New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-01
CHANGES NEEDED IN TIE WORkHoUsE.
THE GRAND JURY MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS IN
A PREsENTMENT-No ACTION ON BROOK
Lvx RAPID TRANSIT RUMoRs.

Judge Mcmahon in Part Of General Sessions,
Yesterday afternoon dismissed the Grand Jury
after complinentng IL upon its industry and zeal
In disposng OF 81 cases and returning sol lndlct-
ments which is said TO nave peaten All Tecoius Lor
many months
This is the Grand Jury that anxious TO take
I'D the alleged malicious rumors regarding the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company. The December
Grand Jury made presentment IN the case ana
Judge Mcmahon in charging the January Grand
T1r instructed IL 10 look into the matter but the
District Attorney was not ready with the evidence
and the investigation goes over 10 the February
Grand Jury.
The Grand Jury made a presentnent on the
penal institutions Blackwelrs Island. praislng
the work of Commissioner Lantry and Warden
Falon OF the pententiary, and Warden Fox OF
the workhouse. The sanitary and disciplinary
arrangements of the prison proper are in the opn-
ion OF the Grand Jury. in keeping gith the best
modern methods. and the addition Of a new wing
has done away with the necessity of putting more
than one prisoner in a cell.
The workhouse the Grand jury considers re-
markedly clean and well managed, although II IL
so overcrowded that often four persons con-
fined in one cell, but the Grand Jury feels that
there should be some radical change made. both
with respect to the persons who are committed to
1t and also with respect to their treatment. On
this subject the presentment says;
The term 'workhouse. as applied that institu-
ton is misnomer. because large majority OF the
unfortunates who committed TO that institution
enfeebl1d, SICK manned, hefpesS ana mentally
detected persons who should not be subjected to
Imprisonment Of any sort. and who are more suit
able subjects for hospital or alTnshouse than for
correctional institution. II is contrary to every
principle of civilized administration that such a
class Of persons for recognized offence should be
confined in a prison behind bars and thrown In
constant contact and association with some of the
most depraved classes in our community Our in
formation is that the greatest number OF inmates
Of the workhouse committed there for crime
unless poverty can be so designated. because the
real ground Of their commitment is their age or
physical debility, inability provide for their
support.
Those who survive such confinement return to
the city and, having home, again turned
loose upon the community. are taken by the police
TO the nearest magistrate who, through e sincere
desire to afford provision for them. and hav-
ing no other place to commit them to, Sentences
them 10 the wOrkhouse.
The law should be changed, and discretionary
powers should be vested in the Commissioner OF
Correction 10 make proper disposition OF enfeebled
aged Migrants unable TO perform manual labor
by transferring them TO the Department OF Charf-
ties so that none except offenders against the law
should be detained in the WoTkhouse, and there
undergo just punishment of hard labor the
law intends.
Silver loving cups were presented TO James s.
Curry, the foreman Of the Grand Jury and to the
secretary