The morning times., 1896-01-08
SUPT. TRACEY EXPLAINS
He Admits the Truth Of Some Of
The Times Charges.
THAT ovERoRoWDED VAN
He Has Set on Foot an Investigation
and Accepts Miss Wilbur's State
ments as COnclusive-He Thinks,
However, That Much Can be Salts
factorfly Accounted For.

Superintendent Of Charities John Tracey
in speaking Of the Exposures sy the Evening
| Times in regard to the workhouse, said In
agitation would have wholesome effect
| careful reading of his report woul
show that he approved OF two reforms
the need OF which had been called to publi
notice by The Lines Investigation.
In one OF thes& tili call for chang
is imperative. and klSald receive immediate
attention. This Easlthe matter OF trans
| IN the same close vehicle without the pres
| ence of an officer. -. There should eithe
| De eparate wagons, sr an officer should b,
| sent.
Col. Tracey sam he did not know per
sonaily OF tips" being given at the work
| house to secure better treatment and extri
privileges, but, of course, he could not kno "
the contrary by personal investigation.
ACCEPTS THE TINES EVIDENCE.
He accepted Miss Wilbur's testimony or
that point as conclusive, and thought step.
should be taken to punish anyone fount
guilty. The practice was 10 be severely
condemned.
He was sure that the towels were
changed daily aud that there was plent y
of soap. The meat was coarse and cheap,
not such as well-to-do persons are accus-
toned To, and the. other food very plain
and not inviting to a delicate taste, but
ne had never found any tainted meat nor
anything unwholesome in the food.
lie was at the asylum on an average of
twice month, aud frequently tried the
fond himself himself TO see if IL was good.
The real board of control OF the work
house, he said, consisted of the District
Commissioners, with himself in an ad-
visory capacity. The law creating his
office made 1t his business To watch these
Institutions, and he went at once when
any complaint arose TO see what IL was
founded upon.
He was NOT expected to wait for direc-
tion from the Commissioners, but had been
made quite independent in his action for
the very purpose that he should be free
from any bias In favor OF the Institution
visited. In this Instance he did not make
the inquiry und Ter the Direction of the Com
misSiuners, hut ds his duty under the d.
rectiun of Congress.
WHAT TRACEY SAYS.
In concluding Col. Tracey said:
The Evening Times has acted very
fairly in publishing in full my reports to
the Commissioners regarding the female
workhouse matter. Reference to the text
OF those documents will correct whatever
misrepresentation might arise.
- ne memorandum or the inquiry OF jan
uary was not handed TO the Commissioners
today but on the morning of the Sd,
as soon as poss be after the statements
were taken. Ii is the duty OF the superin-
tendent to inquire into such matters as
promptly as possible and as soon as the
articles appeared, Intercepted all those
likely to have knowledge or the subject, in
SO far as it was possible To ascertain them
In advance of the appearance OF the narra
tive.
The statement that the superintendent
is interested in advance in disproving
such charges is, / think, unwarranted.
1t is the special province of this office
to try to improve the charitable and cor
rectional service. and am always obliged
to anyone pointing out defects. In the
present case, notice was taken of the evil
dent candor of certain features of Miss
Wilburs reports @fpeFj as2to some sugees-
tions. was concurTe1 ~, willie. as 10 Others.
pains were taken toCsxpiaim how sincere
misapprehensions could arise through the
incomplete Inspection OF
brief stay in tie institution.''