New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-06
WOMEN IN THE PRISONS.
THEIR HARD LOT IN THE woKK-HoUsE.
EFFORTS TO AMELIoRATE THEIR CONDITION
1r1c1-1>.c ..rrr,Ir ca,rr, c1rccESs

EFFORTS TO AMELIoRATE THEIR CONDITION
MEETING WITH SOME SUCCESS.
In tho forty fourth annual report Of the Women's
Prison Association, which has Just been issued.
good deal OF space is devoted the inspection which
has been made OF the police stations and prisons dur
ing the year 1t calls especial attention 20 the evils
existing IN the workhouso on BlackwePs Island py
over-crowdlng and the need Of immediate action to
remedy It. The only possible remedy which the report
can suggest is a separate Reformatory Tor women.
The receipts Of the association for the year nave pech
S13 291 and its expenditures for all purposes amount
TO s12474. Among tho officers are Mrs James >.
Gibbons first director; Mrs Frederick Billings, second
director: Mrs. A. NJ. Powell. Mrs William Emerson,
Mrs. Wilson NJ. Powell, Mrs. j. NJ Hasted' Mrs NJ b.
Davis, Mrs. Robert Hoe Mrs G. II.
Hepworth, Mrs. c. P. Newbold. Miss
Ella F. Bunting Mrs. cacoline v San
bold Miss Ella F. Bunting, Mrs. Caroline " San
born, MIS-. Henry NJ. Billings, Mrs G. O. Haydock'
Mrs. c. B. latham, Mrs. II. Herman, Mrs. John Fl.
Plat. Mrs j. H. Morse, Dr. Anna Lukens, Mrs NJ. W.
Dood Mrs s. H. Brown, Miss Katharine W. Sewall,
Miss Rachel H. Powell, and Miss Mary x. Walker.
slnce the report of last year new warden has been
appointed at the Tombs and the removal OF boys 10
a separate apartment, the recent report says, gives
the women more room. The general condition OF
this and the other city prisons is clean and good but
while a woman with money or influence can Obtain
everything but her liberty, the poor woman is allowed
only the freedom Of the corridors and cannot obtain
so much as postal card to write TO her friends The
report renows its recommendation Of last year that
women should be appointed as matrons IN ali inc
city prisons. The Workhouse is much octter con
Quoted now than formerly, but the report ados "ie
# could be made model institution 1t Is now simply
a disgrace to tho city. Many Improvements have
been made but the food is not sufficient ana Is Dau
in quality that served to sick women Is often iint
for their condition.
That the Workhouse is overcrowded IS SHOWN ny
the fact that ninetynine women were Obliged 10 Sleep
on the floor wrapped in blankets There are 6o' bunhS
including hospital beds there are rarely less Una"
700 women At night, the prison Is IN charge %
an assistant matron, who, by reason of old age ana
nearsightedness is not proper person for inc pae
She is assisted by prisoners They are sepataou
from a keeper and two male prisoners by a dooi
readily opened either side. The moral atmosphere
of this place Is most corrupt Women are com
mitted here and mixed Unfortunately together-oiu
and young-women with first offence and confirmed
FOUNDERS" 1t Is impossible, win the present 0o"-
structlon Of the prison, to CLASSIFY theni , vorl,
The women must necessarily meet AT 'icI NJ. -
hut az night such women should be placed IN solitary
confinement and not locked up at p H. WIN ior on ar
six other women to gossip until oclOGA a. Is an
old story that women are ruined LOT me- aA.c O,o
visit to this peS,,hoHsei anu ~ orc sing and work
rooms In another. In addition 10 nsuCteE 10 I,"3
them warm sufficiently large stan OF "lheels
should be employed At present zen Women i i,
ing three nurses care Tor 'OU vn member Of The
staff should be permitted 10 boast that no one cVul
her. that her poh,cat a. IrsSrs 10 STAY and
II is an undoubted fact, that iRuehee mas a. m
% The population could be lessened If Migrants and
old VoISen were sent to the Almshouse. There are
S.c,uentiv as many as seventy-hve women In the
Wofkhouse who properly SUBJECTS lor ne amp
bouse old and unable even 10 care for themselves II
% DoDar-ment of Correction could be separated from
the department of Charities, inc report soy .
change would lead TO Dettef anu Hloio Hui'"'0
attn q