The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-06
SCORES
SCHOOL
BOARD
fcontInued frOm Flr.t Page.l

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condemned the architects and freehold
ers in the matter, and suggested the
appointment of two inspectors. Minor
defects were discovered in the isolation
hospital at Soho and the dangerous
grade crossings in the county were
touched up, and complaint was made
that although the Public Service Cor
poration had been indicted for using
dangerous tenders. nothing had been
done TO remedy the matter.
In the hot shot for the city officials the
Board OF Education came first as the re-
suit Of the investigation into Its methods,
and. said the jury. the conditions lead
10 Generalization Of the schools" They
also said that members were elected for
political reasons. without regard to their
ability. and gave the schoolhouse commit
tee an extra shot for paying exorbltant
prices for school sites. The committee on
repairs was reproved for not having an
adequate system OF checking charges, and
as a result of the Investigation n special
commission. with power to investigate stlp
further the methods OF the board, is recon-
mended.
Expensive dinners by Common Council
committees md the charge that a whole
committee attended an important meet
ing of the Common Council recently While
under the influence of liquor, was made
and characterized as "a public scandal
The court referred the recommendations
in the ~presentment to the proper authori-
ties.
Before the chief justice retired from
the bench he directed County Clerk Ar
thur Horton to call to his attention be-
fore the opening of the September. term
that part Of the presentment relating to
tha dopnar.4o orodo 0roocinOo oax yin o
that IL they are as represented they call
for more than a mere mention in the
presentment.
The jurors will celebrate their discharge
with a dinner tonight In the Republican
Clubhouse, New York.
The -presentment was as follows:
The Grand Jury sitting for the body
of the County of Essex for the conclusion
OF the April term, 1907, A. D., at the end
OF its labors respectfully asks the con-
sideration of the court of the following
presentment:
Public Institutions.
I'VE have visited the various city and
county institutions. The City Home at
Verona appears to be admirably conducted
and TO be an institution of which Newark
may be proud. In our judgment 1t would
add to its usefulness If a moderate sized
library were provided, of books suitable
for boys, that would interest and instruct
them and tend TO stimulate a love of
good reading.
"The Newark Almshouse deserves COM
mendation for its scrupulous cleanliness and
for the attention paid to the comfort OF
its inmates. The building, however, Is an
tiquated and Its situation is deplorable.
We repeat the recommendation OF former
grand juries that the present size should be
sold and the proceeds used for a new site
and building on high ground In the country.
where. the surroundings would be more
The inspection revealed no defects In
the Hospital for the Insane save those
incident to the age of the buildings and
their o~vercrowded condition. there being
$50 more patients than can properly be
cared for, rendering 1t necessary to place
two patients In a room designed for one
only.
Need More AmbuIances.
"The city Hospital appears to be IL ex-
ceIlent condition and to be efficiently man
aged. We find, however, that 1t has but
one ambulance available for general work.
and that the only other ambulance in the
city is tina connected with the First Pre-
cinct police station. These two ambulances
are entirely insufficient. for. the needs OF
n city of the size of Newark, and a large
number Of cases of accident and Illness are
taken to the hospitals. in the police patrol
wagons, nnsn,.oa -
this service, the change from a patrol wag-
on to an ambulance for the conveyance
Of sick and injured being made by the
simple process of laying a stretcher on
the floor. They nre also sent out without
doctors or trained attendants.
Newark needs at least four properly
equipped am~bulances, stationed in different
attendants. We urge this matter upon
the immediate attention of the Board Of
Health.
Public Baths Menace to Health.
I'VE have visited the public baths of the
city, and believe them to be a menace
to health. The water is changed once Il
day, and in warm weather 500 or 800 per-
sons frequently battle In the same water.
The number sometimes reaches double
that.
When 1t is remembered that there Is
no medical inspection. and that no pre-
liminary removal of dirt Is required, it
can readily be imagined what the condi-
ton of the water is before the close of the
day, and What. a prolific source of disease
these baths must be.
Whether such baths can in any way
be made hygienic is a serious question,
but at least provision should be made for
large open shower baths under which every
bather should be required to go before
entering the water and arrangements
should also be made for a more thorough
cleansing of particularly dirty individuals.
Instruction mt Penitcntiary.
1.-THE County Penitentiary at Caldwell
seems to be in excellent condition. We
are glad to see that the recommendations
of a previous grand jury has been carried
out and that there are now electric lights
In the cells, so that the prisoners can read
and write in the evenings.
we repeat the other recommended lions
Of the same grand jury that instruction in
the elementary branches of knowledge
should be provided for those of the prs
oners who need 1t, and that some higher
form of work than stone-breaking should
be introduced.
THE object of Imprisonment is not so
much the punishment as the reform of the
criminal, and anything that will stimulate
his ambition, that will tend to form habits
Of industry, and especially that will better
discharge will reduce the chances of his
returning to this or other similar institu-
tions. We commend to the Freeholders
the study of institutions in other States
where these ideas have been put in sue
cessful practise.
Propose a WOrkhOuse.
THE county Jail is in many respects a
distinct contrast to the penitentiary. Part
of the building is ~antiquated and the
hygienic conditions are bad. The bedding
in the witness rooms was far from clean.
The kitchen and storerooms are most.
.uninviting, the laundry is i~nadequately
equipped, and there are a number OF other
things that impressed the jury unpleasant
". One wing of the Jail is adequately
equipped, and another is now being re-
built, but the old part of the building
calls for prompt attention. We especial
~ condemn the a~i.tiquated and unsatls-
factory plumbing in the woman's wing.
ard the insufficient accommodations In
the laundry. Both OF these should be
remedied at once.
I'VE recommend the Freeholders to con-
slider the limiting the use of the iail to