New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18
COL. ROOSEvELT'S BUSY DAY.
A VISIT TO THE HOUSE OF REFUGE ON
RANDALLS ISLAND.

THE GovERNoR-ELEcr HOLDS NUMBER OF
CONFERENCES AND GIVES a HARMONY DIN
NER-A. T. WHITE AND THE suPERlN-
TENDENCY OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Some busy hours were spent by Coionei Iheo-
dore Roosevelt. the Governor-elect Sightseeing.
holding conferences and entertaining poftcai
friends In this city yesterday and last night
He came to the city from his home in oyster
Ray early in the forenoon. and went to an East
River njer near One hundred and thirty fifth
ST. where he was met by Alexander f. orr'
presiden. CT the House of Refuge for Juvenile
Delinouents; the treasurer Edward NJ. Town
send. and Everett j. Wendell. J. ]. Higginson'
Clement Marsh and Frederick Bronson. or the
Board Of Management. Ex-Judge Allison. war
den Sage. Of Sing Sing. and Frank 8 "ithe'oee
and several women were In the party WHICH
boarded a tugboat with Colonel Roosevelt anu
went TO visit the House of Refuge on fahoah
Island The trip had been arranged by MT
Orr IN order to permit Colonel Roosevelt 10
Gee something of a State institution TOY chi-
dren before entering upon his duties as wv
ernor.
The $50 girls and boys OF the institution were
drawn I'D In battalions the lawn when the
party arrived. The girls waved their hanos anu
the boys gave military salute i"eh ''e'
gave a cheer which not in the programme
Mr.. Orr introduced Colonel Roosevelt 10 '"e
children. and the Colonel made a brief speech
as follows:
glad to see YOU as nave methods are
here which by following. you can become good s
and Wou cannot 60 TO the front some Of you
perhaps would hope to DO you can 90 your uu'' "
we'll In peace
cunar,r,ordent CarpentAr escorted the party
through the workshops where the boys were al
their regular apprenticeship. Governor-eiect
Roosevelt seemed greatly interested in each
separate shop. He visited the large Assembly
room. where he heard the girls sing. he also
visited the chldren's apartments AND expresseu
himself as we'll pleased with the system ana the
care OF the young ones. He said the Visit had
given him great pleasure. The entire party
returned 10 the city on the steamboat heiuse'
AT THE FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL
Colonel Roosevelt went to the Fifth Avenue
Hotel in the afternoon. and spent some houiS
there IN conferences with Republicans in the
Headquarters Of the State Committee. Char
man b B. Odell IT,. had come down from MS
home In Newburg to consult with the "oVe''oi
elect They had long talk together ABOUT
candidates for office but no appointments were
decided upon at the talk Colonel Roosevelt
rent N tho room Of Senator Patt ana hao
long talk there with the Senator he 'aiheo
with Lieutenant Governor Woodruff ana eA-
Mavor Schieren of Brooklyn about Aireo l.
White. the former Commissioner OF CITY "o'As'
Who had been recommended for appointment as
State Superintendent of Public "Mhs ne
talked with Major General Roe. ana saiu 'i"'
General Roe would select ten Of the members
Of the Governors staff from officers OF the VA
,ionaI Guard. General Roe said later In the
afternoon that he had not made the seiec'ionS
and would take his time in preparing the ISL
1yeissnan who has been applicant LOT the
,,ace Of Commissioner Of Labor statistics MI
weissman had been accused of sympathy WIN
Anarchists and he wanted TO explain soihe'''"e
he did when he a boy in san FTahciseo'
AS he was about to leave the hotel late IN
the afternoon. Colonel Roosevelt SAID 10 news
naper men that no decisions as to appointments
had been reached at his conferences, ana 'ha'
no could make no further announcements. He
nod invited Mr. Odel to attend dinner in the
evening. bu; Mr. Ode. who has recovered from
q severe illness said he must return 10 MS
home in Newburg.
Alfred T. White. whose name had been pre-
scented by ex-Mayor Schieren for the place OF
State Superintendent of Public Works. has au-
thor!zed The Tribune TO say that 1t would be
impossible for him TO take the office. and in no
circumstances would he consent 10 accept the
appointment II il were offered TO him by Gov
ernOr-elect Roosevelt
WHAT MR. WHITE SAYS.
In speaking Of the place Of State Superintend-
ent of Public Works Mr.. White said yesterday:
Il do not think that the constitutional layout
for public work is the best possible one. New
York State the largest in the Union could and
should have the best engineering talent in the
country The State can afford to have the most
capable engineer at the head Of her public
works and she should have one who is not a
political product . go
THAT there is a division Of responsibility has
been plainly shown in the canal report. There
should be individual responsibility. The office
OF State Engineer should be one within the
power of the Governor TO fill. You cannot get
an elective Office. il is at present. Secondly.
when the engineer has been appointed he should
have the undivided responsibility for the execu-
lion Of all the work.
"Of course. the system at present Is embodied
In the Constitution: but what have said Is
looking 10 the future. Such plan as have
outlined would do away with the possibility OF
another such scandal as that now hanging over
the canals.
Last evening Colonel Roosevelt gave "har-
nony dinner in the home Of his sister. Mrs.
Douglass Robinson. No. CSC Madison-ave. His
guests were senator Thomas c. Platt. Joseph II.
Choate. Chauncey NJ Depew. Brayton Ives Gen
eral BENJAMIN +. Tracy Seth Low, Ehu Root.
Captain A. T. Mahan, John Proctor Clarke. w.
NJ. Laffan and Douglass Robinson. Colonel
Roosevelt declared that the dinner would be a
purely social affair and have political sig-