The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-10

The Committee on AlmSnouSe pleseheeo
q report to the Board yesterday, giving
the reasons for the condition of affairs
at that institution and suggesting meth
DDS of reform The report follows:-
Jersey City. N. J., March 3, 1873.
''To the Honorable Board of Chosen
Freeholders Of the County Of Hudson;s 3r;s
house do respectfully report
That the evil conditions existing IN
this institution, to Which pupnc hotlce
has been attracted, but which have been
grossly exaggerated in many respects,
are due mainly to the fact that IN TINS
building, OF, necessity. there are ho4Seo ESia
has frequently been made subject OF
complaint by your committee; ana otner
members of your Board, and the state
Charities Aid Association, and the only
practical method of relief is to be 1ounu
in complete segregation OF the minors
from the adults, and of the males nal OF
each class from the females. This can
be accomplished only by removing the
children, not only from the Almshouse,
but from the County Farm. 10 DC TINS,
legislation is necessary TO authorize the
county to purchase a proper site for the
care and maintenance of these ch1idren
Efforts have been made in the past TO
obtain this legislation, but without sue
cess. We trust, now that the matter has
attracted so much public notice, that
there may be no objection or delay TO
carrying out this very necessary projecI
of reform. While the present method OF
housing these children in common with
adults prevails, it will be quite lmpossl-
BILE to give the former proper care ana
attention, or to provide adequately for
their mental and moral training; we,
therefore, recommend, that the Commit
tee on Legislation OF this Boaro IN con-
junction with counsel, procure the draft
ing of a bill and the Introduction OF the
same in the Legislature, 70 authorize the
building, and 10 authorize lhe erection of
such building. for The care housing
and maintenance of pauper children.
legislative reiief. We advise the erection
of a one story bath house, equipped VITA
proper tank bathing facilities, and SO di-
vided as to furnish separate accommodft-
tions fer males and females, both adults
and minors This can be done at very
small expense, and will prove an inn
mense benefit to the inmates OF the IN
eAs an additional means of securing the
health and personal cleanliness of the II,
be made 10 each of them at short inter-
vs1ls There can be made no hard and
fast rule on this subject. and the require
ments of each must be left to the discrs-
ton of the warden and his subordinateS.
A suitable apartment, moreover. should
be set aside for the washing OF all such
clothing as is not now sent to the lann-
"A great and long recognized defect of
the system prevailing in this institution
for the care of children is found in the
lack of any Industrial training. This de-
feet is due entirely to the lack of power
on the part of the Board to furnish sucn
Industrial training. Legislation will be
required on this subject, too, and we ad-
wise the passage of a law authorizing the
Board to employ corps OF trained IN
dustrial instructors, whose competency
shall be established by the possession OF
certificate from soma authorized BODY;
An Industrial school thus conducted would
be able to afford to the children training
that would enable them. on arriving at
maturity, to make an nonest !ylng Tor
j., themselves; it would stimulate their am
btion, and would secure thetf lutnIe
welfare besides eventually reducing the
expense of this institution. by placing It's
wards in a position IN which they would
be able to leave it earlier, by fitting them
earlier for the struggles of life. The de-
tails of this project should, of course, be
carefully arranged. and, II the Suggestion
meets with your favor, we request tnat
your committee, in conjunction with the
counsel and the County Superintendent;
and the County Physician, be empowered
to proceed to draw up a plan ana submit
1t to your honorable board.
ssThere are, in our opinion, some adult
inmates of the Almshouse that are OF
such feeble mind as to render their trans
fer to the asylum imperative The coun-
ty physician and the resident superinten-
dent of the asylum should be requested, IN
orr opinion to make an examination of
these unfortunate persons, and to direct
the transfer of such of them to that N
stftution as are found to be proper sub
jec1s therefor.
eve need more chairs and benches suit
able for children, and ask authority to
purchase the same
There is need, in our judgment, of an
additional fire escape. and we ask power
TO make arrangements for the construc-
tion and erection.
ssWith respect to- the complaints that
have been made in regard to the furnish
ing of supplies to this institution, we beg
leave to say, that this matter is con-
trolled by your Committee on Store
house, as is provided by the rules of the
Board In the last paragraph of the rules
under the caption "Committee on County
Institutions" it is stated that the com
mittee on Storehouse shall see that the
different contractors furnish all goods and
supplies for the use of the county, in
quantities as ordered in writing by the
Storekeeper or other person acting as
such.'' and If there be any derelection II
this regard, the Committee on Storehouse
will doubtless be able to place the re-
sponsibilty where it properly belongs"
The report was received and the recon-