New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-06
Cottages on Farm for Aban-
d0ned Women Have Tile
Roofs, Marble Floors
and Electric Lights.
COST $4,000 PER INMATE
Governor Cites Institution to
Associated Charities Commit
tee as Example of 'Ridicu-
lous Extravaganza" He
Wants Stopped.
fBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

by Telegraph to The Tribunel
Albany. April 5.-Governor Sulzer
cited TO-DAY as an example of 'ridicu-
! lous extravaganza" in carrying on the
. states charities the farm for aban-
doned women at Valatie, where, he de-
| clared, the work now under way indi-
Gated that it would cost the state
about $4,000 to house each inmate.
The Governors statement was made |
to a committee. headed by Henry |
Morgenthau and Abram /. Elkus. from
the Associated Charities of New York
City.
The Associated Charities had adopted
| q resolution protesting against the res
ommendaticn of the Governors COM
mittee of inquiry that the tramp farm
in Dutchess County be abandoned, that
the work on the farm for abandoned
| women at Valatie. Columbia County,
| and the institutions at Mohansic and
Letchworth Village be held up, ard
| that the present system of making an
nual appropriations for state institu-
tions be stopped.
Costly Cottages for Women.
AS for the holding up Of the work on
/ the farm for abandoned women, Letch-
worth Village and Mehansic, Mr.. Sulzer
told the committee it was his intention
to wait until a definite plan had been
adopted and new State Architect ap-
pointed. He, however, had no intention
of abandoning these institutions. He
said the plan on which the state farm
! for abandoned women at Valatie was
being established was ridiculously ex-
trayagant The cottage plan had been
adopted and two buildings had already
been constructed.
The committee visited these buildings
and found them equipped with tile
roofs. marble floors, electric lights and
! all the Injuries of a wealthy mans
home. The Governor estimated that
| judging from the number of women
| that could be accommodated il would
cost $4,000 for each one. if the present
plan was carried out He does not be-
lieve that the architect who constructed
the cottages had any conception of the
purpose Of the institution.
Governor Sulzer said the members Of
the committee were with him in stop
ping this work. and they would do
everything in their power TO help him.
The Governor told them he did not
want TO curtail any OF the institutions
in the money they needed. but II was
his intention not to appropriate more
| than they could use in a year. He said
many of the institutions now had Toie
money in their funds than they couli
expend in three years. yet they KEEP.
asking for more.
This condition was brought about, he
believed. because of the haphazard, un-
systematic way in which the state APP
propriated its money.
The financial bills the Governor has
recommended and which are now be-
fore the Legislature provide for re-
mtting back to the Treasury any
money that is not expended by an in
sttution In the year in which it is ap-
propriated. the auditing by the State
Controller OF all appropriations made
by the Legislature, and the changing
Of the beginning of the fiscal year from
October TO July.
Wants Self Supporting Institutions.
II is the Governors intention TO make
the institutions of the state self-sup-
porting, particularly the prisons. He
said he was surprised 10 find a large
| warehouse at Auburn prison was filed
with prison made chairs and desks. and
another appropriation had been asked
for another warehouse. also 10 be filled
with furniture. And all the time, he
added. the state was paying out 10
Michigan firms good money for just
such furniture.
The Governor LAS not yet made up
his mind as to what he will do concern
ing the tramp colony.
The bill providing for the state farm for
women was enacted in the last year OF
the Hughes administration. and board
OF which Cornelius V Collins. eX-Super-
intendent of Prisons. was a member was
appointed to select site. The Nalatie
site was chosen In almost the last month
Of Governor Hughes's term.
After the site was selected IL was turned
over 10 the jurisdiction Of the Superin-
tendent of Prisons. and Colonel Scott ap-
pointed John III. Mealey OF Greenwich,
Washington County, vino was close 10
Governor Dix, as superintendent In charge
OF the farm
During the Dix administration about
500 900 was appropriated for the farm and
two luxurious cottages were bult on
plans made by the former State Architect
Mr. Ware.
The report of the Sulzer Committee Of
Inauiry stated that If the plan In its
original form were carried out II would
cost the state 100000. and Governor
SuIzer has intimated that the luNurious-
ness of the two buildings would be
nroner subject for a grand jury eNamind-
tion Prison commission officials, how
ever. deny that the amount necessary FOR
the farm under the present plan would De
anywhere near 100000.
HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS,
reached via the SOUTHERN kAiL" NJ:
York daily $50 =. NJ; dining. sleeping
aud observation cars. y. y. Office, tW