New-York tribune., 1901-01-13
BALTIMORE HOUSE OF REFUGE.
MAINTAINED By PUBLIC FUNDS. BUT UNI-
DER PRIVATE CoNTRoI-REsPoNsI
RILITY oF sUPERINTENDENT

Baltimore Jan. 12-As a result OF the scathing
arraignment Of the managers OF the Female House
OF Refuge by the Grand Jury in it's report made
yesterday. that institution will not receive any
portion Of the 5000 appropriated by the city tow
ard its support until thorough investigation has
been made by a committee appointed for that pur-
pose by the president Of the Jail Board The State
has also appropriated S 900 for current expenses
ana an attempt will be made to hold this up. II
under the law II can be done. The sums mentioned
are practically all the institution has to depend
upon. the private subscriptions for the present
year amount only SO. all of which contributed
by fourteen of the men who hold places on the
Board Of Managers. each Of them paying IS a year.
Under the bylaws Of the institution the sub
scribers may at any annual election select fifteen
members Of the Board 10 act their behalf. The
fourteen selected themselves and other man,
who is not a subscriber
The city and State together also have fifteen
members Of the Board but irasmuch as a full
tendance upon the part of the latter seldom
ours, the subscribing directors have managed the
institution to suit themselves. although they pay
only n1nitesimal part OF the money which goes
toward it's support In this connection a member
Of the Grand Jury which made yesterdays report
said to-day:
ton know what is going within the walls Of the
Who vers absoIuteIv prevented from making per
sonal investigation into the affairs OF the Refuge
Institution suit herself and in addition it seems
city and State directors looked on more
less interloperS and do not have much 10 say
i'm the conduct OF affairs This. too, although the
city and State appropriations are about all the IN
stitution have to support il, In addition to the
amount earned by the girls themselves. The private
gifts amount 10 almost nothing but the private d.
reCtors practically have control OF the whole in-
sttution 1896 the private sfts in cash amounted
to So 1887 SS5 in 1888 $3.50 and In 1899 10 $40
Last wear the institution received 5000 from the
ctv s. COO from the State and $1,000 additional from
the State for Improvements
The Grand Jury feels that the whole course OF the
Institution is wrong, and that the people would not
supnort if they knew how il was being admin
istred 1t goes further in its punshments than out
and out penal Institutions FloSg1ng. the strait
Jacket dark cells. solitary confinement, hoods and
o. rs have been abandoned in institutions where the
inmates are of the most casehardened description
The directors so far as their opinions could be
learned are a unit in denying the terrible charges
brought by the Grand Jury yesterday. Many of
them spoke with much feeling. and said that their
confidence in Miss Martha Dabney Stuart. the
s,nsrintendent was unimpaired. Notwithstanding
the Grand Jury's bitter a-raignment OF her
Hiram Woods. president of the Board OF Direc-
tors said this afternoon that he had called meet
ing of the Board to discuss the Grand Juryrs
charges for Monday afternoon. The meeting Will
he held at the institution, and prior TO that MT
Woods refused make any statement. further
than 10 saw that he astonlshed at the charges
and considered them unwarranted.
Miss Stuart was not at the institution TINS morn
ing states Attorney Mclane says Miss stuart Will
be placed on trial in a short time