The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-19
No Time for Ideals.

This is not a conference in which to
picture deals said Mr.. Doherty. but
a conference in which existing wrongs
should be pointed out n a method de-
yised for reform. There are institutions
In the State which are doing good work.
but there also are institutions which are
no, doing FOOD work and cannot do so
unless conditions are changed.
There are two superintendent OF In
s~ti,utions who receive but $50 a month.
There is a caretaker at SIS Il o who
canno, speak the English language. but
who Is in charge of English speaking
children. know Of a man in An insti-
tuition who is the only man with whom
the boys committed there can associate.
and this mans regular occupation 10 the
cleaning Of furnaces and toilets. l know
Il another case where thirty or forty
children Of varying ages battle at the
same time in the same tub.
1T IL a notorious fact that the chill
dren's heads are not kept clean. l made
! an Investigation once II found that
= six,y.eight Of n~ine,y-six children were
infested with vermin. They talk about
reforming the prisons. but there are in
%sti,u,ions for boys and girls In this State
that are as near prisons as they can b.
without stripes and the lockstep.
There are institutions where little
girls are set to work in the baihtubs at
o'clock in the morning. At noon they
&c, a little rest and then are put back
to work. Occasionally, as n reward. they
are allowed to take a walk"
Mr.. Doherty had not reached his seat
before Secretary Hebberd was on his
feet with a spirited reply.
Welcomes investigation. He said.
II want to make clear at the outset
he sad, that the State Board OF Chari-
, ties welcomes any investigation which
may be made by authority. l make this
statement upon behalf Of the board,
knowing that criticism must be met with
In any line Of public effort.
81 have listened with a great deal OF
interest 10 the remarks Of Deputy Com
missioner poherty and foc the State
Board OF Charities I can say that we
welcome the fullest investigation on the
part Of the Governor OF this State. l can
say further that conditions which exist
IL the private institutions TO which Com
missioner kingsbury has sen children
right along, and In which he has kept
them continuously. are so per cent. better
\ than conditions which exist in the New
York Department Of Public Charities.
Why does Commissioner Doherty talk
about a poor class of help taking care
Of children in these institutions when
he knows full well that the children on
Randall Island, In his own department,
have for years been cared for by drunken
tramps and Migrants from the municipal
lodging house In the city OF New York.
There is a good recommendation In
Scripture that you should first pluck the
beam out Of your W eye and then you
Can later pick the mote out OF your
helghbor's eye, Now. as a matter OF
iact, the city Of New York does not pay
enough money to these institutions to in
sure proper care of the children, n per-
sonally ! have never known one OF these
reformers who are demanding better
faro for the children to do a solitary
talng toward getting another dollar fol
= Tie institutions,
No Specific Charge.
commissioner Doherty n ommis
soner kingsbury nave spread abroad al