New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-06
Food Question Review ed.


grand Jury appeared 10 find that the
food was utterly unfit for human use
when the investigators Of the State
Board Of Charities, who visited the in
stitutions less than two months prevl-
ously, had found the food acceptable.
"6. Mr.. Moss charges: 'Requisi-
tions sent to the Department Of Chart
ties. begging for supplies, are left
without answer, even after the passing
Of long periods
"This statement, as applied TO food,
is untrue in every particular. 1t Is
true in q minor degree as applied 70
some supplies which were not impera-
tive. Such delays as have occurred
were entirely due 70 the fact that the
funds of the department had been eX-
hausted ana orders had been issued not
10 requisition special revenue bonds.
~. Mr. Moss charges that the State
Board of Charities made certain eX-
eminations, which were subsequently
confirmed by the grand jury
"The confirmation alleged 10 have
been made by the grand jury may be
illustrated by the following instances:
In the August report OF the state
Board of Charities attention was called
TO the fact that there were no screens
on one Of the kitchens at the CITY
Home. Blackwell's Island. About Oc-
tober he grad 'urv made VISIT 10
this kitchen and reported that there
we're no screens. in the mean time,
how ever. between the report OF the
State Board of Charities and the visit
OF the grad jury, screens had Deeh
placed upon the kitchen, AID they were
there when the grand jury visited 1t.
"The State Board of CHARITIES re-
mort Of August called attention TO the
fact that beds were in certain Railways
in the City Home, and that certain
beds were used both night and DAY.
When the grand jury visited II IN DC
tober these conditions had been en-
tirely corrected. In this particular
Mace there were no beds in the hall
wavs and the beds were not 6eing
used as q double shift. The alleged
observation of the grand jury APP
narently resulted from its reading o!
earlv reports of the State Board OF
IS. Mr.. Moss, after citing the fact
.bo+ the Commissioner had applied
for $500 600 of corporate stock Tor ne"
buildings. states: But his predecessor
bgd contracted for alterations and re-
rsirs and had executed plans for the
pecessarv new buildings and secured
IN concentration for every one OF
hem More than million dollars
was aDpropriated for the WORK, ana II
.bese improvements had been pusheo
Win vigor they could have been ready
nv this winter. when the necd Is
@reatest. Shameful to say, this urgen'
work has been left undone. why
Work OF Building.
"When ! came into the department men.
January appropriations lot eleve'
buildings were available ana lhe Du''u
ings planned. ...,,uiod hy
zone of these was to be occupl9d oy
patients, namely. the cottage at III
Colonv. No contract had been let IoI
This building, and retained the SAM
architect and instructed MIN 70 10 a.,
things necessary 70 get the Du'Iu'i ~
under contract. In the meantime OF
occount of the European war, the city
''do,ted the policy of issuing no cor
Dorate stock and suspending all build-
onerations. For this reason con
,,act for this one cottage has not
- entered into. In other words, had
al Of he buildings referred 20 by MI,
III neon built accommodation would
baye been provided for but forty pa
60. Mr.. Moss has charged that the
Commissioner has discharged certain
children from RandalPs lsland "'lnou'
warrant. and that these children wheh
Jiecburged. have become a serious bur
den upon their families, who could not
afford 20 support them.
"The cases cited by Mr.. Moss as
showing lack Of sympathy and er9plty
on the part of the Department OF Char-
90 IN dealing with poor parents are
hart hart Of the sworn testimony brough'
p pst by the present inquiry. The store 2,f
told by these parents were skiiiu IL
oogI;icited by Mr.. Moss himself, with tn
e'Iant nurpose of making them give
t .En I'm IMPRESSION desired. He thus dit,
t tnr.d If from the special investigator, OF
i Ter de i'U itself, who. at the tim
they sot The ,sGrss to Of 9 tss fs psGP to
"eie ..o,,.,'rceived conclusion, but were
any - solely TO learn the truth