National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-11-30
CRIME AND PAUPERISM.
ICostiausd from Frat Pa1e.l

The object of this communication is to cal
your attention to the necessity existing for q
| reformatory institution of some kind, under
the direct control of the District government
| where the women can be sent aud cared for
ard where their time and labor can be utilized
both to themselves and the State, and where
specisl effort can be made and certain iniu
ences thrown around them looking to change
ard reformation in their lives, and moldine
their minds and characters toward happier
and better end.
To do this would require separate and dis
tinct building; ssurh a building the govern
ment owns and possesses; refer to the one
known as the Georgetown alms-house, a
large and commodious brick building, sur.
rounded by grounds beautiful ly situated, a
little outside Of Georgetown. The locality is
healthy, and, while Isolated from the city
| proper, is yet not so far as to be inaccessible
to all who may desire to visit 1t. Five thou
sand dollars expended In repairs AMI furniture
would be ample to make it suitable for fifty
persons, and 0,O00 for the first year would
cover the expense of food, clothing, medi-
cine, salaries and such machinery and fix
| lures as might be needed for the establish
| ment OF several branches of trade.
In connection with this communication, ]
take the liberty of transmitting draft of q
bill covering the points in this letter. If 1t
meets your approval, ask that 1t be revised
by your honorable body to make it as near
| perfect as possible.
Very respectfully,
| (Signed) TIMOTHY LUBEY,
| Commissioner Washington Asylum.
Since that time the truth Of the statement
and the urgent need of some prompt measures
| for the relief of this unfortunate class has
! been daily brought to my attention, as COM
missioner of the Washington Asylum, and /
| beg leave again to renew the recommendation
contained in the above.
The following statement of the period which
| twenty six of these persons have passed in the
| workhouse under sentence for the crimes of
| vagrancy, prostitution, &C., is a startling
exhibit, and should commend the subject to
| your careful and earnest consideration.
The statement shows that during the years
| 1S75-'76, from 992 females sent to the work
house, 26 who were selected as examples served
terms as follows: one, $40 days; one, 40; one,
40; one, $50; one, $50; two, $40; two, 354;
two, $50; two, 81; two, 300; two, 260, and
the remainder ranging from 260 down to $50
days.
The report continues: Throughout this cum
try and Europe class of institutions, 10th
penal and reformatory,
FOR TIE BENEFIT OF GIRLS AND WOMEN,
have been founded and fostered by the State,
with the most beneficial results, and the last
reports from all agree that while they entail q
necessary expense they have been the means
of retaining many hayward girls, and re-
forming many outcast women. In all of them
the inmates are required to perform some class
of labor. Tot inconsistent with their physical
strength; for instance, paper. box making,
sewing, knitting, laundry work, and in some
light gardening. In all they are required to
do necessary homework, sewing, repairing,
washing, &c, of the institution. Long ago
the managers of these institutions discovered
that moral suasion was more potent power
fnr and oil Hr1O-T
agree that the only way to reform the way
ward, vicious and even criminal girl and
| woman sts to aba ndon the usual imprisonment
system, to group them together as 1t were In
community, insist on the discipline essential
to good government, require willing obedience
to proper laws, provide such employment as
will render the period Of their detention less
irksome, seek to impart to them such educa-
tion as the elementary books afford, give
through the columns of the daily
press, feed their Imagination by th
reading of proper books, maintain and improve
their physique by wholesome recreation, and
above all by the channel of religious instruc-
ton to teach them the duty they owe society
while on this earth and lead them to firm
belief Of their forgiveness and happiness in
the world to come. By this means they have
succeeded in many of the cases in send
ing from the doors of their asylums women
| thoroughly reformed, who went forth with
| pride and lfreliance to become good and
useful members of society; workers instead of
| idlers, and standing exemplars of the truis m
| that human nature is never SO depraVed but
| that kindly efforts can redeem It.
While in most of the States this good work
is being done, in this District we have lament
| ably fallen short of our duty. II is true that
| institutions of different character, supported
| by the contributions of individuals, and all
charitable in their character, abound. It Is
| also true that the District as government
has failed to perform its share of the labor or
contribute its quota of the expenses. What
is needed is some Immediate provision for the
care of these females. As is stated in the above
| letter, the present Georgetown almshouse,
with but moderate repair, could be made, for
| the time being at least, to answer all the pur-
poses both of penal and reformatory institu-
ton for women. If for any reason
THE GEORGETOWN ALMsHoUsE
cannot be converted to this use some provi-
sion should be made for the erection of a
suitable building, say on the grounds of the
Washington asylum. Or If that is not practi-
cable when the new workhouse or city prison
is built, as built it must be at an early day,
one wing should be devoted to this purpose.
Let me impress upon your minds the urgent
need of such an institution, and the further
fact that 1t should by all means be under the
control of the State which will have to sup
port it, and not given in charge of well-mean-
ing: but irresponsible committees or lndivid-
uals. While general supervision of its work
ings might be entrusted to several of the
numerous philantrophic men and women of
this city, its direct control should not be al
lowed to pass out of the hands of the District
authorities. The only institution for women,
both penal and reformatory in its character,
whose report has reached me, is located In
Indianapolis, Ind, and this is but three years
old. The report, however, Is of the most
| gratifying character, and the officers are firm
| in the belief that it will grow in usefulness as
| it grows in years.
The last annual report of Sarah j. Smith,
the superintendent, referring to the prison de-
| partment, Gays: "The prison department, IN
der the able management of Mrs. E. j. John
/ sen, is admirably conducted. By her firm
ness and kindness she readily wins the respect
and love of the prisoners, so that the most
abandoned, accustomed to filthy and loathsome
4 language, soon appreciate the clean garments
| and pleasant surroundings, and learn not only
willing and cheerful obedience, but feel that
work is privilege and not punishment. We
| find the system of shortening time for good
conduct has had good effect upon them,
which clearly proves, however pleasant prison
| life may be made, liberty and social life Is the
great boon for which they strive"
| What, will be asked, has been the result Of
| all this improvement in prison lifel We an.
swer, in most cases restored womsnhood, tc
enter again life able to care for themselves
and not be a terror or an expense to society.
As bearing upon this subject, annex q
carefully prepared table, showing the charac
ter, cost of maintenance and labor performed
! in nineteen penal and reformatory institutions
in fourteen States ofthe Union. This shows that
in all but one the labor system has been intro
dueed, and that although in two-the Catholic
Protectory of West Chester, New York, and
the House of Refuge of Indiana, the labor
during the past year has proven unremunera-
tiye-it.has generally been attended with good
and gratifying results. Referring to thest
institutions in carefully prepared table in his
last annual report, the Commissioner of Edu
cation shows the total number In the United
States to be Sc, employing sos officers and
teachers, and the number of inmates to be
10,s4S, of whom 1851 are male and 2,S97 are
/ female.
Going to be Married.
| Marriage licenses have been issued to Daniel
c. Olive and Malinda Cook; James II. Gold
smith and Sarah C. Ford; Henry W. Hewlett
and Eliza Hawkins, of Georgetown; JOSEPH
Worth and Farina Halfner, of this city; Dial