New-York tribune., 1899-11-14
REFORMATORY PROBLEMS
GOVERNORS NEW POLICY RELATING TO
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
pRocKwAY URGES THE READoPTIoN OF
PAppLING-MANY OFFICIALS OPPOSED
INSANITY AMONG INMATES
[pY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

fpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIHUNE.I
Albany. Nov 13-Governor Roosevelts new
policy OF managing the State reformatory IN
stitutions, It is apparent from two facts which
became known to-day. will require legislation
In order to carry il to a successful cohciusloh'
One of the features Of his policy is the subetltu-
ton for the present local boards Of managers
mainly composed Of residents OF the immediate
vicinity OF an asylum, Of boards composed OF
men and women living in various parts or the
State A second feature is the more humane
treatment Of the inmates OF the reforInatories'
The statement was made to-day that Superin-
tendent Brockwey OF the Elmira Reformatory
had written a letter to the members OF the
Board of Managers of that institution recon-
mending a readopton Of the padding system
formerly In use in that reformatory
Mt Brockway's argument in favor of padding
It IS said is that he has way of controlling
vicious inmates Of the reformatory except by
solitary confinement in cells and that such soli-
tary confinement increases the number or the
inmates who become insane. This letter of Su-
perintendent Brockway. 1t is stated is 10 be
formally read at a meeting OF the Board OF Man
ayers of the reformatory the present week at
Elmira.
The members Of the Board OF Managers are as
follows: Matthias H. Arnot, Of Elmira; Ansley
Wilcox. of Buffalo; Henry G. Danforth OF Roch-
ester: Thomas Sturgis, Of New-York, and John
NJ Diven of Elmira.
VIEWS OF MR.. STURGIs.
The propositon to restore padding is
trenely repugnant to Mr. Sturgis, of New-York.
and he came here to Albany last Thursday to
have a talk with Governor Roosevelt about It.
Mr.. sturgis said to The Tribune correspondent
the same day:
The Elmira Reformatory has far too many in
mates 1t has so many that superintendent
Brockway cannot possibly have that personal
acquaintance with the inmates which Is aoso-
lutely essential to securing the reformation of
large number Of them. In consequence he must
leave the administration largely in the hands or
subordlnates-an unfortunate course. The state
ought not to enlarge the reformatory. and 1t
ought to bring to completion as soon as possible
the Eastern Refornatory, now in process OF con-
structon at Napanock, in Ulster County. In re-
gard to recalcitrant inmates Of the reformatory.
il is my opinion that such as appear beyond the
reach Of reformatory influences should be swiftly
transferred to the State prisons. That will
diminish the number OF vicious inmates in the
reformatory that have been put in solitary con-
inement and limit the chance Of inmates be-
coming insane
CONFERENCE WITH THE GOVERNOR.
Governor Roosevelt then had conference on
the subject with several Of the State officers,
and found them opposed 10 reinroduction OF
padding al any Of the State institutions The
Governor. according to a State official, agrees
with the State officers that padding ought not
TO be again adopted at the reformatory. In
stead the policy will be urged by him upon
the reformatory managers Of transferring in
corrigible inmates of the reformatory to the
State prisons. When the Legislature meets the
Governor also, it is said, will favor the speedy
completion Of the Eastern Reformatory at Ma
panock. ban e..
Another step which is to be taken at the Ell
mira Reforma tory, it is said. will be the ap
pointment OF assistant superintendent. who
will divide the work with Mr.. Brockway and
thus give opportunity for the authorities TO
give personal attention to all the inmates of the
| reformatory.
Still another State institution which Is
gong through the troubles OF reorganization
| Of its staff of employees is the House Of Refuge
| for Women, at Hudson This institution has
suffered from the nature Of the laws passed in
relation TO It, which permitted all kinds OF prs-
oners, from felons to disreputable women, to be
| consigned to it. Recently there was riot in
the institution and considerable State property
| was destroyed.
INMATES BECOME INSANE
Secretary Hcbbard OF the State Board of
Charities announced to-day that four of the
! ringleaders were insane, and had been COM
| mitted to the Matteawan Asylum for Insane
! Criminals. Mr.. Hebbard said there were only
! few disorderly women in the reformatory. He
! said:
What is needed is the passage Of a law de-
! priving magistrates Of any authority to send
/ felons to the HUDSON institution. Some Of the
/ women sent there should be in the State prisons;
! others should be in the penitentiares What
} also is needed is some officer 10 give advice to
! the judges regarding the persons fit TO be sent
/ TO the refuge 1t is worse than useless TO send
! hardened reprobates to Hudson. They only con-
| taminate other women. No one can reform
them The Legislature as soon as it meets will
| be asked to pass law limiting the persons to
be sent to the reformatores for women to
women who may be reformed.
Governor Roosevelt has just received letter
! commenting upon the recent disorder at the
| House OF Refuge at Hudson from Miss Adina
Mitchell, trustee Of the Whittier State School,
/ Of California in which she tells Of the success
! attending the abolishment OF corporal punish
ment in that institution. The State Board OF
| Charities will file the letter among its records.
TYPHOID FEVER IN A UNIVERSITY.