New-York tribune., 1909-12-13
HELD FOR 6 MONTHS
IN DETENTION HOUSE.
Prison Commission Reports on
Conditions Here.
rBy Telegraph TO The Tribune. J


Albany. Dec. Il 2-Criticism Is made bv
Commissioner Henry Solomon In report
10 the State Prison Commission of the al
legged hardship indicted upon witnesses who
are held In the House OF Detention IN Null
berry street, New York Commissioner
Solomon inspected the institution on No
vember 10 last
"On that day. says the report, there
we're only seven inmates. six men and one
woman, all held as witnesses: a much
smaller number than had been for a very
long time. One OF the men. however. up
70 that date had been there six months,
and he did not know how much longer he
had to remain. This is a great hardship,
and II does seem that the District Attorney
should use better endeavors so that a wit
ness should not be held there so long as
in this case
There seems 10 be no indication on the
part Of the authorities TO make sny re-
pairs, although for several years such rec
concentrations have been made Walls
need plastering IN many places. and then
20 be painted The furniture also should be
repaired The Commissioner Of Police
should be asked 70 have such work done as
speedily as possible
Commissioner Solomon and Francis c.
Huntington. in commenting on an inspec-
tion OF the branch workhouse at the New
York City reformatory on Hsrt's Island.
say.
The condition and management Of this
INSTITUTION has been vastly improved since
the inspection OF November s. 1905. There
are still many changes and improvements
IN the plant that ought TO be made, but
taxing the plant as It is, the condition IN
which II Is kept and the mana cement and
care OF the inmates are good.
Ihe buildings Of this institution, as has
oeen repeatedly pointed out in past reports
are interleaved. so 10 speak. with the build
lngs or the New York City ReformatOry.
We understand the Commissioner has pro-
posed plan TO erect an entirely new set OF
buildings for the New York City RefOrma-
tory at the north end OF this island. which
Is separted from the south end by Pot
ters Field. and Is far enough of 20 be
completely Isolated from the south end Of
the island, and could have a separate dock
OF us own ar the north end Of the island.
II this plan Il carried out, then all the
buildings al the south end OF the island
now used for the reformatory can be used
with the branch vorkhouse in addition 70
those now used by II, and the two institu-
uons can be separately run as they
The school situation IS not satisfactory
rive boys are in a school with tWenty-siX
ooys from the reformstory, and these
thlrtE-OnS boys are the only ones now on
me island receiving any school instruction
There IS only one teacher and there is only
one schOolrOOm.
The workhouse BOYS and the reforrnatorv
boys are mixed together in one class. This
situation was adversely commented upon in
last years report There should be another
teacher and another schoolrooru. There is
a room annexed 10 one of the dormitory
buildings IN the reformatory which is used
on sundays for Protestant services. II is
not used on weekdays, and could easily be
used as a schoolroom. II would be per-
fectly possible. therefore. with another
teacher, 70 give more instruction 10 these
boys without waiting for the establishment
OF a separate reformatory AT the north end
Of the Island
As many as ninety boys have been crowd
ed into the present sChoolroom but that
IS more than should be kept there. The
population Of both institutions will no
doubt be larger when the cold weather
comes.
Commenting on an inspection Of the New
York City reformatory on Harts Island.
Commissioners Huntington and solomon
say:
Illiterates are now picked out 20 be sent
70 school, but IL seems probable that II
there were greater school facilities some
OF the other boys might receive instruction
in school. as well as in manual labor.
rion under indeterninate sentences. Under
the present system they can be released
upon gaining 1,S6o merit marks. The total
day are 10. divided as follows. Labor :;
study. ?; deneanor. s; total 10. Six months.
.therefore, is the shortest time in which
hoy can gain his release. In order 10 do
this he has 10 have perfect marks every
day.
We have not vet seen any plans for the
new reformatory buildings. Al this time
II may be we'll 70 call the attention OF the
department 20 the evils or the large dorui-
tory system for reforInatories for boys
OF this class. and 10 the advantages OF a
small individual room for each bov. For
boys OF this class tool proof cells are not
necessary. Rooms not much larger than
cells can be inclosed by inexpensive par
tirions and under proper management each
boy can be held responsible for the con
di ton OF his room
Other reports submitted 70 the commits
SION by its inspectors criticise conditions in
several jails.