New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-03
But GOOD PiCkaninnies in
Orphan Asylum Didn't
Have 10 Take Shower.
GIRLS AT ST. JOSEPH'S
HAD a TOOTHBRUSH
Doherty Testimony Results in
superintendent Resignation
at Brooklyn Institution.

Inmates ~ the Colored Orphan Asv-
um at Rivcrdsle who misbehavcd were
forced to undergo the fortunes Of a
shower hath Good children were per
mttcd TO forego the terrors Of cold
spray At the Institution Of Mercy.
n Catholic institution for boys at
Yonkers. a favorite form of punish
mcnt was 10 make the culprit wear
trousers one leg Of which vas red and
the other blue
Charles II. Strong. appointed by Gov
ernor Whitman as y special commits
sioncr to investigate charges against
the State BOARD Of Charities. laughed
Yesterday when Deputy Charities Com
missioner William J. Doherty told how
the colorcd children were punished.
when the witncss related tho mode Of
chastisement at the Tonkers institu-
ton he asked:
90 you object 10 a simple cTpedi-
ent like that
~ do" replied Mr. Doherty. at
holds q boy up TO constant rideule
and causes him to lose his self-re-
spcct"
The Colored Orphan Asylum. an in
stitu,ion Of the cottage type. was first
visited two years ago by Dohcriy. 1t
was blacklstcd at that time By the
city. but children were sent there be
cause there was no other home for
orphaned negroes
The children spent most Of their
time in the kitchen, she said. Morals
were laN. The superintendent; admit
ted she was not a disciplinarian.
housekeeping methods were siacb. beds
and linen were dirty. inc plumbing
was out Of order. there were no hand
kerchiefs or napkins and few tooth
brushes. Under DR.. Mason Pitmen, re
Gently appointed superintendent. Mr..
,oherty said the institution had made
great progress.
At the St. Joseph's Home for Girls,
OF the Institution Of Mercy, At the
boys branch Of which the vari-colored
trousers were discovered, his investi-
cation in 1914. Mr. Doherty testified
revealed the practice OF extracting
cheap labor from girls Of fourteen or
older. Twelve girls over sixteen were
found working IN Laundry az -
month. with every other sunday on
A general towel hung in the inhrmary
Bedclothes were dirty, play facillties
for the small children were poor ana
combs and toothbrushes were com
mon property.
The rising hour was $3.50. so iha'
the children might attend early mass
at $50. IN response to COMMISSIONER
Strong's inquiry, Mr.. Doherty said he
did not know why il was held so early,
but that the perintendent, at the
ci,v's objections. changed the hour.
A. the bows branch Of the same IN
stitu-ion AZ Yonkers blankets were
washed once every two wears, the wit
ness declared. The institutions baker
moulded the bread, then modelled tho
bows characters He was IN supreme
charge Of discipline when an inspection
was made in 1914.
Deputy Commissioner Doherty also
told Of a visit 20 the German ODD rel
lows Home and Orphan Asylum, an
institution still under the ban OF the
city. where school methods were be
hind the time and those in charge had
not the most remote idea Of child care.
As result Of the Witness testi-
monv Tuesday OF the shocking condi-
tions uncovered at the Brooklyn In
dustrial School and Home for Destitute
Children Miss y A. Matthews resigned
Yesterday as superintendent. The
board Of managers accepted at once
and requested Mr.. Doherty to help Sc
lect her successor.
An echo OF his attack Tuesday on
the Mission Of the Immaculate Virgin,
al Mount Loretto. Staten Island. was
contained in a statement issued by the
Rev. ". A. Courtney. supervisor OF
Catholic charities and institutions,
who said Mr. Doherty reminded him
Of SNAKE in the grass"
81 might admit" said Father Court
nev. that his own commissioner ad-
mitted he was "a tactless. fighting
Irishman. He feels that It is his avo-
cation 70 tear up institution after in
stitution. TO decry them before the
public and make il appear that men
and women who have given their lives
10 the care Of children are practically
cri,,ira1s living on the spOilg'