New-York tribune., 1906-03-15
NATIONS In JAILS.
Women Urge Bill to Make Their
APPOINTMENT Mandatory.

The Women's Prison Association IS asking
the legislature-has been asking It In fact, FOR
two seasons past-to complete the work begun
in the Police Matron's bill some years ago. and
supplemented in the establishment Of the Bed
ford Reformatory. by now making mandatory
the appointment OF mstrons I'm all county Jsils
where women are or may be serving out
sentence The power 20 make such appoint
ments exists. but is merely permissible, and, In
fact, has been used in only fifteen out Of sixty
one counties. According 20 the new BILL these
matrons. after appointment, are 10 be on duty
only when women are actually undergoing
sentence in jail, and 10 have pay only for
the time they are on duty.
yet there are some legislators in Albany"
rays a member OF the association who grudge
this triaing expense due 20 the decencies, and
they have been able 70 keep the bill back through
two sessions Of civilized body OF men, although
1unl.et the less the part Of the able repre-
Bentatives would probably pay the whole expense
for year. The association has done, at its
own cost, the work Of investigation. II has
presented the hard. harsh. inconceivably ugly
facts 10 the Albany wise men. saving thereby
% the state the cost Of a commission. 1t has
drawn the bill. thus greatly lessening the wear
and tear Of the legal brain of some one or two
country members who find the labor fauguing-
They have pared down the expense so that
hog driver wouldn't feel the tax. All they now
ask is that the legislator some Sunday afternoon
shall consult his wife, his mother. his young
daughter. as 10 what the decencies Of q woman's
life are. and remember that these decencies are
necessary in county jails in church par
lors. il we To have an American civilization.
IT this measure contained any provision which
Imposed a large expense upon the taxpayers
there would be some reason for its defeat, but
70 meet the innate characteristics Of certain men
who grudge any woman even the most niggardly
compensate II was SO framed TO exact COM
pensation Tor a matron for such time only as she
was on duty and that she shall be on duty only
when there are women held In the jail. 1t often
happens that there no prisoners. or
women, IN q county Jail for weeks. get the jailer
retains his position and is paid his salary, and
his appointment. like that OF all other Jail off,
cisls, except the matron, Is mandatory.
This year the bill introduced in the AS
sembly by s. Percy Hooker and reported out Of
the Committee on Internal Affairs. That COM
Inittee, TO make assurance dOubly sure that the
1natrOns would not receive what they did not
earn. amended the bill that boards Of super
visors before appropTiating any sum for the
compensation Of matrons, shall procure from the
Eherifis Of counties afidavits stating the name
az each woman committed to said jail during the
sear Immediately prior thereto, the name OF the
magistrate or court making such commitment
and the time during which in each case such
woman prisoner was detained therein.
'Cn second reading the bin was opposed main
y by the members from Chautauqua and Ale
ghany counties on the ground that the boards
OF supervisors now have power to appoint ma
irons II they choose. and that few women
are received in the Jsis of their particular coun-
ties rnatrOns are unnecessary. Upon. the oppo-
eition Of these two, other members were incfted
20 oppose the bill, and Il not only opposed.
but ridiculed, and finally on a motion, We under
stand, from the member from St Lawrence, was
recommitted so amended as 70 except several
counties.
We see no cause for ridicule in an act which
provides that women held IN our county tails
shall have an opportunity TO make their needs
known 10 one Of their own sex and have their
conduct supervised by a woman. II often hap
pens that women are IN jail for weeks locked in
private rooms or corridors. under the sole super
vision 81 jaileT. One woman was held fSr five
months IN jail without having seen the face Of q
woman. II the narrow mindedness Of country
taxpayers allows such a state OF affairs TO exist
Is II not time for the general public TO take the
matter in hand and force the scofers 70 favor a
oil IN the interest Of decency and morality"