Year: 1875




Total pounds deficient. .457


Multiply by FIVE and ono.q quarter cents and the total
value OF deficiency $23 90.


There about six institutions that consume daily
much beef as the Workhouse II the of loss
by light weight is experienced in these the loss is in
round numbers $l44 every fifteen days Sc 456 per
year in round numbers


One would think that II this instance Of light weight,
so garingy apparent. ever the knowledge OF
the Commissioners they would commend the official
who refused TO certify H. Whether they will
for the first time the fact II is safe say that
time after the rejected statement was sent by
Mr. Hedden 10 the Warden and Mr. Kean signed il this
time. II Is probable that he took the return Of tho
paper TO HIM after he had repudiated IL hint TO
attach his slgnature When these figures we're called
10 the attention OF Mr. Brennan and Mr. Heddcn by
the reporter their explanation was that probably on o
days named part Of the beef destined Tor the Work
house by mistake in handling had gone TO another
institution, and Mr. Brennan called the writer's atten-
ten to the report OF case IN point IL is not the in
ention of this article TO intimate that the Commission
ers would for moment countcnance any rascalty IN
weight quality, but II is quite evident that no such
should occur If the discrepancy can be shown
to be the result OF errors II is owing perhaps to lack
Of discipline of subordinates, who should have their
wits sharpened. In September OF the present year
q report reached the Central 0tce from tho Warden oi
one OF the institutions that six quarts Of condensed
milk charged against the Institution by the New York
Condensed Milk Company had not been received hence
he declined TO certify its correctness Mr.. Hedden
wrote, near as tho writer can now remsmher, that
tho company claimed they had Brewers receipt for it,
please certify to it. 1t too small matter to
mako q fuss aboht Whether the efncial complied with
this hint the reporter s unable to learn.


A STATEMENT OF MIsAPPLTED PROPERTY.


The reporter has come into possession OF nforma-
ton that more than one person on the island has been
employed by his superior officers in making shoes
and repairing from department leather for them and
their friends Fortunately two OF these shoemakers
not convcts, whose statements Mr. Bailey ls al
ways 80 10th to investigate. One of them de-
clares that while he employed in the shoe shop Of
an Institution he manufactured from corporation
leather pairs of shoes the head of nsttu-
ton, and he processes TO be willing to testify These
shoes made during the past summer in the shop,
II is alleged


The man in charge Of a shoe shop the island has
kept the following record of work done by order OF hs
superior for himself and friends including the Warden
OF another institution The original in his own hand
writing is in the possession Of the writer and unless
the is intimdated, he is willing to testify before
any constituted authority. Here s his record


October 25-Half soles one pair mems shoes.


October 3o-Halt soles one pair mems shoes.


November u-Made one pair morocco slippers with


*Rcp. November 3-onc pair girls shoes, rep. aud


*Rep. November 4-rwo pairs mems shoes for Mr..
-, by his, the IS order.


*Rep. November 2-One pair girls shoes for Mr. -.
sThis s supposed to mean repaired"


II s not at all unlikely that the parties charged with
having this work executed will attempt TO coerce the
parties denial but 1t is well Tor thom to leave that
alone There are others who know Of the transactions
II would be well Tor them too not TO charge Innocent
parties with giving information TO reporters after tho
case of the poor hunchback clerk and his tragic
There many other irregularities that the reporter
investigating that not touched upon here but
ferred for more fitting time


DARK CELLS woRKHoUsE


The best evidence of the unnecessary severity OF the
deputy OF the Workhouse is found in comparison Of
the number of unfortunates confined by him and War
den Kcan in dark cells for minor offences. An exams
nation of the complaint book shows that In October,
1874 Mr.. Kean, who maintained excellent discipline,
only confined thirty persons, while Mr. Mcdonald
in October last locked up 100 IL is his duty
enter every such confinement in the complaint
book yet in the of three at least he did
On the last Saturday in May Ellen Shea, Sarah j. How
ard colored, alias 'Topsey,n and Maggie Kelley
returned from Harts Island for refusing TO work. On
Sunday they all agree and other witnesses will confirm
them they were locked in dark cells On the following
day shea was released the other two were kept con.
fined in the dark cell until the following Thursday.
Yet no entry made About the same day Ann Er-
win a demented woman, locked up in u dark cell
and kept there for four days To maintain discipline
sometimes necessary but there Is occasion Tor a
term Of confinement for petty violations OF rules


CONCLUSIONS


That there is much demoralzaton on the island is
quite evident and II is possible that there
subordinaton to the authority Of Deputy Warden Nc
Donald yet the reporter failed find any conspiracy
existing against him Not one OF the officers IN tho
workhouse uttered word against him but IN every
other institution visited the officials spoke os
Warden Kean excellent Official whose
illness universally regretted and his deputy
as a pompous overbcarng man who is not tit for tho
position he holds, they say through the influence Of
Warden Fox with one or more Of the Commissioners
1t very difficult to how the present laxity Of dis
cpline Irregularities doing business and leakage vi
property TO be stopped unless by more vigilance
the part of tho commission. Mr. Cox, II Is said,
rarely the Islands, while Mr. Bailey'I
time is nearly all taken up at the Central Office The
active supervision OF many thousands, therefore, iat
upon Mr. Brennan, who by daily visit cannot detecl
aud punish negligent officers and investigate grievances
Mr. Brennan does a amount OF work. but he cannot
be everywhere at the same time and consequently there
urgent necessity for general superintendent Of all
the institutions and the employment Of detectives &c
watch keepers well other officials. The Commits
soners should not shut themselves out from all the
prisoners, and leave the wardens TO investigate com
paints Every prisoner, even confirmed criminal,
should have an opportunity to be personally heard by


commissioner II he has not confidence IN the wardens
This is shown in tho OF the man whose clothing
has been made away with. Every custodian Of prop
ertv Of prisoners should be compelled TO make in
venory OF such property on turning over TO sue
cessor who would verify It's correctness and receptna
for IL become responsible therefor. Tho Commits
soners and especially Mr. Brennan, express desire &c
investigate all complaints and rocty them before there
is necessity exposure in the public press but hs
was informed yesterday such exposures as are given
above do good by convincing derilect officers that the
,rcaa "a N he muzzled and thus stimulating them ID