New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-02
TIE NEED or PULICE NtTRONS.

The objections formulated by two of the POI
ico Commissioners 10 the appointment OF
matrons t. care for women prisoners taken To
the police stations under arrest will not bear
examination. The objections, briefly put. are
that there j. no general sentiment demanding
a change in the present system; that tho cost
of carving out the existing law (Which per
mt,. but docs not require the Police Board 10
appoint matron>l would be- ialcc that "public
decentralization" would necessarily follow from
the practical enforcement oi the proposed
changc' and that the appointment Of police
matronS would "tcnd 10 dcmolalc the force"
The last objection implies a severe reflection
upon the police force. which the great majority
Of them would We arc confident. Stoutly re-
sent. If there j, 4 small number of policemen
who would bo dc,norlizcd" by the presence
Of matrons selected by the Board in the station
houses. j. that not a reflection upon the Board
for con>enting to the appointment of such men
or for permitting them 20 remain upon tho
force? How public decentralization" would
follow from the proposed change We confess
ourselves wholly uuabl" 10 perceive. Certainly
She existing system j, not Of a nature 10 pro-
mote pubc morality. whilo tho tendency Of tho
-
10 public sentiment ON the question there is no
room whatever for DOUBT # Commissioners
Martin and Nuorhi, believe no demand exists
for the adoption oi the matmn system. they are
certainly mistaken Public sentiment was strong
enough Ia secure the enactment % the present
law. and also of the mandatory bill which Gov
crnor Hin saw H. to veto last year. NJ the
organs through which public opinion expresses
itself favor the appointment Of matron>. and a
number Of humane Societies specially interested
IN women have been earnest in their demands
fnr the change. II Mr. Noorhi> and Nv Martin
viii make few inqriIic, outside of Police
llcadoulItcr>. they will soon discover their
crIur
There remains the question Of cost. In ad-
dition to 'hc salaries of Nh" matr"n>. il j. c>ti-
mat Il that IN OUTLAY of $40 600 will Dee need
ed in order T." iii mp all the station hou>"> for
the proper retention of women prisoners, This
,il:cmcnt i a confession thar ia" buildings are
not now property arranged for this purpo>"
although many women arc confined i'm them
constantly. Thirty thousand dollars spent i'm
the WAY proposed would Dee an excellent invest
mcut: hut If the expense j., an objection. why
not make the needed changes m. say. one hiid
only? The additional exposure in taking WON
en- 81 unfortunate ~ - suffer arrest a consider
able distance N order a. lock them up. and
again in Transferring them Ia court would not
bee great. Though to our thinking the best ,olu
ton Of the question Is the provision Of a matron
for each police station.
Tho demand for NATIONS 70 care for female
prisoners, to search them when necessary. and
in general 10 look alter their wants j. made
in the name Of humanity and dcccncy. \
more adequate separation of ;hc sexes IN the
station houses j. a necessity. % are attendants
Of their own sex for women under arrest.
Nothing can Doe expected Of tho Police Board
in this direction without further action by the
Legislature. The appeal to that body and 10
the Governor will be made again this winter.
and we do moi believe i Will be- made in vain