New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-12
ARISES AT THE HUDSON HOME
SHOCKING STATE OF AFFAIRS AT THE
HOUSE OF REFUGE FOR WOMEN.
BOARD OF MANAGERS CRITICISES ACTIONS
OF FORMER FFIClALS-MEASUhhS
TAKEN TO BRING ABOUT
A CHANGE

Albany Oct. 1.-THE State Board Of Charities to-
day received the report Of the Board or Managers
OF the Hudson House of Refuge for Women which
was adopted before the recent outbreak OF the IN
mates AT that institution. It says In part:
The institution was opened in 1851. Almost from
the first il was subjected to criticism by your non
orabe Board Your report lgl ~ YEAR after that
did your reports fail TO crticise the iach "a us
We are Of the opinion that recently laxness OF
discipine and looseness of administration have
heen radical defects found throughout inc llis"'u
ton and exemplined by the conduct Of officers a.
well OF inmates. a. , .hra y,
whom are on duty at night-to task for lax dis-
cpine They are charged win coh,ies f Tn Gu, ~
make entries in the record book when they reported
for duty which book disappeared on FeprqaEd IT,
cipne has been found among other officers ,.. =,
officers in the administration building staying IN
who acted the personal attendants up uhtl lhelr
We're kept up beyond the inmates retiring hour TO
do nanicuring and other personal work sewing
girls had been intrusted win the Locking OF the
outer doors of the adminlsrSIom Uue ac,, w
test 70 ascertain II ne doors wc'e tctuaalA ,
locked Wine kept in an officer rooms 70 o., used
granted some inmates as PERSONA fav3rs
causing jealousy the part OF the others. while
stirred up against them hatred. The inspection OF
the various buildings by the superintendent ana
huiIdings inexcusably dirty: we found inmates try
ing to rid themselves OF bedbugs by pounding ths
in use were left in drawers easily opened by the in
mates, and one escape from the prison last WINTER
was directly due 10 this.
In dwelling on the subject of punishment the re-
mort saws there is no justification for the Of
poral punishment as II has been administered at
Hudson and against which the State Board has OK
pressed itself most emphatically. The records Of
punishment are attacked on the grounds OF mac
curacy Mention Is made that one girl rather than
be strapped chose to be confined closely to her room
on low diet for one month. including Christmas.
The general supervisor admitted strapping girls OF
their own accord in the absence of the supcrnend-
ent and strapped a young mother whose baby was
only five months old The report adds:
The general system Of treatment seems ill-advsed.
in the first place It has been unfortunate to place
newly arrived inmates almost at once In the gener-
! al prison population. where they We're brought IN
contact with the element and learned all the
evil tradition OF the place most easily and quickly
/ classification Closely connected with the cassii-
cation and promotion is parole-the final promo ion
about two and a half years. Such uniform period
for all overooks the important incentive present
/ duct Some Of the worst girls have been told that
ppmber of months We're passed satisfctory but
this is not parole IN It's best sense for II was !.
grade by continued good conduct We have found
excellent girls who have been in the Institution a
ords presented by the recent superintendent for
parole The investigation Of home. TO which In
mates have been sent was superficial In one
case presented AZ the July meeting FOR parole
the only voucher for the alleged sister and brother
Mere dressed wor and talked vel ''''
"5he re- here seems 10 be feens eeyasnt
and impertnence which will be difficult TO over
superintendent and other officers OF strong person
ality. devoted 70 the work. an earnest, hopeful
ed corporal punishment and ordered the cessation
Of all work IN violation or ne state CONSTITUTION
into the institution except upon A prescription OF
the physician.