New-York tribune., 1921-10-09
Riker's Island
Disgraces City,
Cilroy Charges
Hylan Enefficiency Making
Farce of the Department
of Correction, Says the
Aldermanic Candidate
Drugs Freely Struggled
Riots Almost Continuous.
He Asserts, While Poll
tics Rules Operation

Vincent Gilroy, Republican-coalition
candi date for President of the Board of
Aldermen, in a statement issued YES
terday directed a serious attack at the
Hylan administration through the Nav
or's Department of Correction. He
charged that conditions at the city in
stitutions on Riker's Island are deplor-
able, that drugs are smuggled in to the
inmates, political preference shown in
appointing incompetent employees after
the discharge Of competent incumb bents,
and that fights and riots are almost
continuous.
I'm his glowing account of what had
been done by the Mayors committee on
this and the Mayors committee on that,
whose efforts on behalf of the people
Of New York were solely concerned in
advertising the Mayor" said Mr.. Gil
roy, "Mr. Hylan seems to have over
looked some things in the Department
OF Corrections | wonder if the Mavor
is in touch with this city department.
IT he isn't, Pm going to tell him what
is going on there. If he is in touch
with it, let him or his Commissioner,
Or. Hamilton, answer some questions.' u
Issues Fourteen Questions
Mr.. Gilroy propounded fourteen ques-
tions dealing with conditions in the De-
partment of Corrections. Commissioners
James A. Hamilton, in a statement is
sued last night, denied the charges
made in each of them, declaring that
Mr. Gilroy had been "badly misin-
formed" The Gilroy questions follow:
II. Is it not a fact that Frederick
Kahn, a member of Hamlton's political
club, who left Hart's Island CHARGED
with bringing in drugs, as reported in
the state prison report, was rcappoint-
ed to Riker's Island at an increase in
salary?
"2. Is it not fact that Vincent Null
holland, member of Hamilton's politi-
keeper over the heads of a number of
veterans, and that favoritism and not
service is the rule in this department?
"3. Is it not fact that keeper
named Conroy. who was dismissed
from the jefferson Market Prison
after failing to search a prisoner who
killed himself with a gun, was rem
stated as a keeper on Riker's Island,
with a salary increase from $1,000 to
$3.50 year?
"a. Is it not fact that this same
Conroy is captain in Hamiton's club
aNd that keepers must belong to Ham
ilton's club to obtain preferment or
even justice?
Rioting Commonplace
"5. Is it not fact that heroin and
other drugs are freely 'railroaded' into
Riker's Island, and that from May to
the middle of August of this year the
night rioting and fighting continued
uninterruptedly and that no effort was
made by Comm issioner Hamilton to re-
move this disgrace to New York's cor
rective institutions?
"6. Is it not a fact that on the night
of May Is, 1924, the inmates in the
dormitories on Riker's Island threw
cuspidors, glasses and dishes at the
keepers, and that when a complaint of
this was made to Deputy Commissioner
William Dalton the keepers we're told
that the Commissioner doesn't want to
hear anything about this
"7. Is it not fact that keepers on
Riker's Island, who point out to the
head keeper inmates actually using
needles and drugs on their cots at
night are invariably told Mind your
own business; what can l do?'
49, Is it not a fact that drug ad-
diets leave Riker's Island far worse
than when they entered because Of the
absence of control and the ease with
which they get drugs while committed
there?
"9. Is it not fact that the use Of
needle and drugs is against the law.
and that it is the duty of the city to
help these unfortunates and to restrain
their propensities while under the
charge Of the city, which is undertake
ing to cure them and whose duty it is
to help them?
Asks as to Drugs
40. Is it not fact that the warden
of Riker's Island frequently has com
planned to Conn missioner Hamilton Of
drugs reaching inmates and that no cor
rectional or punitive measures have
been resorted to by Commissioner Ham
ilton to check this evil?
al. Is it not a fact that during the
months of July and August, 1921, there
was hardly night which did not
bring a riot in the Riker's Island dor
mitory, because of the circulation of
heroin among the inmates, and is it
not fact that the citv prisons, espe-
cially the Raymond Street Jail, are
notorious for the ease with which
drugs are obtained by inmates?
"12. Is it not fact that the keepers
at Rikers Island many times have
complained that inmates have threat
encd to Kill them; that the inmates are
not regularly searched; that they fire.
quently assault and threaten to assault
the keepers and that when the keepers
do find them possessing hcroin and hy-
podermic needles these Keepers are told
to leave them alone and jolly them
along?
"l3 Is it not fact that Com mmission-
er Hamilton, who is making stump
speeches on the reformation Of crimi-
nails under the Hylan administration,
has seldom visited Rkcr's Island but
can always be found at his political
club in the Bronx, where the so-called
administrative work Of the Department
] of Corrections is conducted?
"l4. Is it not a fact that another of
Mayor Hyian's broken promises was
his pledge to give the wardcns and
keepers an ciEht-hour day. as in other
city departments, and that these city
employees are virtually slaves, whose
long hours and tour of duties bring
them home only occasionally to see
| their families ?"