New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-25
REPORTS DISAGREE
SPITE, SAYS OFFICER.
Dereliction of Duty Charged
at DutcheSs AlmshouSe.

Albany. Oct A.-Reports OF recent inspec-
lions Of the Duchess County alnshouse
near Millbrook. made public to-day by the
State Board of Charities recommend a
searching inquiry into the stewardship OF
Isaac P. Carmen, the County Superinten-
dent of the Poor for gross dereiiction OF
duty and severely criticize the board OF
supervisors for failure to take cognizance
of existing conditions. which is character
lied almost criminal neglect" The
record of deaths is declared to be ''sppall-
Ing" and the reports urge better care OF
the sick and the employment Of additional
helpers.
Commissioner Joseph c. Baldwin. jr.. OF
the 9Th Judicial District, in his report TO
the board says that In view of the severe
criticism made OF the Duchess County
almshouse by Inspector Hall he visited the
institution and found that no evaporation
of the state of affairs had been made. and
therefore takes this opportunity to call the
attention of the board to the gross derelic-
ton of duty on the part OF the County
Superintendent Of the Poor" He adds:
on the day I visited the almshOuse there
were four inmates in what seemed help-
less and hopeless condition, lying on their
beds, receiving only such casual attention
as could be rendered by the keeper and his
wife at times when they were not DtSy
with their other multituoInOus duties.
The superintendent though living on the
grounds, rarely visits or gives any atten-
ton to the institution. The position OF
county superintendent OF the poOr-Slt least
in Duchess CounIy-ts regarded as po-
ltical plum, and the wretched inmates,
should they fall i'll. are left in a most pitt
as shown by our inspectors reports is ap-
palling, ana ii is my opinion that an in
VeStSatiOn should be al once inStlgate1,
either almGnOuSfS
this board or by the District Attorney OF
the county.
That the Board of Supervisors of Dutch
ess County should give so little attention
to their county almShouse is TO me mex
Plicable, and calls for the severest con-
demnatiOn-
Inspector Hall, Ia a report 10 the board.
says the plant of the almshouse is good,
except for the need OF laundry machinery.
The report continues:
The administration is poor. The blame
for this rests with the superintendent of
the poor, and not with the keeper and
ent resides in a frame house on the aims
house grounds, but does not engage actively
In the daily routine OF the almshoUse. He
delegates the care of the institution to a
keeper, whom he pays $500 a year out of
MS own salary Such an arrangement, in
Whlch the keeper serves the superintend-
ent but not the county, is bad, and exists
in no other county in the state.
An almShOuse is an infirmary for the
humane care of the poor in their last
years of decrepttude and illness. Duchess
county has provided fine set of build
tngs for its alEiShouse, but has failed TO
furnish 1t satisfactorily or to employ a
sufficient number OF officers. The lack of
a nurse is particularly felt. Two elderly
women were admitted to the aImshouse
this spring. They both contracted pneu-
monla and died from IL on the same day
During their illness the matron slept in
the women'S dormitOry and devoted as
much time to them, day and night as she
was able. Pneumonia is a swift and often
fatal disease, and patients afflicted with IL
require constant nursing. Such nursing
as the matron could give them, in addition
to her other duties was not Sufficient
Lives may be sacrificed in this almshOuse
FOR lack or employment OF a competent
nurse, On the day of inspection a man OF