Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-09-13

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
COUNCIL CHAMBER. BosToN. !

August 81, 1860.
To His Honor the Lieutenant Governor, and the
members Of the Executive Council:
During the last month a committee of the
council was appointed to inquire into the sys-
TEN OF discipline adopted in the Reform School
at Westborough, and to report upon certain
cases of punishment to which the attention of
the governor and council had been accident
ally called during recent official visit. The
committee submitted report with the evil
dence upon which it was based, setting forth
the material facts in the cases referred to, and
recommending thorough reorganization of
the government of the institution.
The material facts reported were -
LIST. That inmates of the school had been
imprisoned in solitary cells or lodges, some
Of them manacled, for periods varying from
eight to sixteen weeks.
ID. That the cells were without sufficient
light or air.
Sd. That no official record whatever was
kept, by which the character, duration, or
cause Of such punishments can be ascer.
tanned.
4th That it appeared to the committee that
these puhishments were inflicted by the super
Intendent alone, without interference by the
trustees.
9th. That authority to punish in the manner
described had been delegated to, and exercised
by subordinate officers.
9th. That it was stated by the superintend-
ent that he had employed boy, as spy upon
these offenders both before and after their con.
finement, and the committee believed that the
boy so employed had advised anu assisted in
the commission Of some of the 0ffenses for
which punishment was inflicted ; and,
th. That neither the cells nor the prisoners
were exhibited to the governor or council, ex.
fsf F.v,F -, Il.
tendent after the general examination had
been finished, and the lieutenant governor and
some counselors had left the institution.
In stating the substance of the charges made
IN the report, have made no allusion to the
words used IN describing the character of the
discipline whether it be barbarous or cruel
may be matter of opinion,-but content nv
self with giving what l regard as the material
facts reported.
In the statement made to the public by the
trustees, the duration of punishment, the fact
that no record was Kept, the employment of a
spy, the delegation Of authority to punish to
subordinate officers, is neither alluded to nor
denied The only exceptions taken to the
charges are, to that respecting the character of
the cells, 10 the fact that the attention of the
official officers was not called to this subject,
and to the statement that the punishment is
ordered without interference or control by the
trustees.
With reference to the last statement, it is
sufhclent to say 1t was made upon the distinct
declaration OF the superintendent. The gen
tlemen OF the committee could not be mistaken.
His words were written down at the moment.
and reported TO the council in writing by the
commlttee-"l order the punishment myself.
not the trustees" was his language in reply to
direct interrogatories Indeed, one of the
trustees said ON the spot, it did not receive his
approval. The superintendent must know
whether these punishments were ordered by
himself or by the trustees, and if the trustees
are dissatisfied with his declaration or opinion,
their complaint is with him, and not with the
committee or the council.
1t is equally certain that the superintendent
did not exhibit nor call attention in anv way
whatever to this part of the institution AS it
regards the cells, regret 10 say, | saw them
myself; and that in my judgment they were
unfit habitations for boys or men. They were
impure and without sufficient light or air
have visited most OF the houses of correction
and JallS, and the state prison, and have never
found one such cell. There is no such pun
lslment inflicted in any prison of the state.
1t is alleged that the boys subjected to this
severity OF discipline are hardened and desper.
ate, and that to prevent their being sdnt to the
houses of correction, and thus LETT n brief
period, again to prey upon society, Is uch pun.
ishments as those complaifed Of are Necessary
cannot but think that iiP this Judgment the
trustees mistake the nattrfe of the institution
under their charge. 1t is not 10. protect socie-
ty against such desperate seffEnals as they
describe, nor should it be Considered in any
sense as standing betwfen tie 4buses of cor.
rectlon and the public, to proteS the latter by
its longer terms of detentioi, from those
whose crimes and character rendered them
ut subjects for the state Prison rather than the
! reform school," Such characters have no
| place in the Reform School, and ii by chance
OF mischance such Grim finals hiSfound there,
they should be transferred at once to the pris.
ons intended Tor them. THAT the term of sen.
tence III the prison.is less than that of deten-
ton IN the Reform School, is not an objection,
because the obvious purpose OF the sentence in
each case is different. In one case it is to pro.
tect society, to punish and reform the often.
der In the other it is exclusively for instruc-
ton and reformation.
cannot bntds nix that the persistent deten.
ton in the Reform School of so many desper.
ate and hardened otleINers, who should be
classed as young men and not boys, and whose
presence is made a justification OF such punish
ments as are in my opinion properly condemn.
ed by the council, instead of renandinp then,
instantly to the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for them
either upon alternative sentence or original
complaint on the part of the officers is one of
the chief causes Of the failure Of this institu.
ton to satisfy the expectation of the pnbc in
regard TO the possible success of such reiormn.
tory establishments. do not object to punish
ment necessary TO compel obedience, but it
should be OF u reasonable character, prescribed
ny proper regulations, and inflicted only upon
those VINO are proper subjects for the nsttu