New-York tribune., 1884-01-17
TIE CONTRACT SYSTEM ON RAADALDS
ISLAND.
'ANDALL'S
A LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
HOUSE OF REFUGE.

A LETTER FROM TIE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
HOUSE or REFUGE.
TO the EdftOr o. The Tribune.
SIR: Believing that You have been miSled,
IN your editorial published in your issue OF the 9th
by the pamphlet Of Mr LetchwOrth on the industrial
training children in refOrmatory schools beg to sub
NIT the following facts they relate to the House OF
Refuge Randas Island in vindication of the manage
mont In respect to the industrial department The
nation Of the inmates OF this institution is and always
has been regarded of paramount importance and to
cure this END they subjected TO wholesome discipline
thorough instruction in the common school branches
moral inculcations training in Industrial habits and
70 each OF these departments ample time is given and
one is never suffered utrude upon the other The
etfution is located upon small portion of Randalls
Island almost in the heart OF the city This renders IL
practicable TO employ only few Of its large num-
Der OF inmates in agricultural pursuits and hence is
eompeed TO adopt manufacturing its leading industry
To that end ample and convenient workshops have been
constructed on the premises and manufacturers having
oaptal at their command have been invited TO enter
these workshops and employ the inmates a specified
and reasonable number Of hours each day. That
tbe instruction may be thorough and practical
the contractor IS required 10 employ suE
fcient number Of expert and as instructors
These Instructors nrst be approved by the supern-
tendent and wne the premises are at all times sub
iect 10 the aud regulations established by the man
agers and tuey may suulmarly discharged by the
superintendent Tor violation 0t these rules.
Eeither the contractor nor his employees
nermIuted under circumstances to
any authority discipline over the inmates
or 10 any task, but tuey required to give them
inslrction and them all needful facilities for doing
their work officer the House Is always i'll attend
ance upJu nJOr OF the workshops when occupied
by the inmates Is charged with all matters Of dsci
pue and direcriOn Ne III turn is responsible for
Inc faithful performance Of his duty TO the assistant
yndeuJs time during the working hours
Is employed 1 the supervision OF the workshops.
The contracts may terminated upon notice OF ninety
DAYS by managers they und the contractors den
Quent any oil tner obligations OF lnlca to the re or
NATION of The inmates.
THUS ii is seen the statement that the labor OF the
children coutIOl OF the officers OF the III
suJution; tAat improvement OF the inmates Is
Eitced 10 the interest and greed OF the contractor
thai ney are systematically OyerwOrked and united Tor
school Instruction and recreaton aud are hOgged by their
tasknasters wholly erroneous, and msiepresents the
tue character aim and object OF the institution.
am not anxious sustain the contract system al
though IN an experience than thirty have
moi found any nsuperble difficulties under II, and be-
leve that complaints made against u are chdrgedbe
to the administration rather than 10 the system Re-
spect1uiy. LskAtL y JOSEs' SuLt'
A.lr- l1.,E HonLss o RefLns. IAN. z. lss4