The New York herald., 1922-01-05

tutions and the institutions for the men
tai detectives.
A. to State Hospitals.
There can be but little criticism Of
the custodial care of the inmates in the
State hospitals. They are well housed.
clothed and fed. The curative side OF
the problem is the one demanding the
most intensive study and effort, and I
am glad to say that the problem is re-
ceiving the earnest study of our excep-
rionally competent corps of hospital
superintendents who. am assured, will
receive the earnest cooperation of the
Hospital Commission, The effort should
be to increase the number of discharged
and paroled patients. l recommend that
provision be made for an adequate field
force and for the employment by tho
Hospital Commission of an expert alien
ist as consultant to visit the hospitals.
TO compare methods and to advise.
The increase In number Of patients
exclus:-1 IT paroles was 1887 this year
as compared with an increase Of only
20S last year. There must. therefore.
be no abatement In the construction pro-
gram. Provision should be made to con-
tinue the construction work at Marcy
and to open the buildings there nearing
completion, and to continue the building
program under way at the other hos
pitals. l think provision must be made
for an additional hospital In the metro
politan district. The State now owns a
site at Creedmore suitable for such a
hospital. Tho proposal to construct a
military hospital there to be leased to
the Federal Government failed because
of the refusal Of Congress TO authorize
the lease.
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 end treatment of the ex-
service men. One hundred and seventy
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 de-
sirable. II possible. to assemble the ex-
service men from the metropolitan dis
trict at one place. so that the assistance
in therapeutic work and occupational
training which the Federal Government
Is willing to render may be utilized to
the maximum. am advised by the
officers of the State Department of the
American Legion that the executive
committee Of that organization, after a
thorough investigation, approves of the
bringing together, II possible. of the ex-
service men in the metropolitan district
at Kings Park Hospital. and at my re-
quest the Hospital Commission now has
under consideration the method OF
effecting the necessary transfers to
make that possible The site at Creed
more may thus be utilized for general
State hospital, and I recommend that
chantnr QkQ nf In w IF 1901 ho
amended so as to authorize that to be
done.
Plans for the Prisons.
''The prison industries represent the
most difficult problem of prison manage
ment. and the whole problem OF prison
discipline is involved in it, The prison
industries are not now in a satisfactory
condition. The first essential Is to Sc
cure the most competent industrial man
agement possible. In place OF the
present position of Industrial agent, now
vacant, recommend the creation of the
position of industrial manager under the
Superintendent of Prisons. The State
cannot compete with private industry In
salaries. but I recommend that the sal
ary be made as adequate as due rela-
tion to other salaries paid by the State
WAL ddibAt- disO recommend tnaI a
lump appropriation for the subordinate
industrial positions In all of the prisons,
such as shop superintendents, assistants.
and foremen. be made so that the man.
ager may have as free a hand as pos-
sible In creating an effective organiza-
ton. Capacity Is more important than
numbers. Such an organization should
not be subject to the shifts of political
fortune or be selected for political
reasons.
''The prisons are limited for their
market to the needs OF the State, its
political subdivisions and municipalities.
The Standardization of commodities
used by the State and the consolidation
Of State requirements as is recommend
ed under the plan for central purchas-
ing, together with a survey of the re-
quirements OF the municipalities and
political subdivisions OF the State.
should make II 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 encourage
faithful and efficient work. There Is
now little or no incentive for such work
except the fear OK punishment, and the
so-called compensation now paid the
prisoners merely serves to create dis
satisfaction.
II believe that II Is possible. though
It may be difiicult. to put the prison
Industries on an Industrial basis and to
compensate the prisoners for their labor.
Compensation should Of course be
measured by the work actually done
and deduction should he made for the
cost of maintenance and for any fines
imposed to enforce discipline. Any sur
on his discharge or transmitted to de-
pendents. The success OF such n plan
will. of course. depend in the last analy-
sis upon the prison management. be-
lieve that II may prove 70 be more eco-
nomica1 In the end to the State and
that II may serve to create self-respcct
and TO inculcete habits OF obedience.
regularity and industry In The inmates
OF the prisons. Certainly the present
method has not succeeded. recon-
mend the passage Of an net which will
enable the prison superintendent 10 In
augurate such system Mt suitable
time upon che approval OF the Governor.
THE new buildings under construc-
tion at Sing Sing are nearing compile
tion, but no provision has been made
for n prison wall which Is indispens-
able and which I am advised viii re-
uuire two years To construct 7 recom-
mend that provision be made for start
ing that work AT once and am advised
that Il can be done with inmate labor.