New-York tribune., 1922-01-05
Calls for Better Facilities to Care for
Disabled Veterans in State HOsDifnls

There are within the metropolitan
district $50 ex-service men in the state
hospitals, excluding paroles. The Fed
eral government makes compensation
for the care of 257 Of them There
are at Kings Park two units admirably
suited for the care and treatment Of
the ex-servicc men. One hundred and
scvcnty-two are now being cared for
in one Of such units. There is nearing
completion at Kings Park a reception
hospital which is believed to embody
the last word in modern psychiatry. 1t
Is desirable, if possible, to assembl le
the ex-scrvice men from the metropoli-
tan district at one place, so that the
assistance in therapeutic work and oc-
cupational training. which Che Federal
government is willing to render, may
be utilized to the maximum. | am ad-
vised by the officers Of the State De-
partment Of the American Legion that
The executive committee Of that Or
ganization, after a thorough investiga-
ton, approves OF the bringing together
if possible, Of the ex-service men in the
metropolitan district at Kings Park
Hospital. and at MY request the Hos
pital Commission now has under con-
side ration the method Of effecting the
necessary transfers to make that pos
sble. The site at Creedmoor may thus
be utilized for a general state hospital,
and | recommend that Chapter 958 of
the Laws Of 1920 be amended 80 as to
authorize that to be done.
Prisons
The prison industries represent the
most difficult problem of prison man
agement, and the whole problem Of
prison discipline is involved in it.
The prison industries are not now in Z
satisfactory condition. The first es-
sential is to secure the most ccmpe-
tent industrial management possible
In place of the present position of in
dustrial agent, now vacant, l recon-
mend the creation of the position OF
industrial manager under the Superin-
tendent of Prisons. The state cannot
compete with private industry in sal
aries, but l recommend that the salary
be made as adequate as due relation
to other salaries paid by the state will
admit. ! also recommend that lump
appropriation for the subordinate in
dustrlal positions in all of the prisons
such as shop super assist
ants and foremen, be made so that the
manager may have as free a hand as
possible in creating an effective organ
ization. Capacity is more important
than numbers. Such an organization
should not be subject to the shifts OF
political fortune or be selected for po-
litical reasons.
The prisons are limited for their
market to the needs of the state, its
political subdivision and municipali-
ties. The Standardization of commodi-
ties used by the state and the consoli-
dation Of state requirements as is rec
commended under the plan for central
purchasing, together with s survey OF
the requirements of the municipalities s
and political subdivisions of the state,
should make it possible to determine
exactly what can be manufactured to
best advantage in the state prisons,
and when that knowledge is obtained
the prison shops should be properly
equipped most efficiently to manufac-
ture whatever appears to be most prac-
tical. The next step. in my judgment,
will be to devise some plan to encour-
age faithful and efficient work. There
is now little or no incentive for such
work except the fear of punishment,
and the so-called compensation now
paid the prisoners merely serves to
create dissatisfaction
I believe that it is possible. though
it may be difficult, to put the prison in