this labor might be promised to the criminals on
their discharge incentive to diligence and good
conduct, and to give them some start in better la