New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-11
the priests Of his own diocese VINO nave pun
lcly approvcd the work Of the committee
VIZ BROCKWAI JINDIC11ED

Governor Flowers dismissal of the charges
against the general managers OF the fii'''r''
Rcformatory Is a vindicaion OF superintendent
Brockway from the allegations OF cruel ana III
human treatment Of the cOnvicts under HIS
charge which have been made with persistence
and yirulcncc during the last year and half.
Mr. Rrockway was not directly involved IN
these charges since he is the appointcc OF ana
can only be- removed by the Itcformatory man
ayers who in turn are removable by the Gov
cruor The charges laid before the Governor
were directed against the managers. VINO, ac-
corlingly. have been on trial before the com
mission appointed by Mr. Flower. The com
mission consisted Of cX-judgc Learned Dr.
Austin Flint and cxASscmblyman Dcyo. They
made their investigation with thoroughncsS. but
were not able to agree wholly in their conclu-
sons from the evidence.
The majority report, signed 10y Dr. flin' ana
Mr. Dcyo GENERATES Mr.. Brockway from the
charges Of cruelty. declares that the use or the
strap IS Il suitable and effective method OF cor
poral punishment free from danger Of serious
or permanent injury; that the superintendent
did not go beyond what the occasions rcquirch'
either in The frequency or severity OF the pun
ishncnts. save in single case: and that II WAS
cnincnily proper that such pilnlslinehtS should
be- administered by the superintendent IN per
son Judge Learned believes that there was IN
element Of cruelty in the pnnishm'ns b't
Governor Flower thinks that the differences be
tween The commissioner. are due Ia IN" dili'r
cnt meanings which they attach 10 words. He
himself accepts without qualification the con
cusIons Of the majority He also declares that
the number Of puniShmcniS. about onc.half Of
per cent of The total population ~ IN" E"f"rma
tory daily was not excessive: and he properly
attributes the increase in the amount ~ phys
cal punishment To the failure " the Legislature
f. enlarge the Rcformatory and thus remove
the necessity of placing more than one convict
in cell.
Those students If p"noogy WI" ar" most
familiar with the Emra system have not per
miitcd their faith in Superintendent Rro'kway
to WAIVER during III" time that he has been sub
icc,cl to the most bitter attacks. They have
been confident that when til" facts were sub
mlricd io a fair and impartial tribunal h" would
he shown 10 have acted wisely and hnmancly.
Their confidence * fully justified by The result
If this investigation That the Kcform1iory
has suffered hv reason of The great stir made
regarding It and the reckless charges preferred
an worthless evidence Is nndcnlahc. The ig
urc. given lv Governor Flower showing the
increase In disorder after the attack on The
Eerormatory and the suspension of physical
punishment furnish convincing evidence OF IN"
unwisdom 81 interfering with the adm'nlStrl-
ton Of m institution ~ this character In"
Elmira Rcformatory has done great work
under the guiding hand - Mr.. Rrockway and
A.. himself l. recognized The world over ~ an
authority In criminolo-y. Now that the period
~ storm AMI stress has passed. we shall look
FIR 'hc speedy restoration ~ the Rcformatorys
established character ~ an institution for III"
permanent reclamation ~ young criminals: ana
W., bcspoak for II liberal support from the
LEGISLATURE So that lis work may be carried on
free, from hampcring conditions.