New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-11
sr4rInN.H0rSE MATRONS.

An honest effort to add an element of tender
ness to the treatment of female prisoners Is
certain TO enlist the sympathy Of every generous
nature 1t is not surprising, then, that the Dill
to furnish each of our station houses with PAIR
of matrons" should have passed the Upper
House at Albany. But if our Assemblymen
will harden themselves and examine the bill
without emotion they will discover that the in
Auence of the matrons upon the statiOn-h house,
and of the station-hOuse upon the matrons,
might not prove altogether refining and elevat-
ing. The measure, if enacted, will apply to every
city in the State whose population is lOO,OOO
and upward; but it can be assumed that
certain conditions which exist here prevail else
where. Now in New-York large proportion
of all the arrests of women are made III flve or
six Of the thirty preci nets In the twenty
fourth Precinct, for example, but one woman
was arrested during the year 1881, and IN q
dozen Others these arrests would hardly aver
age one a month. 1t is plain therefore that III
most of the precincts the refining influence OF
the matrons would he lavIshed exclusively
upon the policemen. Perhaps it would be adj
visable to subject these officers to the sway
of gentler forces, and the matrons could be
trusted to shed constant influence, for their
duties would make it necessary for them to
abide in the station. house day and night.
They would be selected, too, by the same
authorities who name the policemen, ana
they would naturally be taken from the same
social class-that is, from women who would
seek the position as means OF gaming an
honest livelihood and not from those whose ex-
elusive charity would render them austerely
Indifferent to the welfare of everybody eX-
cept female criminals. But after all, 1t may
be Sc riously questioned whether the policemen
and matrons together would receive 800, OOO
worth of refinement per annum-and this Is
about what the service would cost the city
The beneficent results which have followed
the appointment Of matrons in the city prisons
are pointed to as arguments in favor of this
| bill. But there is no analogy between the cases.
| The prisoners IN station-houses are detained
at the longest but few hours. OF the women
arrested 90 per cent belong to the criminal
classes. and they are usually deliriOus with
drink. The only treatment possible under the
circumstances is the restraint which it requires
= strong man to administer. Center offices
would not only be wasted, but they are prac-
tically impossible. Indeed, it would be
crime to bring high-minded woman within
reach or sight or hearing of the profane rage
and rawlings of these unfortunate rum crazed
beings before they are sobered and chastened
by confinement. On the other hand, a woman
who reaches a city prison remains for some
time under discipline and is amenable to
sisterIy sympathy. For the credit of the police
force it should be added that the alleged indlg-
mites offered to arrested women under pre-
tencc of search are calumnies If snch search
is necessary it is made by the female servants
EMPLOYED at the On-hOuses. The only
remaining excuse for the bill is that arrested
women are sometimes sick and need attention
which can best be given by their own sex.
The fact is that sick prisoners, male or frall,
are invariably sent to the hospital, where they
are cared for more efficiently than they could
be in any statiOn-hOuse however fully equipped
with matrOns.
The scheme is so pcrnicous in its general
scope that it is useless to dwell upon the grave
objections which suggest themselves to any
one who examines its details. 1t is not
measure to be amended. Killing is what 1t