New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-08
PENITENTI4RY CLEAN.
Prison Commission Reports ON
County Institution.

Albany Sept. State Prison Comm -siOner John
McNamee, in report to-day to the State Prison
Commission. says that the statement that the ma
jorty of the cells in the New York County peni-
Tertiary are infested with vermin is unfOunded.
The report says:
In response to a letter from the secretary calling
ditions said 10 exist at New York County peni-
Tertiary, l visited that institution and found that
time resident physician at the penitentiary.
The Commissioner of Correction has asked for
whose entire time would be given to the inmates.
CURED There should be physician resident at
the prison recommended by the Commissioner
of Correction, and as | am informed, your COM
mission has also recommended in the past. The
tested With Vermin is Hnfo1nded 1t is admitted
that during last winter when the prison very
mattresses placed on the floors of many of the
did exist. The straw mattresses will not again be
The prisoners were about all in active employ
ment. the greater number, ! think. being engaged
in outdoor work The num6er ~ Of inmates in the
as follows: Male, loss; female. 81; children. 4
total l,l3s
: commissioner Henry Solomon submitted this
port on an inspection Of the New York State Re
formatory for Women at Bedford, Westchester
County, August II:
bsjnr infants the most of whom were born in the
S 99ond SSd grades The hrbe
number Of inmates during the last year at any
oi The new school building has been built and is
now in II is we'll planned and appears 10 be
b1iIt at a cost of $3.50 and the fact that many
halls of the various cottages is proof conclusive
that this work should be completed speedily as
nnssibie \ new sewage disposal plant is about TO
be installed at cost OF $.cs and also additional
water supply. for which 900 mas been appropri-
a new hospital building should be erected with
modern facilities and appliances, in a location
other than where the present one is situated, this
TO the reception house. which is not at all times
quiet.
Severe criticism is made in report by Commits
sioper 6 p Quick and Secretary George McLaugh-
lin on the conditions in the Albany County peni
tertiary The report is OF inspection
August ., following complaint made to Governor
Hughes relative the unsanitary conditions in
the institution and the idleness of the inmates.
and the committee reports that "the whole insti-
tuition seems TO have fallen into rut of listess
routine and needs to have energy. Initiative and
enthusiasm infused into its management
On the dav the institution inspected the
committee found hundred and fifty idle men.
and this number sometimes reaches as hish as
four hundred. The report adds
This condition of ideness has existed practically
since abolition OF the old industries IN Ine
tuition of 1894 The management OF TINS lnsutu-
tiOn has made no attempt To- CONFORM II ihuus'aS
With two or three hundred idle prisoners thSre
Is sitb ali lis equipment perfectly clean
and free from vermin. Whatever number of men Is
sbduId he employed Officers who do not care 10
he yigilant should either resign or be removed.
a large amount OF money. which the county re-
ceived and used for outside purposes since the
plant has been neglected and its treatment by
the county board has been one OF penuriousness.
To continue the practice Of housing two men
committed for minor offences I'm a cell having less
than 800 cubic feet OF air space toF htteeh houES