New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-21
THE ELMIRA REFORMATORY.

Governor Roosevelt has made the first appl-
cation Of his plan for having different parts Of
the State represented In the management Of
public institutions to the Elmira Reformatory.
Certainly there Is no institution to which the
theory could be more justly applied. The hos
pitfalls for the insane. industrial schools and
asylums of various kinds. while necessarily
parts of State system and properly to be man.
aged with a view TO general rather than local
interests, do after all, largely meet perhaps not
merely the needs Of a neighborhood, but indeed
Of district The Elmira Reformatory, how
ever, In no sense exists for the benefit OF a
town, or even q section, Of the State. 1t Is the
only institution Of it's kind In New-York. FL
mira has no more claim to its control than AL
bany, would have to dominate the whole State
government because II Is carried on at the
Capitol, or than this city would have to assume
the direction of the Navy Yard which exists
here.
The only reason for any particularly strong
representation of Elmira in the Board Of Man
ayers Is to secure constant oversight. Some Of
the managers should, of course be close at
hand and familiar with all details, but even
with entirely local boards such familiarity Is
generally confined to one or two men. while
the other members simply follow their lead
and In the boards only serve TO exclude men
with other than local ideas. How important it is
that the Elmira Reformatory should have gen.
eral, and especially New-York City. representa-
tives on Its Board will be seen when 1t Is noted
that over one thousand out Of the fourteen
hundred-odd inmates are from this city. while
the others are sent from oil parts Of the State
and Elmiras interest is trifing except in the
trade and politics incident to so large an in
stItution at its doors.
Excellent judgment appears to have been
shown both In the selection OF new managers
and In the retention OF old Messrs. Sturgls,
Wilcox and Danforth are men OF high char
acter and ability. They come from New-York,
Buffalo and Rochester. the largest three cities
of the State, which naturally have the greatest
interest in the Institution. The two managers
from Elmira Will give due weight 10 all local
sentiment Mr. Arnof, who from the managers
whose terms have expired is selected for reap
pointmcnt. has been for some years the leading
spirit OF the Board and the exponent of the past
methods and tendencies Of the institution. He
Is wisely permitted TO remain where his ex-
perience will be of great use and where he will
be able to exercise conservative influence
and. with such colleagues as the new members.
assuredly prevent unwise Innovations.
1t IL perhaps natural tn wonder IL the changes
presage a revolution in the conduct Of the Re-
formatory. We think, however that there is
no need for apprehension that any injustice will
be done to the present management. and, there
FORE that there would be no excuse for any op-
position to Governor Roosevelfs appointments.
There has been much controversy. It is true.
over the merits Of Mr.. Brockways administra-
tion Under the late Oscar Craig than whom
there was no fairer-minded and more disinter-