New-York tribune., 1909-11-15
REPORT ON PRISONS
BLAME SYSTEM HERE.
Committing Of Aged TO City
WorkhoUsc Dcplored.

Albany. Nov. ls-The state Commission
Of Prisons makes public to-day report.
submitted by George Mclaughlin. secre-
tsry 81 the commission. on inspections of
pensl institutions OF tho state in which the
system ~ committing old men and women
20 the New York City workhouse on Black
well Island Is criticised. The report says:
There are about hundred and FIFTY old
men in this institution who should be IN the
suusaouSe. they have been committed here
amply as yagraHts. they arc residents Of
New Aork and are committed here by tho
magistrates simply because they were
homeless and without any means Of support
emo are too old and feeble 20 earn liveli-
hood There are also about two hundred
should be cent 10 the alnshouse rather thsn
10 prison. The warden depreeates their
commitment 10 his institution and has
brought the matter 10 the attention Of the
committing magistrates, who claim that
nnoer The existing provisions cf law that
ls the only disposition Of them which they
are authorized 20 make.
II such f. a fact. - must he because OF
o chsTiSr S'iSSs as under n The 's genera q cSse
provisions O. law applying 20 The state ~
lsrse II IS optional with any committing
magistrate 10 send q Ys grant either 20 the
slnnshouse or 10 prison. such provision
shoulo be made IN New York City, and
these feeble old men and women. who are
guilty 81 no crime except that Of poverty
ssld Residences. should be sent TO the aims
house
mis- institution is not furnished with cells
that term Is usually understood. but the
Inmates sleep IN rooms ct various sizes.
some having two beds. some four and some
etght and ten During the crush last win
ter some seventy were housed IN = dormi-
tory IN tbs attic. The institution was greai-
ly congested during the winter The War-
den does not anticipate so many during the
coming season
In e report Oh = recent inspection 90 the
New York City psnitentisry on Blackwelfs
Island. Secretary McLaughiin Gays;
This Institution see&s TO be well cared
. for. II is fnadeouate tor the number or
prsossrs eOTea mn . 70 i 5 e%rns sBs ths SlP slP
;ng a part OF The year two prisoners have
10 be Kept IN many OF the eells- The Hsr-
cells OF the new wing. these cells ere some
What larger than the cells OF the olc wing
stsndsTc % cen for Single prisoner. The
warden keeps all the men ana women able
te work fully erlployed
chops. rhe warden has done a large amount
% road Duiloing on the island and IS sttll
continuing this work.
cenanerting on the inspection ot the city
rriscn CT Brooklyn. Mr.. Mclaughlin SAYS.
Notwithstanding recent improvements
this Is sEin anuQuated prison One-half
rwaeen the tiers OF cells and receive no
light except from skylights m the roof As
rhese are placed aireotly over tAe central ls
en OF these interior cells are practically
dark. IL being impossible 10 see into them
electric light. The other nalf OF the cells
,sce the exterior windows. and are rea-
ssnasly VEL lgh,so: except % & Ihe ~ UPPER 1s in 9s1
aoVs-a grave defect IN prison oonstrsc-
tion.
doVs should be extended several feet, both
upward snd coEnN ara
his prison contains 4as cells NUMBER
81 them are used for storass purposes and
bathroom There are also fftv in The wom-
ems department, leaving but Se6 Ter the men
The 1sn Vas found in cleanly condition.
Zach tier of prisoners IS exercised daily
ia the central corridor:
The warden stated that the difficulty OF
ESTABLISHING a prison hospital at the jsil lies
IA the fact thar the institution has 10 house
physician and nurse; withont tfese " , Noolo
oe impossible 10 properly care Tor people
seriously III insane,
Nh. Mclaughlin makes this comment on
the Kings County jail;
rbe rooms in the city prison over the
warden Offices are now used for this 1ail,
which Is under fhe jurisdiction OF Inc
Sber;F of the county. The prisoner. how
sVer. are fed by the warden 90 tho city
rrieon the expense beng met nv TIC
sheriff. There are SIX rooms. fhefs @ete
-FOUR women prisoners during the last year
sfree Of these were witnesses. none OF theni
Ieing detained for any considerable length
~ time. lneFe are ANc y-i-' N-i~
whom is alWaVs at the lnsulutlon-
T. Is expected when the improvements
srovv I'M prceress in connection with TIE con
,.ructlou of the new women 3 piison 81 =
completed that permanent quarters VII ue
,royided Tor civil prisoners placed IN Gus
fcdv Of the Sheriff
N Ia. Charles 1. Howard, Of Buffalo, pTesl-
M Fsnt of the state Commission Of Prisons
4 severely critlcises the condition OF ma
sority of the police station houses OF bui-
falo lie says that whoever Is respcnsi-
HE for the deplorable condition now exist
snr deserves the oensure OF every taxpayer
whose money contributed 20 the erection OF
these buildngs."
Y desire 10 condemn IN unmeasureo
serms." saws a summary II the reports
.'ths wretched condition OF majority Of
Inc station houses Of this city"