Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-02-12

Visit Of the Di,ttlct Coumlttes ofthe House
Of cnta,ives-satisfactor Cenai-
tlea Of Affairs.
There has been pending In Congress for
come time past q bill making an appropriation
for the support and enlargement OF tho
grounds OF the reform school Of the District
The appropriation IL badly neodrd 10 further
the objects Of one Of the most laudable instl.
tutlons Of the District, The bill has gained
many friends In the House, aud there seems
10 be every probability that those juggling lts
passage Will be successful.
Yesterday Afternoon Messrs. Krchs, Cotton,
Stark veather, Eldridgo, Poland, Williams aud
Chapman, Of tho House District Committee,
visited this Institution, upon Invitation OF
the trustees, and made thorough iuspec-
ton Of the building, grounds, &c. In addl-
ton to the committee there were present
Governor Cooke, Senators Sawyer and Hill,
Messrs. II. A. Brewster, VIM. b. Todd N.
W. Burcholl and Col. D. l.. Eaton, who ac-
cOinpauied tho committee through the dornl-
tories, kitchen, diulng roorn aud backgrounds,
with all Of which much eradication was eS-
pressed.
Upon the conclusion Of tho examination OF
the various departments, the visitors were
brought ~ tho school room, where tho boys
were called upon 70 sing, which they did with
| excellent effect, Rev. Mr.. Swell then offered
prayer, after which y. n. Sargent, esq, OF
the trustees, addressed those present In few
| brief retnarks, followed by each Of the com
mlttee aud the other invited gucsts. Cues
lions In geography were asked the boys, who
responded 10 thom promptly showing that
everything Is being dOue 70 advance the odu-
catiOu OF tho scholars. The exercises COZ.
cludod, the visitors retired satisfied with all
they had seen and heard.
The institution has more than fulhllcd the
expectations OF its friends, notwithstanding
| that u has been carried on under great cui-
bdrraSsments during the past year. The
number Of boys now In the institution Is
| siNty-lhree, and II the accommodations were
better the number would probably have
reached one hundred or more. To make
room for those crowded upon the school from
| the courts the board have been under the
necessity Of dlschargi ing others from the
school who had greatly improved, but who
ought, In Justice to the school, 10 have re-
malned longer.
There is In this, as In evg.y other city In
the United Statee, a large lumber Of boys
whose only home IA the streets whose dorml-
tory is the market-houso, stable, an out
house. or sometimes the Ice side Of wall
or door. step; and others who have parents,
/ but might better, perharp, b. orphans; who,
growing up familiar with vice aud crime, In
which they soon become adopts, should DO
rescued from the paths that lead dewn 70
destruction, aud placed rs soon as possible
under moral aud Christian Influences, where
they can be made happy members Of q family,
and learn the value OF u home.
This Is what those 10 charge Of the school
are eudeayoriug 10 effect Their plan Is not
TO place boys convicted II yagrancy or petty
crimes In jail among hardened criminals,
| where they may become worse instead OF
better, but TO ondeavor, by kindness and af-
fectlon, 10 reform them aud make them re-
spectacle members Of society.
Many OF these boys are sent ~ the school
BY the. court for the period OF six months.
This Is productive oil no good. The boy
should be sent To this school until he reached
manhood. and then turned out upon the world
an educated citizen. which he would be In that
time.
The manner of treating the inmates Of this
Institution Is not like that Of a prison, but
they are constituted into family, with which
the superintendent, the matron and their as
sistAnis are the heads, aud all the forms and
usages OF religious family are observed.
| Immediately after breakfast a portion OF the
school are scut into the field, II the weather
Is fair, TO labor ill noon; another portion 60
into tue schOolrOom 10 study their lessons,
recile, Sc. After dlnuer n short time Ia al
lowed for play, and then those In the school
room In the morning change places with the
others until supper, when they are given
further time fOr recreation, after which eve
ming prayers aud sleep.
Thus the boys are kept constantly employ
ed and have no time To think OF mischief.
| wei NlothtA anu huu hauku'
aud required to observe cleanliness, and by
these means acquire feeling Of solf respect
which IL highly necessary.
Regular Sabbath-schools are held on Sun.
days, and the boys commit aud rocite por.
lions OF Scripture, sing, and ~ through other
| exercises.
Dr. Carpenter, OF the Young Meme Christian
Association, Is a constant visitor 10 the school
on Sundays, and his earnest labors 10 further
the objects Of the board are highly appre-
ciAted.
The board had hoped 10 have obtained
from the city of Washington the amount due
| by the city, ~, AIS so, for thu support NJ boyl
sent TO the school prior TO the change Of gov
eminent, and sl,03iO8 which has accrued
since that change. But they regret 10 say
that not dollar has been paid by the city
since tho school went Into operation. With
out an carly appropriation by Congress, tho
board will be compelled To abandon the school
Tho following arc the officers and employees
for the ensuing year; Board OF Trustees
Nathan Sargent, Henry ID. Cooke. Henry A
Brewster, ID. L. Eaton, VIM. d. Todd, Nor
veil w. Burchell aud j. Il. Carpenter; Presl
dent Nathan Sargent Secretary, Henry A.
Brewster; Treasurer, Henry ID. Cooke su
perintendent, y. W. Howe MatrOn, Mrs. Y
W. Howe.
The committee yesterday expressed them
selves In favor Of an appropriation for this
school, and II Is 10 be hoped that their eK
pressions before these boys will be carried
Into effect, aud the support 50 badly needed
by the reform school given Immediately.