New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-17
TAKE FROM RANDALL'S.
GIVE STATE CONTROL.
Report of Charities Committee ON
House of Refuge.

The Randall Island House of Refuge must go.
The committee of the New-York State Board of
Charities which has been investigating the IN
stitution reported its findings to the board yes
terday, severely criticisng the House OF ReIuge'
its anomalous relation to the State, resulting In
confused and unsatisfactory management 'he
nlngling of the sexes there and the insufficient
appropriation made for its support. In conclu-
sion the report says:
Your committee finds that the site. plant and
equipment of the House Of Refuge are entirely
ipadequate for modern Syormtory for
the delinquent boys of New-York CITY ana the
eastern counties Of the State; also that RandaiIs
Your committee therefore recommends tnat steps
suitable country site. and its reorganization upon
modern lines without delay
The report and recommendations Of the COM
mittee were accepted by unanimous vote of
the eleven members of the board present.
MR.. ORR ASKED FOR THE INQUIRY.
This investigation was authorized at meet
ing Of the board on October IA. at the request OF
Alexander e. Orr, president Of the board, In
view OF criticisms. The committee held twelve
hearings and testimony was taken from fifty
one persons. There were in the institution on
October l S12 boys and 119 girls.
The report points out that while the Society
for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents is
maintained by that society mainly through State
appropriation, and is called by law a State in
stitution. The site belongs to New-York City
Obviously, the report shows, this triple owner
ship is clumsy. 1t continues:
The committee recommends that legislation be
enacted whereby the House of ketlse snaL % og
by the Governor and confirmed by the senate as
in the case of other charitable or retormatory IN
situations. That the institution De IeiloNGu ~ 10
large site in the country, conveAenL 70 inc c1y
be established for Juvenile deImquents' and, IN
part at least supported oy us 0T bsb ~ new
State training school, and therein receive and care
It is undesirable for the State to make appro-
longer than is necessary, The present site. with
its small acreage and obsolete structures. sur
rounded by the city, is unsuited for reformatory
purposes
WOULD MAKE AN ISLAND PARK
If. by agreement with the city: the State e and
moved to a site in the country. the valuable prop
erty Of thrtysix acres on Ranfa !, od5
be released TO the city Of New-York 1t is Ieas
TO be gained by, such removal the city Of New
York would make a substantial payment to the
Should such satisfactory arrangement be made
They are adapted for charitable or refornatory
use Many would be pleased to see the ste turned me
an island park.
The committee condemns the mingling of sexes
and recommends the passage of an act prohibit
ing the further commitment of girls to the in
stitution.
The report then continues:
The expenditures of the institution for food dur
ing the fiscal year ending September go 1893,
amounted to S39,SlS 80. With thousand
pOyes and inmates the per capita expense per
conceded that the employees, who can leave the in
StitutiOn If they not satisfied. much better
fed than the inmates. which makes it probable tina :
the per meal for the latter did exceed three
and One-third cents When these figures
sidered the reason for the lack of quantity and
variety in the food supply is at once apparent
During the same year there expended for
ST boys and girls who clothed from the allow
of S10,405 so, the institution required TO
provide clothing for 5l9 boys and girls paroled
discharged during the year, making total OF
1896 clothed for that amount The average sum
spent for each one was, therefore, less than 81.
The State requires the counties to pay $50 a year
for the clothing of patients in of the State in
this is necessary for the proper clothing OF
the boys and girls committed TO the House of
Refuge.
The committee recommends for the next fiscal
year an appropriation of $1S5,OOO. besides the
$4,000 from the city. a deficiency appropria-
ton of $4,000 is also suggested
The board adopted this resolution:
Resolved That the attention of the Hon. Charles
called to the testimony taken before the Board of
Supervisors OF Ulster County affecting the 6uan-