The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-29

six year term. Each will receive $500
a year. Police Commissioner Arthur
Woods Commissioner OF Corn ection
Burdette q. Lewis will he ex oficio men,
bers of thu commission. DIR. Davis's
appointment Is for two years.
The Parole Commission was eytab-
iiehed by the Board of Estimate under a
law enacted in 1915. and Is empowered
to determine the length of Imprisonment
of persons sentenced to the New York
city Reformatory and to the New York
County Penitentiary and of about two
thirds of all committed to the workhovse.
1t is understood that Mayor Mitchell.
In transferring DR.. Davis from the De-
partment Of Correction to the Parole
Commission and in selecting Messrs
Mckinny and Cruiser as her associates,
had In mind an effective organization
that would guarantee the working out
of a plan OF parole undisturbed by any
political pressure.
The Mayors Statement.
In announcing the appointments Mayor
Mitchell said
I have selected DR.. Katharine He
ment Davis. now Commissioner Of Cor
%rectiou, for appointment TO member
ship on the new Parole Commission.
She will occupy the principal position
of leadership. Dr. Davis by temptra-
ment. by training and by experience
is the best fitted person ] can Ind for
the position. Her splendid construc-
tive work as Superintendent of the
state Refornatory for Women at Bed
ford Hills marked her out as the best
fitted to do the work ] had In mine In
the Department of Correction when |
took office two ear ago.
The signal success of her work AZ
Commissioner of Correction IL now
well known to all. Because Of that
work and because ! want the vast
powers of the Parole Commission
placed In safe and sane hands. IL Is
gratifying to me to be able to
Dr.. Davis's appointment to that COM
mission.
Her acceptance of this appointment
will free her from responsibility for
the details of administration la the
Department of Correction. and Will
give her more freedom for the consid-
Grafton of the fundamental policies
which I asked her az Commissioner OF
Correction to work out two years ago.
These policies. 50 far as they relate
to the regular administrative work of
the department. are all mapped out.
ana l nave hSh't Nllt l'tluNS
sioner, Burdette @. Lewis. whom !
have now appointed as COMMISSIONS
OF Correction. to carry these out In CO.
operation with Or. Davis n the Pa
role Commission.
IN Mayor said that Mr.. Cruger's
work In the Mayors office has brought
him Into intimate touch with prob
lens of the Department Of Correction
and with those for whose better solu'
ton the Parole Commission has beer
established. Mr.. Mckinny. he said, a.
an attorney Of experience and recog
nlzed standing. will bring TO the com
mission the legal training and poin'
of view that he considers necessary fol
at least one member
I Dr. Davis said she accepted the chair
manship q the new commission because
she believed that by SO doing she car
he of most service TO the Department
of Correction
sought Real Reformation.
when accepted Mr.. Mitchel's ap
pointment as Commissioner OF Correc
ton" she said. cit was with the hops
of being able TO troduce a moderi
spirit into the prisons of this city. i
was my great wish that they nigh
be made, 30 fa- as practicable. places
of reformation rather than mere place.
of detention The unsanitary and insult
able physical conditions have for year
been badly in need of improvement.
after becoming thoroughly familiaI
with the situation. ] endeavored to ma
out a nolicy both for the physical an
the administrative rehabilitation or IN
department. In working out this plai
was ably assisted at every DIN b,
Deputy Commissioner Burdette c. Lewis
This general policy has been put upoi
ma per and has received the approva
~ the Mayor. The progress that ha
been made toward carrying out TN
Motley has been shown In our ahnua
report for 1914, and will be shown still
further in that for 1918. -.
That We have not been Dbie u
proceeG more rapidly has been due OF
the physlcHl side in IA large measur
10 the unfortunate financial condition
az tho city, which has made II seem i'm
moss be to spend the money 80 great
needed for proper housing Of the prison
ers and for the proper developmeh
of the prison industries and OF on
educational methods. In the two year
which will elapse before the end or TN
administration, the time Will IN an
case be spent in carrying out pohcie
already laid down. Mr' Lewis Is EN-
nently fitted to carry out the programm
which we have together worked out.
81, seems to all of us that the MOI
ionortant thing for the Department {
correction at the present moineh'
the organization and development ma
nossible by the new parole law IN
Inv IA the first Of its KIM 10 De az
nIied TO penal institutions or a gre.
city.. Under 1t. more persons WIN .
olicible for parole than In the VINO
s,a,e prison system. II affects thrt
,nrge institutions OF varying characte
AZ Commissioner of Correction. ] nav
hecom. thoroughly acquainted witS tines
tnstltstions. with the officers and VII
the possibilities for carrying the ~
INTO effect. No person. hsveVer hor
u,ho has not actually been IN Tue "o'
can know these details AS wen.
i Must Earn Paroles.
"one OF the most important function
, - ,ba new Parole Commission Will
! 10 make rules and regulations und'
,,,h,ch prisoners earn their parole. The'
,,les and regulations will mateNaiiy a
rec, the conduct and discipline withln u
. Iinstitutions. While the Commissioner.
, Correction, ex ofricio, In any case has
,,loce on the commission the acting COZ
,ri.sIouer could not possibly devote u
,,n,e necessary to perfecting the detal
= ~ his most important plan. The powe
= AZ the commission could he a gre
, weapon In the wrong hands for disorga
=. ziuu work already we'll begun"
pr. Davis said she could have hi