The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-12
AWAITING FACTS.
Gov. Voorhees, Has Written
to Other States Asking
Their Punishment
Methods.
TRUSTEE STOKES RESIGNS
Miss Days Sworn Statement
Has Not Yet Been Presen-
ted to His Excellency.
rsnacial q ..rhe Jersey CITY News.,,l

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City News."l
TRENTON, Aug. u, 1s9s.-Governor
VOORHEES, came to the State House early
yesterday morning, and when he arrived
in the executive chamber he found on his
desk the resignation of Edward II
Stokes, of this city, as member of the
Board of Trustees of the Girls Industrial
School.
Mr. Stokes assigned no reason for ten
dering his resignation, but it was as
sumed that it was due to the lack Of
harmony among the Trustees and to the
charges that have been made against
the management of the Institution.
The resignation of Mr.. Stokes, which
will be accepted by the Governor follow
ing that of Mr. Parker. who withdrew
recently, leaves four members on the
Board. They are Rev George c. Mad
dock, P. J. Fitzgibbon and e. r. Cook.
of this city, and Mr.. Carter of Newark
OF these DR.. Maddox and Mr.. Fitzsib-
bon are openly opposed to the methods
employed by Mrs Eyler, the matron
while e R Cook is the ayoWed cham-
pion of her administration. This makes
two to one against Mrs. Eyler without
Mr.. Carter, VINO, SO far as Is known is
neutral, not taking a very active part In
the management of the institution.
Governor Voorhees, has as yer received
no intimation as TO what course the re-
naming members intend 10 pursue with
regard to their designations, and I'M
doubtedly it would relieve him from an
embarrassing situation were the mem
bers to voluntarily give him an oppor-
tunity to accept their resigndtiOns as
was done by AIessrs. Parker and Stokes
Trustees Maddox and Fitzgi5bons. who
started the investigation, have expressed
a willingness to step down and out If
Managing Trustee Cook Will agree to hand
in his resignation. Mr.. Cook however,
seems persistent in his purpose TO hang
on.
TT would be unfair to the Governor at
this time and thereby cast the entire bur-
den of the institution on his shoulders,
said Mr.. Cook, with much seriousness,
Slose friends of the Governor, however,
do not hesitate to say that his Exceliency
would be much pleased 70 have the ouf-
dens cast upon his shoulders, or at least
lifted from the shoulders OF Mr. Cook
1t has already been limited that were
it not for the apparent reAectlon lnat
would be cast by resigntng under nre,
other designations would have been IN
the Governors hands before TINS.
While it Is true that the specific charges
against The Matron, Mrs, EYER, there ls
also a general feeling that the. managers
are to blame to some extent Tor permit
ting such a condition to exist
II is pretty generally conceded that
the first thing the Governor Will 90 VIII
be to try and get Board OF Managers
that will agree among Intensely CO, OA a.
least that will not be continually at log
gerheads as at present
When asked what would be his next
move in the Investigation OF the state in
dustrfal School for Girls, the Governor
positively declined to make any statement
at this time for publication.
81 will wait until all the evidence IS pe-
fore me-" said ne, ana Will tneh pass W
on the matter"
The Governor remarked that he had not
read the revelations made py MISS
Frances Day, but on the desk was a plle
Of newspapers each of which had some
account of the deposition.
The Governor would make no. commend
upon the testimony given by Miss pay
and Mrs. Miller before Counselor John H.
Backes on Thursday. he was aware
that such affidavits had been taken, put
said he had purposely avoldsa teadlig y
the published accounts, preferring 10
base his decision entirely upon the a1laa-
Wits themselves when they are properly
brought to his attention.
The Governor refused to enter into any
discussion of the trouble at the school,
saying that he would wait until Counsel
or John H. Backes had forwarded to him
the dispositions of the former employees
II think ii is only fair, however, 10
state" said His Excellency, that Mr.
Fitzgibbon offered to resign from the
board upwards of a year ago allu u w was :
at my urgent request that he consented
TO remain. When all the evidence IN the
matter is before me ] will make public
my finding in the matter"
took the deposition Of Miss Frances Day
| mas decided to not present it to the Gov
ernor until he has secured the sworn
statements Of some of the inmates upon
| whom ii is alleged the crueiueS nave
| been inflicted.
The Governor says that he will not
permit these girls to testify unless Mt
| Baekes brings specific charges OF eruet
punishment that they have suffered IN
| der the Eyler management. When this
shall be done, the Governor says, ne viii
! appoint a disnterested person TO take
| their dispositions.
/ formatories of other States asking for
| their methods of punishment, and will
/ take no decisive action for or against the
management of the New Jersey institu-
| ton until this information and the de-
/ positions shall be before him.
The Governor feels that If there is any
thing wrong in the methods or admins
| tration of Mrs Eyler the evils should be
| Board is created by the Governor. while
| the Matron is a creation of the Board.
| If the Board is derehct in the perform
| ance of its duty the Governor naturally
blames the Board, not considering it to
| be his function to interfere with the
officers subordinate to that body.
When asked as to. the possibilities Of
the suggested investigation by the Joint
Legislative Committee on Industrial
/ School, Governor Voorhees, expressed
the opinion that such action is beyond
believed that with the sine die adjourn
ment of the Legislature the functions of
It's committees ceased. unless the Legis-
/ iature was again convened. OF course.
might be taken by the next Legislature.
Rev c. A. Eyler, husband of the
| Matron, paid two visits to the Capitol
Yesterday. Upon each visit he left a
! package for the Governor, presumably
containing messages or information from
Mrs Eyler. None of the Managers of the