Borough of Brooklyn, N. Y., August 6, 1900. To the Honorable Board of Estimate and Apportionment of the City of New York: SIRS: We, the undersigned committee, representing the Women's Branch of City Missions of the Borough of Brooklyn, most earnestly appeal for a new prison for women in the Borough of Brooklyn, City of New York.

The present building, commonly known as the Raymond Street Jail, is unsanitary, unsafe, and, from its crowded condition, a fruitful school of vice.

Young girls sent there for the first offense, and innocent women held as witnesses, are all herded together with the old offenders. The beds are so close together that there is no room for a chair between them, and the women, being allowed no employment, spend their time in playing cards or rehearsing the stories of their crimes, so that when the young girls go out they are well instructed in the ways of vice.

As the jail is situated on the street it affords the women ample opportunity to converse with the men passing on the sidewalks below.

We respectfully ask that you make a thorough investigation and grant a sufficient apportionment of money to erect a building with proper cells, modern appliances, and double capacity, to be situated in rear of present building, and to be erected as soon as possible. We also ask that this building may include a workshop where the inmates can be taught useful employments.

For this, your petitioners, representing all denominations, Protestants and Catholics, clergymen, professional and business men and women, taxpayers of the Borough of Brooklyn, in the City of New York, do most earnestly pray.

(Mrs. Darwin R.) MARY E. JAMES,
(Mrs. John T.) P. H. HOWARD,
(Mrs. F.) JULIA M. TERHUNE,
EMILIE J. MEURY,

* *

Committee.

The Cape Times, published in Cape Town, has an interesting article in its issue of July 2 regarding the relief of refugees from the Transvaal. After referring with approval to the House of Mercy for the reformation of fallen women,

and to several homes for the reception of poor children, the article especially commends the social work of the Salvation Army.

"In the way of charity organization," says the editor, "we are greatly lacking; there being no poor law, there should be some general provision, under state control, for the relief of the helpless poor and for the punishment of the sturdy vagabonds who prefer begging to honest industry. Instead, however, of idly deploring a defect which will certainly not be easily or soon remedied, we should give our hearty support to the voluntary organizations which have accepted the burden of what is really a public duty. And, without any partiality to the blare of brass instruments or to displays of religious emotionalism - both of which may be precious to those who are built that way-a man obedient to the impulse of common humanity may safely and wisely put his hand. in his pocket to help the social work of the Salvation Army."

The absence of a Poor Law in Cape Colony is probably not a matter for regret. In Cuba, before the period of reconcentration, no public outdoor relief was needed, and in the new Charities Edict, issued by General Wood, no provision has been made for it.

**

Mr. A. W. Abbott, agent of the Children's Aid and Protective Society of the Oranges, N. J., describes in the Orange News an interesting case which illustrates the society's method:

A man against whom the society

had complained last June, and who had been sent to the penitentiary for ninety days by Judge Bray, of the Orange police court, had been paroled in the custody of the society. The complaint against the man was wilful neglect of his wife and children. During the month of July the society and the bureau of associated charities supported the wife and children. because of the sickness and consequent inability of the woman to work. The woman's physician stated that it would be some time before she would be able to work. The man declared that if he could be released he would abstain from all intoxicants and would reimburse the society for the money paid out during July for the support of his family, and each week would turn over all his money or wages to the agent of the society to be used toward the support of his family.

The matter was brought before the executive committee and the society's counsel stated that the object was not to send men to prison, but rather to force them to support their families. On the application of Mr. Abbott, Judge Bray granted the man's discharge on Saturday, at the same time warning him that, should there be any further complaint against him, he would be returned to jail to finish out his sentence. The man is now working, and there seems every prospect of his carrying out his promises to do what is right.

or city in this country where one particularly delightful treat is offered the poor who can not go out for pleasures, but gladly take what comes to them, as is the case in England. That is the court and alley concerts, which have become a regular institution in many towns during the last three years. In Liverpool last summer ninety concerts were given; the piano was lent from some club or gymnasium, singers and players volunteered their services, and the people listened gladly and endeavored to secure a return of the pleasure by cleaning up their premises and providing seats. A still finer series of concerts was given in Oxford. Oxford. In addition to those of the court and alley, that city furnished free concerts throughout the year. This experiment was begun three years ago, when a committee of the city council engaged a band of Hungarian musicians to give street concerts during the summer, and in the winter gave the use of the corn exchange for three concerts a week, including Sunday evenings, for which the committee arrange a program of vocal music in addition to the band music. In the summer the concerts are in the streets, the university parks, and sometimes in the garden of a college. The city has made no appropriation to defray the expenses, but citizens have come forward and contributed, and the sale of an official weekly program at a penny each furnishes a sufficiency of means.

The lock step has been abolished in the state prisons of New York,

in accordance with the recommendations of Superintendent Collins, in his last annual report.

THE CHARGE OF CRUELTY AT ELMIRA.

To the Editor of Charities:

MY DEAR SIR: Recent changes at the State Reformatory resulting in the enforced withdrawal of the superintendent and many assistants, have brought the management of the institution forcibly to public attention. This gives me an opportunity with the kind use of the columns of your paper, to make some open statements which are due from me to the Board of Managers.

Before a conference of the Charity Organization Society last winter, I referred to the deaths of two inmates at Elmira, saying in substance that common rumor supported, as I believed by substantial proof, accredited their deaths to the nature of their treatment in the institution. The press of this and other cities at once spread broadcast the so-called "attack," and forced me, in justice, to see that the matter was given investigation.

This I did, the more gladly as such was the unquestionably sincere request of Mr. Sturgis, president of the board of managers of the Reformatory. Though the investigation conducted by Mr. Durar, a visitor of the charity organization society, was not pushed to the extreme, there were not brought forth sufficient facts to warrant the support of my statements, and here as often public rumor was proved more lurid than exact. The deaths were shown to be in one case undoubtedly

and in the other quite probably the result of natural causes hastened by the necessary confinement incident to prison life.

The action of the president of the board of managers at this time was eminently fair and open. In justice to Mr. Brockway he requested the investigation, and in justice to me had transcribed and sent to the city such reformatory records as bore on the cases. The widespread currency given my remarks put in communication with me various persons who felt there was cause for complaint against Mr. Brockway and his methods.

To such of these complaints as seemed worthy of attention the board of managers gave instant heed and full investigation. In the cases of a number of inmates the president himself sent extremely full reports based upon his own observation. In connection with this and subsequent matters it became abundantly evident that the desire of the new board of managers was to force to the light every bit of evidence of alleged cruelty and mismanagement at the Reformatory either to silence scandal or to fix possible guilt; also as far as expedient to put the public in touch with the executive power-a reversal of the policy that compelled one to guess at and fear what went on in secret within its walls. No course could commend itself more strongly to general approval. Many of the actions of the board at this and many other times which tended

In

toward the existence of more enlightened conditions were not made widely known. In a letter from Mr. Sturgis last May, he says: "No corporal punishment has been inflicted on any inmate since the tenth of May, 1899, with the exception of not exceeding half a dozen instances in which it has been necessary on account of the excited and violent condition of the inmate to use force to place him in confinement. these cases the force used was not in the nature of punishment, but to protect the lives of the keepers and other inmates We are transferring a large number of mentally inflicted to Matteawan state hospital. On the first of April of this year by the removal of the former physician, Dr. Wey, whose conduct had been very unsatisfactory to the present board, we accomplished the installation of Dr. Frank W. Robertson, recently the head of the pavilion for the insane at Bellevue, in this city. At once on taking charge at Elmira, we instructed Dr. Robertson to go slowly and carefully through the institution and to select from it for examination and treatment every prisoner mentally afflicted; our intention being to remove at once all of this class from the Elmira Reformatory as rapidly as their disease was certainly manifested. This process is now going on. An important percentage of the men now being sent away came to the institu

tion from the courts in an insane condition. In addition to these a considerable percentage have developed insanity within a short time of their arrival at Elmira. In both of these two classes careful examination shows hereditary insanity in the family of the prisoner, and other predisposing causes. A considerable number of our prisoners came to us afflicted with tuberculous trouble which often ends in affecting the mind. These men are usually from the lowest class of our large cities and their naturally weak constitution have been further degenerated by vicious habits. . . Whatever truth there may have been in the past charges of brutality in corporal punishment no reason for such charges exists at the present time, as the board of managers is absolutely in control, and is giving close personal attention to the facts connected with each individual case as well as to disciplinary management of the institution as tution as a whole, including the feeding and the hygienic conditions surrounding the men." From such things as this the course and intent of the board of managers can be seen. It is a tardy justice that many can do them.

But I feel called upon particularly in view of their present trying position in regard to the radical steps they are now taking to make known such matters as have come during the winter to my somewhat intimate. and extended observation.