New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-08
RANDALL'SISLAND
SHOCKS MAYOR;
CONDITIONS BAD
Calls Stable = DormitOry
Accountable Tragic,
Says Controller.
KINGSBURY MAY GET
100000 REQUEST
Party Says Institution Was Neg
lected Too LOng-At Waiver.
ley, Mass, To-day.

This is the Mayor, Bessie. Shake
hands with him."
When enc Of the nurses Of Randall's
Island spoke these words, nine-yoar-
old Bessie Mcister stepped forward her
face aslow at the thought Of meeting
the city's chief executive, and shook
has hand. Then, al his request, she
did a little dance.
She was followed by David K-ieter,
sixtcen-year- old Rumanian boy, who,
after remarking 20 one Of the Mayors
party. that he wanted to be put on the
city's payroll, lat q nickel a month
told Mr.. Mitchell how glad he was TO
see him.
The third exhibit was Howard White,
fourteen. leader Of the band Of the
Children's Hospital and School lie
shook hands with the Mayor and
played Taps" on his cornet.
While these inmates of the city's in
stitution on Randalls Island were per
forming their little stunts, Mayor
Mitchell smiled. But these exhibitions
were the only ones that caused him TO
smile yesterday afternoon.
On the rounds of the island which he
and his party made. guided by Commits
sioner Of Charities John A. Kingstury
conditions were found 20 be pitlable.
Lack Of adequate buildings equallcd
the need of many more capable attend
ants 10 take care Of the children. The
climax came after the Mayor had Wis
tied the old stable now used to house
the female helpers at the institution.
New Equipment Needed.
That's abominable," ne said. "This
certainly is one Of the city's depart
ments that needs new equipment and
better care. With the exception of the
two new buildings, everything on the
island needs TO be improved. That
cowbarn, where the women attendants
have 70 live, should be done away with.
II is neceS sary 10 modernlZe this whole
plant, and il is obvious that the city
must neglect other things for this
place just as il has always neglected
Randal's Island for other improve
ments"
How much of the 81 100000 Commits
sioner Kingsbury requests will he re-
eeive?" the Mayor was asked "Oh, a
good part Of it, ! think" he replied.
Controller William A. Prendergast
was equally Disguised with the condi-
ton Of affairs on Randalls Island.
This is a tragic problem" he re
marked after he had passed through
most of the buildings. But municipal
officers cannot be blamed for 1t; the
city has simply neglected its own"
The tour of the island is the first Of
two visits the guests Of the Commits
sioner's Committee on Provision for the
Predetermined will make. Last night
the Mayor, the Controller, Leo Arm
stein, representing President of the
Board Of Aldermen McAneny, Commits
sioner Kingsbury, Deputy Commission
er Wright and several doctors left the
Grand Central Station in Mrs.W. X. Van
derblt's private car. To-day they will
probably see strong comparisons 10
what they observed yesterday in the
Massachusetts, Institution for the Fee
bleminded, at Waverley, considered the
best in the country. The party will re-
turn to New York tomorrow night.
Mayor Sees the Sights.
For more than two hours the men
and women went through the various
wards-the Mayor saw the sights for
the first time. As soon as he stepped
from the ferry boat he was told the
children were now allowed to play in
the open This, Commissioner Kings
bury said, came with the passing OF
Mrs. Mary c. Dunphy. for forty-nine
wears superintendent Of the institution.
Conditions inside the buildings the
Mayor found wretched Recently screens
have been placed on the windows of
dining rooms and kitchens, but there
are none in the rooms where the beds
are 50 close together that boys have
TO climb over the foot of the beds to
get into their places at night. In rooms
where there should be two OGDEN there
are now nearly fifty beds. Except from
the windows, which cannot be opened
in the winter, there is no ventilation of
any kind.
Sixty-year-old women kept on playing
with their building blocks as the visit
ing party passed obliyious that the
city's head was with them. The only
three inmates that knew he was there
we're those who performed for him.
But he did not smile as he passed