New-York tribune., 1901-01-12
REAL REFORMS AT ELMIRa
REFORMATORY MANAGERS REpopr no
THE LEGISLATURE


Albany Jan 1.-THE twenty-ffth annual renort
of the Board OF Managers of the Elmira Ra,orno
tory for the year ended September 30 800 was to-
day presented to the Legislature. 1t is signed NV
Thomas Sturgis, president; Charles II Paol,..
yice-presdent, and Managers Dr. Charles F How
ard and Justus II. Harris
Under the heading. Methods Of Administration "
the report says:
The radical difference of view which had existed
between the remaining members of the so-caIIed
old Board and those more recently appointed by
GoVerh9T roosevelt had made harmony OF action
lmposslbie ana u was not until the beginning of
the present year that the latter were able to nder
which the diseased state of the nrisar reiheht i
Wornout condition of much of the material narts Of
education and discipline imperativefy Demanded 81
eTy he bealtb rT or 10 receive attention prop
9f me plant; third. the methods of education and
SPREAD OF DISEASE 1TNCHEcKFn
Speaking of disease at the institution and the
alarming spread of tuberculosis the renort saws.
It had not been the custom in former wears to
MAKE a detailed examination of the health condi-
lions OF prisoners either upon their arrival or
departure; intelligent and complete ANALYSIS Of
me me Ptlson population for the purpose of separating
Inc 1Iseased from the healthy inmates had been
1i nnaeItaken' and no orders existed: was
pIacuce TO exclude from the buildings civilian en-
ployes In whose families were contagious or in
ICIus diseases, such as measles scarlet fever
me results OF this neglect Were that prisoners with
erTyai ere wtch ,,r could have been DIAGNOSED upon
routine, and. together with those in whom II was
Of the disease II in bo eaHes pn se ad
"a mem h from their duties when they were Goo late
hospital as confirmed invalids; and there is good
contagious disease was introduced among the pris-
9pers % ny civilian empoye in the manner described
cannot but reflect unfavorably upon the officials
A resident physician appointed early in 19oo
ana the decrease IN six months from March 81 to
a; in room for disciplinary reasons IL: observa-
the invalid ward. on March 81. 1900 was III and on
September 90, 1900 was q. The decrease in cases
number released invalid during this period
for the Insane during this period was 6S.
INSANE TURNED AMONG THE SANE
On the subject of insanity among the prisoners
the report continues
As with tuberculosis, no careful medical exam
ination had been made to detect its existence in the
entering departing prisoner. and minute
analysis of the population TO eliminate from routine
dered their compliance difficult or impossible Under
this system there exists at least one well attested
case Of long continued punishment inflicted upon
a prisoner mentally irresponsible. The well known
desire OF managerial bodies and or superihtendents
TO keep down the record appears TO have operated
mere as elsewlere ana the ieiiay
kept among the general populauon uhlIl Hloleht nc
iions symptoms Of entire mental collapse rem
AS an instance of the necessity for the careful
analysis described, and for the presence in all
fecting mental disease we cite as an instance rot
any time to develop the homicidal mania well
known as a feature OF this disease. whom DR. Rob
months he had daily handled razor in shaving
prisoners.
MACHINERY WRECKED BY INNATE LABOR.
FIogging and the inmate monitor system are
both condemned in the report. The Board quotes
the opinion of the chief engineer. who believes
that the wrecked condition Of the engines and
other delicate apparatus is due in an important
degree their having been run and handled by
ignorant inmate labor. He further adds that COM
petent civilian firemen would save their wages in
the decrease of coal consumed.
The Board believes that inmates can be properly
used as instructors under suitable limitations, but
that the using Of them guards or keepers
disciplinary oicers) is wrong In theory and prac-
fice. The report says:
Much could be written on the practical opera
ton Of the marking system as practlsed at klmra IRA
tent it has been there which would be a revelation
20 those who base their unqualified approval upon
purely theoretical knowledge; as, for instance that
convict monitor has 1t in his power by fraud and
collusion TO shorten well as lengthen imprson-
ment; but space Will not permit
CHEF" RAN A RESTAURANT FOR PROFIT.
Speaking OF the economic system Of the in
stitution the report says
The reformatory has never 10 our knowledge had
q steward any official OF high ability and ex-
for the purchase OF foods and materias-the verif-
cation OF the amount and quality when received.
and the organization OF system OF storekeeping
which should hold to strict accountability the
subordinate heads of departments
knowledge of the Board that the chef" who
ceived salary, providing restaurant in the
institution for part of the employees private
business. the profits from which accrued 10 him
self This stopped. a large amount Of
ond hand clothing, blankets. boots and Shoes which
IL had been the custom sell refuse, dis
infected, renovated and. to the value OF about
$4,000. restored TO use.
STATE PRISON FEATURES ABOLISHED.
Mr.. Brockway's system is praised for things
and censured for others The report says
In some instances officials found in high
positions
under whose control the reformatory was asSum-
ing the distinctive features of the State prisons.
As illustration of this the fact that Mr.. Brock
way found ii necessary in June. 1900. recommend
10 the Board the transfer to State prison OF
eighty is worthy of note In the
opinion OF the Board many of these would not
have become 'incorrigible'' under wiser treatment
4 further illustration is furnished by the dis
cOVery in March OF widespread conspiracy
supply tobacco. opium and other contraband
articles to prisoners. The scheme had in
operation for n considerable time. More than one
keeper implicated, were a score of the in