New-York tribune., 1914-11-24
THE BEDFORD CHARGES
The Reports Of Poor Accommodation
and Insufficient Food Are Renewed

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The board Of managers at Bed
ford requests the impartial inve',gs,
ton that alone can meet the situation.
Going there. as I did, unpreiudieed
filed with sympathy, interest ana an
bition 70 help, surely my experience
must count for something.
Whether il be Bedford, Sing sihg
Blackwelps Island or any other insu'
tuition here or elsewhere, the only sure
and positive way a thorough inyesuss'
ton can ever be made, one that IS ish
and dispass 'onate. is 20 have some one
entirely unheralded as an investigator
and unknown 20 the superintendent OF
board of managers Dother than as >
casual applicant for employment en~'
upon the duties for several weeks. u
this way. and only In this way, car f..
liable information be obtained !.
human nature "to put the best ioO'
foremost: thus il would be quite 'ss.
sonable 10 assume that where ~ Ne'
known an official inspection ~oul9 %
cur the meals would be better ana .Wne W
ragged clothes and discracetul snoe' s
dispensed with-at least tempofS,I,lH y
7 am speaking mainly OF heoeecs las a,
where most Of ny observation va
made. though as far as me eos.ss.. s..
were concerned they also suffered lIyn On
lack Of supplies and poor 1000 81 D.. D..
same conditions existed there Di
they had better accommodations ~
enjoyed greater privileges as ''"'
in Tie line of promotion. ,..,
The state maAys very seant' ~ .. iss'
absolutely insufficient, appropi'"'.g.
in all the departments, soap oe.ns -
Of the articles doled out ms1s'.
quantities. lt is shameful tnat hullIs
beings cannot be- plainly ana oe''', ..',
fed and clothed. for Do feLlin ~
vet was accomplished throle. n-.s ~
and cold, and it IS my op.li,ol' ~
CURED in by many others ,Aa. -, -,
might better build fewer cottages, p
carcerate fewer lawbreakers ana H'ffff
properly care for those they have -
there il such difficulty IN oo.a.I,i..s ,..,
adequate appropriation tor sugP,s,
now land nobody but a resident "a
possibly comprehend the situauVsn PIX
conceive of the shortageh why w.
more cottages? .-,s..-y
A. tho request Of the di'eip.'a9As p
officer made q food report, az. ..ss, ~
daily schedule for two or three .t.ss
of the quantity and quality OF ihe .-,,. .,,.
meals a day and frequently c0|g =,
ing the menus with the ma'foNS "A
officers table, which was poVI ,,-. s
unhygienic enough, goodness Ah0sT y,
but both in variety and .ioeIaltIs' ar.
superior to the miserable silA -,
nished the girls For eXamp.e. "a.
We sat down 20 potato salad it.se n
,atoes anu boiled macaroni.' a mas .'sH, ~
starch, suggested one Of tA9se ..I ,Iy
might better be given the girls ''g'p W.
as a "fller," as their entire
meals would not equal one Of ours .,r.
Work believe in. Il should pe Srt
pulsory in one form or another ~
there must De substantial food % Ia
on. am not sentimenta.istr -
not advocate croQuettes -nd .,,l,
peas. but when | pictured my ssr,r
working steadily and fa.,hiul5 ,,,s
the washboards for hours ana ..sv
how hungry they were my sylnii ii,s.l
was deep. Even the poor tea ana 60 .ssos
sent over for their morning. lunSs"
they eagerly ate as being "hi.ln.gsrn
FLORENCE Halls I,A I,e,A
No. 25S Riverside Drive, Nov ~ -