Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1908-03-10

IN HAHN
REPORT
Committee Also
Has Much
Praise.
RAILWAY is HIT
Special to the EVENTNe wHws

TRENTON, Mar. 10:-Containina
poth censure and praise the Hahn
Investigating Committee report was
presented to the legislature today.
covering conditions as found to exist
In the half-dozen state institutions
which have been subjected to a grill
ing since the first report was submit.
ted last fall. The committee states
that it found in some Institutions
systems and practices prevailing that
are tnimical to good government
while other institutions probed are
conducted economically and judic-
iously.
The State Reformatory at Railway
and the State Hospital for the Insane
In this city bear the brunt OF the
adverse criticism, while the State
Hospital at Morris Plains, the Epilep-
tic Village at Skillman and the state
prison here each receives a share of
commendation. The report describes
as antiquated the system under
which health matters are handled in
the state and urges legislation which
would completely reform present
methods. The proposed legislation
would give re-organized State
Board OF Health complete supervi-
sion over sewerage, water supply
and bovine tuberculosis, In addition
to the functions exercised by the
present board.
The system of dual headed gov
ernment, such as exists at the state
hospitals, is deplored by the com
mittee as being unsuited for any In
stitution, although 1t is remarked
that at Morris Plains there has been
no evidence of any clash of authority.
For the dual system the Committee
would have one man held responsible
for the general management Of an
entire institution.
Supineness on the part of the
board of managers, lack of proper
discipline, and inattention on the
part of both the former warden and
medical director. 1t is claimed by the
committee, were responsible for
many OF the conditions discovered at
the Insane Hospital in this city.
Reforms Urged at Railway.
various reforms are urged to cor
rect abuses at the Railway Reforma-
tory. These include restrictions as
to the admission of any persons ex-
cept first offenders, abolition of the
labor contract system, abolition Of
corporal punishment. provision that
disciplinary punishment shall be in
ficted only under the personal SUPER
vision of the superintendent, and the
adoption of different methods IN
keeping the records with a view OF
preventing the abuses in the admin
istration of the parole system. AS
now conducted the committee con-
siders that the reformatory is not
fulfilling the objects for which 1t was
established.
For the proper operation of the
state prison the committee urges
that the older deputies be replaced
by younger and sturdier men. II
suggests that as many of these depu-
ties have devoted their lives to the :
work 1t would be unfair to discharge
them without compensation, and
that they be pensioned
at fixed age after a certain length
Of service.
One of the radical recommends
tons in the report is the appoint
nent of central Board of Control
of five members to manage all penal
and eleemosynary institutions. This
would result in the abolition OF all
present boards of managers, and
also. If the suggestions of the COM
nittee should be carried out, of the
Department of Charities and Correc-
ions.
Outlining its probing of the State
Board of Health the committee re-
ports that in the typhoid epidemic at
he State Hospital in this city the
board was powerless to initiate dras-
lie measures to stamp out the
'courge. Its authority was merely
advisory. Under the law II was
obliged TO act through the Trenton
Board of Health, while the lives ot
were imperiled and many
we're sacrificed. The committee
recommends that in the re-organiza-