Year: 1873

MAYOR HAvEMEYER's VISIT TO RANDALLs ISLAND
HIS VIEWS OF CONVICT LABOR.


Mayor Havemeyer, Controller Green, Com
mssoners stern Laimbeer Of the Board Of Charities
and Correction, Alderman Ottendor.er and few
friends made trip down the Sound yesterday, calling
at Rlndas Island. IL their purpose TO visit the
schoolship Mercury but she was Unexpectedly away
on a cruise The Mayor told TRIBUNE reporter that he
wanted to have talk with the boys and what kind
OF fellows they were. what they were there
FOR aud how they liked the business. He thought the
subject required Investigation. boy ought not to be
forced Into trade which dstastefu to HIM. Tor he
would never amount anything ~ It, and would give
up as soon as possible. Perhaps there were some who
wanted be sailors, if 50 1t al right; but II there
were any there as punishment for stealing barrel or
some such thing 1t all wrong. Boys ought not to be
taught trade and made to work at 1t as
punishment any more than men, He wanted
10 ece also IL there any board who were only
paupers The city had right TO send boy to sea just
because he was poor he could be put to much better
use. But the Mayor said as the ship was away he
did MT know where the trip, far as It's main object
was concerned went for nothing He visited the inst-
tutions on Randalrs Island and found them in most
excellent condition under the management OF pr Ste
yens whom nc had always found faithful and indus
trfOus man.


During the trip he talked with Commissioner Stern
about pauper and convict labor and the ater projects





well as for rendering them economical to the city
He had often talked with Mr. Stern the subject
to which the latter had given much thought. There
were several objections criminal labor which would
have 10 be obviated before the plan could be
fully established In the first place their work must not
be permitted TO come in competition with that OF
honest abOrers Then there was the difficulty about
the ten-day system The term was TOO short for the
prisoner 10 learn trade get fairly az work He
inclined to think that Commissioner Stern pretty
nearly right his view; that the enday system ought
to be abolished, at least that when man or woman
had been sent up for short term few times the term
ought TO be heightened to six months
year or even longer; then they could be made
OF some use at all events DO kept
away from rum until it was all out OK them and they
found they could live without 1t. Perhaps the change
IN the law could be brought about. Mr.. Stern had
plan Of starting laundry Backwell's Island In
which the prisoners could be employed This might do
AZ starting point One thing he had long beleyedthe
people of the island ought 20 have their shoes and
clothes made ON the island. There certainly
ought 10 be enough shOemakers and women who
could sew TO accomplish that much. aud no could
find any fault with the arrangement The public inst
tutions the islands," continued the Mayor are i'm
mense and Commissioners Stern and Lambeer CIV
ing their whole attention to them They are doing
nObly. | couldn't have appointed better men. They
are Just the sort OF men wsnted-n0ne of your fancy
men who would go around with Kid gloves and order
| oller peOule about -