The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-10-26
ABOLISH M0RGUE,
: CLEAN UP ISLAND,
. GRAND Jury ASKS
Presentment to Court Describes
Conditions as lntolerable
"a on Blackwell's.
CHARITY DEPT. SCORED.
Suggest that Commissioner be
Replaced by Board to
Look After Poor.
CHARITY DEPT. SCORED.

TIE August Grand Jury. which was
continued by Judge Charles c. Mott
Of the Court Of General Sessions for
the purpose OF investigating institu-
tions and the Department Of Public
Charities. through its foreman. Ben
jamin Stern, to-day filed . present.
ment giving the result Of their invss-
legations.
They recommend the abolition OF
the City Morgue. declaring that It Is
decayed. unkempt and filthy.
In regard to the Home for the Aged
and Infirm on Blackwell's Island they
state that the inmates are sleeping on
the floors, in corners. aisles. Railways
or wherever space can be found.
we fnd that some Of the aged
inmates" the Grand Jury says, were
without decent shoes or stockings,
wearing on their feet strips Of cloth
and drawers"
Half an ounce of butter day
and that with bread and only Mt
night; four ounces of milk instead
OF eight in the schedule for inmates
on full diet" says the report. "On
I'VE days in the week soup for din
ner and neither tea nor coffee. Their
wants are ignored. their appetites. in
nrmities. comfort and almost their
health IL disregarded. Surely the de-
pertinent n making the bread Of
poverty bitter with an unneces Try
and unfeeling bitterness"
II 10 recommended that the build
ings housing the children's hospital
and school on Eandall's Island in re-
gard to sanitary and physioal condi-
lions b repaired and that buildings
now under course Of construction b
Anishsd.
The Metropolitan Hospital on Black
wells Island received considerable at
tention At the hands Of the Grand
Jurors. The preaentment says that
horrible conditions were discovered
there. Conditions whom the hos
pitals are crowded can b understood
from the records. the presentment
reads. (which show that in ono day.
March II last. there were 1850 beds
and . census g. 1912. Children with
n highly conta sious disease were
placed In beds with those not con-
taminated. These children associate
with adult patients having venereal
diseases"
I'VE md the food served the tu-
berculosis patients UNIT for human
consumption. Many were without
meat. Investigation proved the sup
ply was insufficient to 90 around
Some Of the meat showed It could no,
be eaten by any ono. least of all BY
those sick with tuberculosis. 1t looked
unwholesome. was 0dorous and OF
poor quality.
9 I'VE md as result Of our lnvesti.
cations that the present method o,
controlling the Department OF Chart.
ties by a Commissioner appointed by
the Mayor Is no longer satisfactory
and We recommend that at the EARL
est moment legislation be secured tc
place the Department under the man.
agement and control OF q Board. the
members of which shall be classified
a. to terms OF service"
The presentment says that the Met.
ropolitan Hospital 10 overcrowded, the
sleeping quarters Of the employees In
o disgraccful condition, the stable,
unfit to shelter any kind Of q Twins
creature and the kitchen old and un.
sanitary.
Judge Mott accepted the Crane
Jury's presentment and informed tn.
members that he would forward a
COPY Of II At once to Mayor Mitchell.