New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-09
WARDEN HAYES
SAVED BY AGE,
DR.. DAVIS SAYS
Sanitary Neglect Denied
in Reply to Findings
of State Board.
BLAMES CROWDING
ON TOO FEW CELLS
Administration Somewhat Sc
we're, but Discipline Has
Improved.

Improved.
Taking up point by point the criti-
cisms of the management of the peni-
tentiary on Blackwell's Island recently
made by the State Commission of
/ Prisons DR.. Katharine B. Davis, Com
missioner of Correction, took issue with
the findings in a letter which was made
public last night. Miss Davis told the
commissioners that she had contem-
plated many changes in the manage
ment Of the penitentiary, but that she
had not been able to carry many OF
them into effect owing to lack of funds
She emphatically denied that there
had been neglect of sanitary precau-
tions and indifference to the physical,
mental and moral welfare of the pris-
oners. DR.. Davis also contended that
the Department of Correction cannot be
held responsible for conditions which
are attributable solely to the antiquat-
ed buildings and lack of modern facili-
ties.
Warden Patrick Hayes was not re-
moved, Commissioner Davis stated, be-
cause there not sufficient proof to JUS
tify his dismissal. Sh, said she did not
want to proceed against him because he
is an old man and a Civil War veteran.
Commissioner Davis told the state
commissioners that it is impossible to
completely solve the prison problems
until the great social and economic
questions of the day have been more
nearly solved. In her letter Miss Davis
said:
Changes Were Planned.
81 regret that you felt the necessity
! of conducting an investigation at the
time when changes were about to be
made at the penitentiary. These changes
were coming about for two reasons
0) the extended leave Of absence
granted to Warden Hayes and (2) the
introduction of the new routine made
necessary by the passage of the bill!
extending the indeterminate sentence
and parole to the inmates Of the peni-
tentiary and workhouse
with respect TO the specific criticism
and recommendation would like to
say first that | am in absolute agree
ment with Section % of your recon-
mendation--that systematic and sympa-
hat 10 of ha do 70 al
mental and moral improvement of the
prisoners, to the end that they may
issue from the penitentiary better men
! have always, in feeling and in prac-
tice, in public speech and in writing
advocated that the duty of any admin
istrative or department official was the
systematic effort for the physical, men
/ tai and moral improvement of the pris-
| oners. ! am glad to be able to say that
in many instances your recommends
tions are in accordance with our pre-
conceived policy, and that these recon-
mendations are in effect methods which
are already in Practice in many of our
institutions and which have not been
carried out in all because of circum-
stances"
Taking up the specific criticisms OF
the commission point by point, Com
missioner Davis first admits that the
administration of the penitentiary
has been Somewhat severe" but that
there has been a wonderful improve
ment in discipline since she took Office
and that she did not feel justified in
making radical changes in the treat.
ment of prisoners until the indetermi.
nate sentence and parole law went into
effect and changed the penitentiary to
a reformatory.
Miss Davis also admits that there
has been overcrowding in the peniten-
tiary, because there were from 500 tc
700 more prisoners there than there
wele cells. Cell buckets, she says. must
be used, because there is no money
/ available to install sanitary plumbing
! systems.
To the charge that healthy prisoners
are doubled up in cells with prisoners
/ having contagious diseases. Commits
/ sioner Davis replies that it is grossly
exaggerated.
During Dr. Efier's incumbency of a
/ year no diseased men have been know
/ ingly placed with Others" she asserts
! ain a few instances disease has de-
! veloped after initial examination. These
! exceptions have been represented in
I your report as typical. To make the
/ medical work thoroughly efficient sew
eral additional physicians are neces-
sary."
Long Hours in Cells.
Commissioner Davis also character.
ICES as grossly exaggerated the commits
sion's charge that healthy prisoners
work with prisoners having tubercu-
/ lcsis, stating that diseased prisoners
were always removed to the hospital
at Hart's Island She admits the charge
that prisoners affected with tubercu
losis in advanced stages were not pro
vided with sputum cups and specia
/ diet because there was no money fol
either, the daily allowance for fooC
/ being Is cents a man.
She also admitted that prisoners are
/ confined in the cells fourteen hour:
each working day and thirty-six hours
Continued on page o. column