The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-01-16
OTTAWA rHNE TRADER: SATURDAY, JANUARY 1e, 1915.

institution should be reformatory and to TIT
reiormatory measures adopted, mild vet firm
discipline, strict attention to health, clcanlI
ness OF person and cells, an abundance o
wholesom food, comfortable clothing. rclig
ious services on the Sabbath evening schools
books and papers, is largely attributable tn,
! financial success of tho institetiOn. In il
management and appointments, it is = mode
/ of neatncss, thrift and economy.
Since the opening of the fan terms of Ia,
courts, the number OF convicts has rapidly in
creased. should the present hard times-al
ways productive of crme-continue. il vii
soon be question to be considered by hit
/ Legislature what other accommodations shall
be provided for the Punishment and reform
alton OF criminals.
REFORM SCHOOL.
/ Boys between 10 and 1Gycars Of age, conyic
( ted of crime are sent to the Reform School
! 1t is better for them and for society that the,
be subject to its restraints, than be confined
| in jails or in the penitentiary.
The Reform school was not established TO
punishment, but for the confinement, discip
| line, education, employment and reformation
/ of juvenile offenders
! recommend liberal policy, 10 enable
! the trustees to carry out the objects OF the in
stltution; not only to continc, bur to disclp
/ line, educate, employ and reform It's inmates
The trustees have expended the approprla
ton made by the last General Assembly io
the erection of a workshop, which gives en-
larged accommodations in the main building
! Other improvements upon the farm anC
grounds, and in out-buildngS are necdeditt
make the institution more of reform schoO
and less penltentiary, more Ola home an(
less prison.
PUBLIC CHARITIES,
The work of the Board of State Commi;
sOners of Public Charities the last two years
has not been as extensive as in former year;
nor could ii hardly be expected, as they re
ceive no compensation. The Commissioner!
have visited personally the State institutions
under their supervision, and their very etfic
lent Secretary has visited many of the jail.
ious action of the Board since its organiza
ton, has proved beneficial 10 the State and t.
the institutions. Useless expenditures have
been cut of; greater economy has been prac
ticed the management has been improved
records and accounts are better kept, and the
funds more judiciously expended. The work
of the Commission has been valuable to tht
State, to the institutions, and to the rccip
tents oftheir benefits. Money has been saved
public charities have been more faithfully
administered, and the improved Management
of the State institutions has given them in
creased confidence among the people.
In my opinion the Commissioners SHOULD
have some compensation fol their time anC
services, and have authority to visit all almi
houses, poor houses, houses of correction
jalls, any places where the insane or othel
unfortunates are confined, and all the pubic
institutions of the State.
The report of the Commissioners give, in
formation of the institutions under their vlsl
torial care, and their recommendations, Il
which the attention of the Legislature is cs
pecialy invited In revising the laws, The
revision of the laws relating TO the education
al and charitable institutions was omitted
These laws are numerous scattered through
the session laws from 1889 to 1873. re
commend revision in the general act, speci
fylng particularly the objects and purpose:
of each institution, and what persons shall
receive its benefits, and upon what terms and
conditions fixing the number of trustees in
each educational institution, not exceeding
nine, and in each charitable institution MOI
exceeding three; providing a uniform term
Of office ana time and manner of appoint
ment; defining their powers and duties; pro
hlbting any trustee from acting as Treasurer
directing trustees of educational to institu
tons to meet quarterly or seml-annually, and
of charitable institutions monthly or quar-
terlv; requiring all bills to be audited before
payment and duplicate vouchers to be taken
one set of vouchers to be retained by the in
stitutiOn, and one set, with statement OF re
ceipts and disbursements since last auditing
to be forwarded to the Board of State Com
missioncrs of Public Charities for examine
ton and approval; prescribing one method
for drawing funds from the State Treasury
allowing no money to be drawn except upon
the order of the Board of Trustees, approved
by the Governor, ard not until the vouchers
and statement for the preceding month o!
quarter have been filed and duly approved
and establishing uniform rule as to manner
and time of making the reports required by
sections 90 and 81, article ) for the Constltu
ton.
EDUCATIONAL.
The Industrial University asks appropra
tions for taxes, farm experiments, improve
ments, furniture, library, laboratory, and mu
scum les; than heretofore granted
The state Normal school, for all expenses
asks less than two years ago.
The Southern Normal, being a new institu
non, necessarily asks for more, but not tor Il
large amount. The Southern Normal Uni
velsity building was completed and turned
over by the Commissioners to the trustees on
the Both ofJune last and on July the univcr
sity was formally opened Departments and
classes have been organized, and the institu
ton is in successful operation.
These institutions are meeting the CXpeC
tations of the friends of industrial ana nor
NAL education. Their halls are filled with
earnest industrious students, coming from
the rural districts and the laboring classes.
In the Industrial University they are
taught the sciences as applicable to the in
dusIrial pursuits of life. In the Normal I'M
iversites they are trained i'll the art OF teach
ing, and are qualified TO take charge of our
common schools. The entire cost of main
tanning the three institutions the next two
years will be about $4,000 per annum
Their success, their character and their in
luence, in my opinion, warrant this eXpendi
WYe. They merit the supper. and fostering
calc of the State. \ failure to maintain and