New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-02
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
MIR. L!TCHFIELD's CONCLUSIONS
THEY WE'RE FOUNDED on THE TESTIMONY OF
,p ppoctlvAy AND HIS FRIENDs-THE
......,,>.rr>.~.r GrprNGTU AND

MR. LITCHF1ELD'S CONCbO'0iO
THEY WERE FOUNDED on THE TESTIMONY of
MIR BRocKwAY AND HIS FRIENDs-rHE
SUPERINTENDENT STRENGTH AND
WEAKNESS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune AZ
Sir. Some Of the criticisms on the report OF MI
f H. Iitchaed. adopted and approved ny Wv
State Board of Charities. lead me 10 ''o"'es '
An ocouaintance with Mr. Brockway, formed many
yc,rs ara in Rochester " Y. followed by an active
nersonal interest in the reformation OF Ju'e"
offenders has interested me very ueeP''
methods This with an Acquaintance VI
voars with Mr. Iitchded. aroused me 10 N'e' III
terest in the investigation o,,,
!, ,s dino 70 Mr. Iitchfeld TO say that in my oph-
ion a fairer more impartial. high-mrded anu 'o''
ageons man cannot be found. Like most nv" "
h,a lind he forms his convictions with dehpera-
ton and then has the courage TO express Wv ~,
Thar he could be swerved by prelud'ce' p"'
bias from what he believed to be exact JuS"
c,pno, believe With every temptation OF wealth.
and luxury TO take his ease. II seems " ''' -
bv deyoting his time and talents no DOUBT at Se''o"'
Inconvenience TO himself. TO work OF TINS ues'''p
tion ne has rendered great public service
whether his conclusions are well louhue' an
readily ascertaincd from the mass OF test''io.' o."
duced and accessible. 1t appears TO me 'i"' II
comes with very poor grace from MS CRITICS W w
fer criticism of his personal attitude during 'he III
,.esticotion until his report Is made ana theh lot
the first time complain Of 1t. ana OF ,he ''N
stance that the vacancies in the coHin'Ss'o"
not filed Fairness and justice would seem ~
mand that e these complaints are wen io"'u'
tbav should have been made while the investigator,
was In progress It may be Justly assumed t'a' IL
his conclusions had been the other way, none vi
,baso criticisms wound have been heard Inc re-
formatorv and its friends appear to be very huo''
in the position of a disappointed sutton VITO na'"'
ally finds fault with his judge or jury.
The reader Of Mr.. Litchfeld's report cannot IAN
TO notice that all OF his conclusions are based upon
statements of SIR Brockway himself. and OF o'hcers
friendly to him and that the testimony or conViG.s
really plays very unimportant part pom MI .or:
friendly him, and that OF the man ad r ~,
reforrnatory referred 10 in NJ Ltchhed repot -,
the conclusions OF Mr. Litchield seem - '"c ~
In tho nubIic interest believe this Investigation
serves a most valuable purpose. 1hosc iHirlldl
with our public institutions VII. thlhk, co ,ia
with me in laying that therc Is 700 I'LL H. extent The
Jirecto-s 81 such Institutions. while philanthropc-
ally di. pos Of affairs. occutie vi th,r
own business Interests aft unable to exercise NOR
than general supervision over me han , ,snt
OF such institutions. Hence the danger atSeS S,,aa
the actual control may be diverted from .noSe
charged by law with this duty TO suietmenuVrha,
who's" opportunities enable MN 10 ei,neI ~ w. nn
rens II government and finally arrive az me bo
OF the directors themselves II is not strange ~ ~
such circumstances a superintendent becomes auto
cratlc iictatorial and arbitrary. resentinS inter
ference ana repellIng suggc stions and Who as ,'s
superior officer. hiring and 1ischarging emp'o og
/ a
! Inmates but employees In subiec;lon . ,.,
a alperinte nlcnt Of this character resents lVesti-
u;flon by he directors II Is SAID 10 imply ulsuust,
ami n IL indeed a agreeable duty Tor directors
10 .,tan,pt an investigation Of the conduct or an
institution I'm whose superintendent they iee ui-
! imi,od con0deroe When investigation comes, IL ~
| moro often than not met with concealnlent. anu
intendent possesses employees and others SUD
nct 20 him to actually defeat It's purposes ~ -
fnr this reason thai Investigations by the STATE
Roar,l Of charities have their principal Valne ana
In my Judgment il would be an unfortunate result
/ n surh Investigations conducted by such men Az
Mr. Iitchneld were To he discr"dItrd anu tnelr n
| Hu.rre pullined By SUBSEQUENT investigation by
| the Ierlsature in the hope that II might reach
air.. rort conclusion. Such course VIII DISCOURAGE
future Investigations by the state Board ana IN
nair their moral effect II wholly destroy thein
/ Irhor. Is no need OF other investigation me
testimony taken ia on file. II Is for the Governor
10 say whether the testimony so presented WARRANTS
/ IN. conclusions which have been reached -,
! As 70 the value OF Nr Brockways services In me
work Of reformation there can be no Question. re
e. entitled To- hearty cOmmcndation Tor nuch OF We
/ Y.,rh thot h, has done. but II | may express a
| criticism upon his methods. | should gay mat ne
nlscos rules and regulations and the strict oDserV
/ anc, of them n the place OF reloItna wi ~
! charact.r The law may be a schoolmoster 20 LEAD
| 70 higher things but It does not take the pace OF
! those principles II Christian morals upon Which
s,.a-v trlc life must be founded do not believe
I mon h1v. bocu reformed by auch punehinents az
! " I{rorkvav Acknowledges h. has administered
Men NAV be terrified and cowei BY th"nl Dut nett'
] rcrormed. nj II s for this reason mat be
1 lsve The scenes I'm thu bathroom at Eimlra hnNs
found their legitimate end In N. disapproNai, MI"
| NAV add Tho condemnation ~ the conn nnltr,>,,
New-York. March 3D. 1894