The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-07
MISS DAVIS ACCUSED
OF NEGLECTING DUTY
Prison Board Also Urges Re-
tirement Of Warden
Patrick Hayes.
TOO HARSH, Is CHARGE
Commission Finds Indifference
to Welfare Of Prisoners
at Penitentiary.
TOO HARSH, Is CHARGE

| Albany. Aug. e.-The retirement or
Warden Patrick Hayes OF the Black
wells Island penitentiary is recon-
mended by the State Prison Commission
as a result OF the recent investigation
OF that institution.
Regarding Katharine B Davis, Com
missioner OF Corrections. the report finds
she "is directly responsible for the ad-
! ministration of the New York penitenti-
airy at Biackwell's Island and has shown
at this institution neglect OF sanitary
precautions and Indifference to the phys
ical. mental and moral welfare of the
Z prisoners" There is no recommended
I ton that COMMISSIONS. Davis be re-
/ moved
/ Henry Solomon. the president OF the
State Prison Commission. and Richard
NJ. Hurd. Sarah l.. Davenport, Leon c.
Weinstock and James T. Murphy. four
OF the six other commissioners. agree
! with the findings OF the commission and
80 does Commissioner Frank T.. Wade,
except that he does not believe that
Commissioner Davis is responsible for
the faults Of administration. 'as appears
by her testimony at the investigation
Com me nds the Warden.
Commissioner Rudolph r. Diedling
agrees generally with the report. but
commends Warden Hayes as capable
prison official and insists he should not
be removed. Commissioner Diedling
says the defects in management "are
attributable to Commissioner Davis
rather than to the warden, as the insti-
tuition u under the direct administration
OF the Commissioner. who has sufficient
power to correct all abuses. such power
extending TO the right of removal OF
all officials. including the warden
In its investigation the commission
did not lay stress upon the bad physical
conditions existing at the penitentiary
except as a basis for recommending
amelioration by changes in administra-
ton In view Of the prospective removal
of the penitentiary
The admin ist ration Of the penitentiary
10 too severe. harsh and repress!ve."
In the opinion OF the prison commission,
and this Is the main reason why the re-
tirement OF Warden Hayes Is recon-
mended.
"Over 1000 prisoners are confined two
in cell with only buckets for toilet
purposes. and with an air space OF about
$50 cubic feet; which is n grave menace
, to health" finds the commission. which
recommends that doubling up in a single
cell be done away with by the use OF
| cots In the corridors. This would end
the doubling up OF healthy prisoners
with those having tuberculosis and con-
tagious diseases, which the commission
found common among the prisoners.
| The separation OF tubercu.ar and other
diseased prisoners while eating and
working also is recommended and the
transfer to Harris or Rlker's Island OF
tubercular prisoners, those not trans
ferred TO be kept in cells and to be sup
| piled with a special diet.
, Prison guards on various occasions
have struck prisoners with clubs and
with their fists" says the report, land
| on two occasions hose of about fifty
pound pressure was. played upon pris-
oners who were making disturbance
| In their cells"
Too Much COnanrmemt.
All prisoners are confined in cells
about fourteen hours every working
day. thirty-six over Sundays and
holidays and sixty hours when
a holiday Immediately precedes or
follows Sunday except for meals and
attendance at religious services They
also are confined in the cells from one
hour to one hour and half each work.
ing day after the noon meal. The COM
mission recommends that they be allowed
! In the corridors or In an exercise yard
after the noon meal and that visiting
hours be changed to Saturday after
noon and Sunday.
The mission recommends that the
cooler" prisoners be allowed half q
loaf OF bread twice day instead OF
two slices. and all the water they de-
sire. and that thty be allowed to wash
The commission also recommends that
| confinement in the cooler be limited u
Ave days and that loss OF privileges and
of Communication be graded in accordance
with the offence. and points out that
''the aim OF punishment should not he
to break the spirit Of the prisoners"
''The administration OF the peniten.
tiary should realize that its full duty
! IL not done where prisoners are simply
kept from escaping and live the usual
routine prison life" says the commits.
son. but that systematic and sympa-
thetic efforts should be made for the
physical. mental and moral improve
ment of the prisoners to the end that
they may issue from the penitentlary
better men,"
The commission recommends that
prisoners be supplied with night shirts
sheets and underclothing. and that they
be permitted to receive daily newspa pers
buy toilet articles and have family pho
tographs and pictures ''of proper
character" In their cells.
AT present no indoor recreation 10
allowed except at occasional concerts
and 1t is recommended that the school be
better developed and technical and
higher instruction be provided. possibly
by inmate teachers; that entertainments
of an educational and reformative char.
acter be provided during occasional
evenings and that prisoners be allowed d
to play musical instruments In their
cells.