New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-18
TIRE HOUSE OF REFUGE.

The recommendations Of the State Board of
Charities concerning the Randalrs Island House
Of Refuge are exactly In harmony with the
views long held by the progressive members of
the House of Refuge board. The institution is
IN a hopelessly anomalous position through no
fault Of its own. As a private corporation
ganiZed in the early years Of the last century
TO do a work of reformation then utterly neg
lected by the State. it has done vast amount
OF good, and is entitled to honorable renlem-
brance. It took from the common prisons In
association with hardened criminals the delin-
quent boys and girls Of this part of the State
and made thousands of them into respectable
citizens 1t furnished the inspiration and exam
pie to other institutions in this State and else
where But II has not been able to keep up
with the times. The conditions of its existence
forbade this. The refuge is the property of a
private corporation. 1t stands on land belong
ing to the city Of New-York. 1t depends for its
support on appropriations from the State and
triaing contribution from the city. 1t is OBJ
vious that with this confusion and divided re-
sponsibility satisfactory progress can be
made no matter how devoted the managers
may be.
The buildings are fifty years old, and not at
all adapted to reformatory or charitable work.
The corporation is unable to build new ones.
or land which it does Lot own. 1t is almost
impossible to make the most necessary repairs.
The States appropriation for maintenance is
$50 900 less thar the State Board Of Charities
thinks absolutely required for proper care of
the inmates, and the recommendation for a de-
fciency appropriation of that amount and an
Increase by the same sum Of the regular allow
ance for next year is one which should have
the favorable consideration of the legislature.
The suggestion of a law forbiddfng the COM
mitment Of girls to the refuge Is in line with
what the managers have for some years been
seeking TO accomplish The number of girls IS
comparatively small--only 119 to 812 boys-but
the presence even of these few compeIs the
surrender to them of a disproportionate share
Of the buildings and grounds, and prevents the
proper classification of the boys The removal
Of the girls has long been desired by managers,
but the charter created the institution to
care for both sexes there was some doubt about
their right to refuse girls committed to them
Efforts have been made to induce magistrates
to send girls elsewhere. So long as they can
be sent there however, it will be difficult to
resist the pressure for commitments to a place
so accessible to the friends of inmates as Ran
dalrs Island.
But these suggested reforms are after all.
only makeshifts. The very accessibility of Ran
dalPs Island makes 1t unsuitable for reforma-
tory. With New-York and its temptations in
sight q new and healthfuI disposition on the
part Of the inmates develops slowly Besides
the island is not large enough, and Is not adapt
ed to the healthful agricultural pursuits SO de-
srable for boys. What is needed Is a large
farm such as has been fixed upon for the State
Industrial School, now at Rochester some ten
or twelve miles from that city. The country
ward movement there was easy, for the State
had complete control The complications which
have brought about the present unsatisfactory
conditions at Randalls Island are likely to
cause some difficulty in reaching the obvious
remedy. But with unselfsh and patriotic men.
such as the managers PROFESSIONALLY are, an
accommodation should be possible They hold
a trust which, of course, they feel bound IN
fulfill and they ought not TO hand over their
work TO the State and let their institution die
without great care TO that they are morally
and legally free from all conflicting obliga-
lions. When satisfied on those points however
ii is impossible TO suppose that they would fail
10 cooperate 10 secure a suitable school for the
children for whom they have long labored so
faithfully.
They nave the satisfaction of being compIete
ly indicated from ali the sensational charges
against them. There has been, II is shown. no
suffering, though undue economies have been
practised owing to insufficient resources for
maintenance. The shortcomings of the institu-
ton are those inseparable from its situation
and its organization. II can neither make