The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-01
ODELL CALLS FOR INQUIRY.
TO PROBE .DELTNQUENTS HONE
ON RANDALL,S ISLAND.
He Says Legislature Was Not Told Of Gut
in City's Appropriation and Critic'scs
%Sustces I'm Letter to Alexander II.
Orr-Thrcat TO Abolish the Home.

hie veto Of several items Of the appropria-
tions made by the last Legislature to meet
badly needed expenditures in the lnstitu-
ton for Juvenile Delinquents on RandalPs
Island is evidenced by the contents of
letter which the Governor sent yesterday
to Alexander f.. Orr. the president Of the
board of trustees Of that institution.
The Governor calls the attention Of Mr..
Orr to this newspaper criticism and re-
quests that the trustees Immediately in
vestigate the condition of the institution
and its management as well rs the circum-
stances surrounding the care Of the in
mates.
The Governor saws this is a private in
stitution, although it receives substantial
aid from the State each year and Some aid
from the New York city treasury.
He insists that the aid extended by the
State was as much this year as heretofore
and that the deficiency in appropriations
ia due to the decreased allowance from the
New York city treasury this year Of about
$4,000.
He compares the conditions of the State
Industrial School at Rochester with those
at Randall's Island, urging that the average
per capital cost at the latter institution
last year was $2ll 80. compared with s106.24
at the former.
The Governor critcses the trustees OF
the institution for not informing the Legis-
lature that New York city had cut its annual
allowance to the institution, so that the
State might make it up. The Governors
letter to Mr.. Orr contains q threat that
the next Legislature will likely abolish
the Randall's Island institution and pro-
vide for the care of the inmates in new
industrial school. The Governors letter
to Mr.. Orr follows:
To the Hon. IIexander 4, orr. Pres,dent
Board Of Managers RandaFs Island In
stitut'en for Jusenite Dchnque"ts. Pro-
MY DEAR Mr.. ORR: Your attention has I'M
doubtedly been called to certain newspaper
criticism Of the management Of the lnstitu-
ton for Juvenile Delinquents at Raudall's
Island. II conditions at this institution have
been correctly represented in the articles
TO which have referred you must deprccate
them equally with myself.
1t seems almost unnecessary for me to call
your attention to the fact that the charter
OF this institution is peculiar one, because
It's managers are not selected by the State,
as is the case in every other institution In
which the State is interested, except one,
but your body. under its charter. is self per
indesd' a You s"s viii doubtisss irSseSoect that
during the Legislative session of 1893 the
question was raised whether the State could
extend assistance to 1t for the purpose OF
making repairs to its, b1ildinss because
such action seemed to be IN direct conflict
with Article VII. section 1, OF the Constitution.
which prohibits our commonwealth from lend
ing It's. credit in aid of any individual
beors pSe aid could
extended to enact law giving title to the
State. although this was done in such q man,
ner that from its terms II can be lnterpr eted
only us being leHse of this property
BY the law passed in 1898. to give a further
semblance of State. supervision the Gov
ernor. the Comptroller and the Attorney.
General were made ex-officio members OF
the board Of managers.
While this solution was apparently salts
factory. still IL did not relieve the institution
the control Of the State receiving aid from
the city Of New York, and with a board OF
managers entirely independent OF state or
municipal control. acting under the charter
/ present these facts so that they may
be considered in connection with the request
Investigation Of this institutions affairs;
that its true status may be understood and
responsibility for abuses. II abuses exist.
placed were it properly belongs, as well for
the correction OF such other conditons,f the
allegations made are found to be true.
That the State. has not neglected its duty,
"
mands that have been made upon II for the
maintenance and care Of the inmates OF this
institution; Is evidenced by the tact that
past three years tor maintenance have been
about s,5D,oNo To this should be added
the allowances made by the city OF New
York, which in 1900 and 1901 We're So,54a ~
and SIS sos IS respectively; in the years 1892
and 1913. Ssn81
II will be seen from the above statement
that the decrease in the appropriations for
m m q n
the failure OF the city of New York to con-
tribute its usual proportion, notwithstanding
the increase in the population OF tn" institu-
ton,
That the State was liberal in lls treatment
even under these conditions is shown by the
following figures which give comparison
with the appropriations and expenses of the
Rochester Industrial School an institution
Of the same character as the one at Randall's
Is Ml.s a. ,ror,cs norr,,tior ., sos NJ
the State Industrial School at Rochester.
compared with population OF Sal "A at Ran
lssn boo Was Sos. ~ or
age per capita Of 1924. against total cost
AZ Randall's Island Of sl77, s02.3s, or per
capita allowance of s2l1.29
For the purpose Of further informing you
In your investigation desire to call your at
tention TO comparison of the following
items OF maintenance, expense etc:
Per CAPITA Erpense. Island school
Provisions ..,..'..,................A s.sT AG28
Household stores ..........,,,,.. Cai i@
Clothing ..,........,.,...,,,,,,,', 2oD n,5
Ordinary repairs .....,...,.,..,... 3N 2S
Salaries and wages ..... .,,........ Ol,H 8O05
Articles for educational purposes.
postage, &C. '.....'.'''''''.'' me "'
| have examined the report of the board
OF managers Of the Randall'1 Island institu-
ton submitted to the Legislature of 1908.
There il nothing therein which III any way
indicates that great shrinkage would occur
in the contributions of the City of New York.
without this explanation for the guidance
Of the Legislature 10 would be naturally
dinicult for them to understand why adj
ditional allow anCes should be ak ed for.
II the institution has been inadeuuately
provided for through failure To bring the
fact to the attention OF the Legislature. ind II
there Ia actual suffering and hunger among
these boys, as has been stated. should be
Oficial responsibility, and ! can assure that
nothing would be permitted to stand in the
way OF quick response to your demands,
80 far as the Executive of the State is con-
cerned.
While my recent visit to the institution
did not disclose the horrible state OF affairs
which has been set forth by some sensational
writer's in the public press, 1t may be that
the true situation of affairs was so concealed
from me that waT unable to discern il.
ID should be nm easy matter however, for
the board of managers to devote enough
time to u careful investigation OF the inSti-
tuition TO disclose any shortcomings, If they
exist And can but promise you that prompt
measures will be taken to correct any abuses
which may be brought to my attention, so
powerless. however. to net, to even discipline
or remove incompetent officials But to you
and 10 your board is given aEsoute powers
desire before closing to sum up in detail
the matter set forth above, because believe
that "a repetition of the statements that |
u,aIa innrpaa fprpihlV hI