New-York tribune., 1914-12-24
DR.. DAVIS REPEATS
INTERESTS CHARGE
On Stand Says "All Black
People" Started Bed
ford Inquiry.
OPPOSES SEGREGATION
FOR NEGRO INMATES
Denies She Employed Former
Assemblyman TO Save Girl
from Prison Term.

Commissioner Davis Of the Correc-
tions Department repeated the state
ment she made to The Tribune that the
"cell block" interests were behind the
present investigation Of the Bedford
Reformatory, when she took the stand
Yesterday before the Board OF Chari-
ties, which is conducting the inquiry.
II was Common gossip" in Albany,
DR.. Davi. said, that the cell block peo-
pie were against the cottage plan she
advocated and in favor OF "congregate
building"
"They had it in for me- so my
friends said,' remarked the Commis-
sioner.
Dr.. j. Richard Kelvin, Of Brooklyn,
the chairman, suggested to Miss Davis
that she was making a charge against
the cell block people, but she repeated
that it was generally known in Albany
that they had suggested the opposition.
The hearing in the Board Of Charities
Office, at 105 East 22d ST.. was full Of
contention. Mr.. Hebberd and Miss Da-
Wis clashed frequently. One Of the
things Mr.. Hebberd dwelt on particu-
larly was the fact that the white and
negro girls were allowed together in
BEDFORD This has been a feature OF
the hearings. Miss Davis said in an
swer TO questions that she was New
Englander and came from an Abolition
ist family, and that she thought that an
institution such as Bedford should be
conducted on the character, conduct
and needs" Of the inmates, not on their
"color, race or religion"
She went further, saying she was
"very much opposed to segregation on
the basis Of color" and that, while the
worst girl she had ever known at Bed
ford was negro, on the other hand
the president of the honor cottage had
been negro girl In addition, she said
she considered that the negro girls
were not greater offenders than the
whites when il came TO a question Of
morality in Bedford.
The question of the number Of
feeble-minded girls in the reformatory
who could not derive much benefit
stitution came up again. Or. Davis
said that she would have insisted that
ffty-six out Of the 100 special cases
be sent 10 other institutions, II there
had been any special places that were
rot overcrowded. such as the instltu-
tion al Newark. in this state. She also
agreed that Bedford was not a Gus
todial asylum She said:
However. II there is no other place,
! would rather have the girls remain
at Bedford, where there is q possible
benefit. II they have TO 60 out they
20 back 20 the streets. | could tell
you some stories that would make
your hair curl"
In connection with the feeble-mind-
ed, the Bnet tests came IN for a
roast at Miss Davis's hands. She
said that out of 200 girls only one in
Bedford could test as high as twelve
years on the Binet test, and on one
scale Of IL only.
And that was a public school teach
er from Brooklyn who had been sent
up for forgery" she added.
The name Of Aaron j. Levy, for
merly leader of the Assembly, cropped
up in the testimony when Miss DAVIS
said that, through the recommendation
Of the District Attorneys office, she
/ had secured Levy as counsel for girl
who had been paroled, and afterward
arrested for picking pockets. DR.. Da-
Wis said she did not know Levy. and
she did not know that his political IN
fuence would cause the girl to be sent
back TO Bedford, instead Of to a prison.
while you as superintendent OF
Bedford were going around the coun-
try speaking did not Miss Moore DO
much Of your work. Mr. Heooerd
asked
Absolutely mott" responded Miss
Davis "I1l take full responsibility Tor
everything that happened at Bedford
while | was superintendent
The hearing viii be resumed Mon
d.