New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-25
POLICE NATIONS FAVORED.
PRESENTMENTS By THE GRAND JURY.
ADVOCATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NUM-
CIPAL LODGING HOUSES OTHER

tlPAL LODGlNG HOUSES OTHER
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The December Grand Jury was discharged yesterday
by Judge MARITIME after it had handed in three pre-
sentiments The most important Of these made strong
recommendations about the establishment OF munc pal
lodging houses and the appointment Of police matron,
The paper called attention to the chapter 30, OF the
laws Of 1856. authorizing the Commissioners of Chair
ties and Correction to establish municipal lodging
houses for the shelter at night OF such homeless
people compelled to seek accommodations
in police station-houses. A committee Of the jury
visited many Of the station houses and found tic
rooms set aside for dodgers entirely unsuted for The
purpose. There were separate ROOMS for men and
women and a board provided for each person, but
nothing more. In cold weather the rooms were
heated and the ventilation being Insufficient the air.
already foul and sckcning by the herding together
of these unclcan creatures. became insuerably vile"
The act provided, the presentment went on. that
persons seeking shelter in the lodging houses therein
provided for be compelled to take bath on entering
the house; that their clothing be dlsinfccted that
they be supplied with simple meal in the morning
and be compelled 10 do reasonable amount Of work
in return. The law was The that had worked
admirably in Boston and other places. The Grand
Jury recommended that the law be made mandatory
and that the Board Of Estimate set aside money for
the maintenance Of such lodging houses.
Chapter 420 of The Laws of lsss authorized the
Board Of Police Commissioners to designate one
or more station houses for the confinement
OF women under arrest. and to appoint
two police matrOns for each of such places.
Many attempts had been made TO persuade tae
missi0ncrs 10 obtain appropriation for the pur-
pose. Governor Jl had vetoed bill making The
law mandatory instead of pcrmissye and since that
time, the Police Board had taken 10 action toward
Carrying ont the law. TWO OF the commissioners
favored asking an appropriation for matrous.
the other TWO opposed even this partial compliance
with TIE law. The commissioner, opposed to the
appointment OF such ndtruns had hot offered any
valid reason for their opposition. The objection that
thc molons would not be safe from insult by ihe
policemen groundc,s and serious reflection
on the entire police force. The Grand Jury recon-
mcnded the passage OF act making the law com
luiNoiy, and asked that copy Of its prc,cntmcnt
be sent 20 Governor I'm. hat he might make such
suggestions to :he Legislature on the subject a. hc
III.
Another prcscntmcnt directed attention to the
practice Of certain iabbS Of granting divorces to x
noFant Hebrews. who believed that the decree enabled
them 10 marry again. The Grand Jury lad indicted a
man who had taken second wife when hi, release
from his frs, had been secured from rabbi
The Grand Jury recommended the court the pro
pretty of legislation prohibiting The granting Of such
sOclicd divorce, until after valid decree Of voroe
had been issued by court Of competent jurisdiction
and declaring il m!sdcmcanor, puHislabI. for nl,
offence by hHc. and f.. d second offence by upr.,ou
mcut.
The third pr,cntuent dealt with the improper u-c
of criminal proceedings IN civil Eases. IL declared
that So" number, Oi criminal prosecutions were IL
stltutcd n which the aid 81 the criminal law Wa, ln
voiced the means not much Of punishment - Of
coercion. This d0l-c chiefly I'm cases OF larceny
by fal-e prt."nce, or Misrepresentation Of property
Indictment, were found but generally -ome compro
mise va made Iu tue meantime" and the Wtuc,-c- be-
came rlcttnt g." t-uiE. having received back all "r