National Republican., 1876-03-27
GIRLS REFoRM SCHOOL.
Hearing before the Committee ca Pablie
Buildings 81 Grounds.


The House Compit on PublIe Buildings and
Grounds gave o hsarir q at lo;45 q. m. on Satur.
day to the board OF trustees and frierdS OF the
Girls Reform School, 10. the purpose OF hsaring
the plans, methods, and requirements of the In.
stitution.
Mrs. Sara ]. SP:nctr, president Of the board,
said: In view of this ample testimony, in your
hands from the high hest authority, showing the
dire and immediate need OF provision for tae
class OF persons named In our memorial and OIL,
l will waive that part Of the discussion. and as.
sumo that you who really desire to secure the
safety and purity Of this District and 81 our mon
this bill. therefore speedily make way for the
clea--headed gentlemen who are so much richer
will hear Mr.. william Z. LIacoln, who has been
for forty years enriching this country oy ms
labors for the reformation Of neglected Vagrant'
the architect, who has embodied In the plans
submitted for your consideration the results OF
MIR. Lincoln's wide observation and pest tn9usnnts n
on systems and plans for reform schools Dr.
Nichols, the well known superintendent oil the
Hospital for the Insane, has also consented 70
Of the mammoth institution in his charge, and to
aid US by his counsel and experience In laying
a proper foundation for our work.
L. s. Statutes at Large, 1t was enacted that
There shall be in the District Of Columbia q
Government hospital for the insane, and its OBJ
iects shall be the most humane care and enllght-
eued curative treatment OF the insane OF the army
and navy Of the United States and the District OF
Columbia In his last report the superintend-
ent, in showing how much more
DESPERATE ARE THE CASTS OF INSANITY
in the army than in the navy, says: SIT Is proba-
BILE that soldiers of the most deprsved constitu-
tien and worst morals find their way to this hos
as mes sure OF humanity and in the interests of
public welfare, has, then, provided for the most
humane care and enlightened curative treat
and worst morals" Where are the young girls,
the wrecked, deserted victims, whom these prof.
Igats soldiers grsd from their humble homes res
here In Washington ION the town." In all these
long years has this Government ever expended
curative treatment" of these young, ignorant
victims Of your brave officers and soldiers? Lst
HoOker,s Division and Murder Bay toll out the
sad reply.
No danger at home or abroad so threatens the
very life Of our Republic to- day as the existence
and perpetual and alarming increase oil the
dangerous classes. The appalling facts so ire
quentIy forced upon our attention showing the
premature development Of youthful Vagrants
the wisdom OF adopting prompt measures for
stemming this fearful tide in the interests Of our
homes and Of our native land.
Knowing that the abandoned children OF abau-
doned, vagrant girls mast inevitably drift into
vice and crime, tho wonder Is not that the dan
gerous classes so rapidly increase In numbers and
blies Of lawmakers look quietly on and
make
NO EFFORT TO AVERT THE DANGER.
One girl of the streets in Washington is the
mother OF six children, of whose whereabouts she
does not know. Another, 4 qaadroOn, Is the
mother Of eleven, who are terror to their neigh
borhood.
mrs. Spencer gave some striking statistics.
obtained from General Eaton, Commissioner OF
Education, ana from eminent writers on reiorma-
tory works, showing the effect produced upon
communities and cities by well conducted re-
iormatory Institutions for girls No correspond
ing outlay Of money 10 any public enterprise cln
show such profitable returns.
She gave some thrilling instances Of recent eN-
perienccs IN tealing with cases thrown upon her
hands, proving that the hardest and most reck.
less were deeply sensitive to q touch OF human
She salc: If you believe that inside of these
wretched bodies there are live human soJIls TO be
redeemed or lost-if you believe that at your last
hour on earth IL will be a sweet memory that,
while you had responsibility, place and power,
you used them to rescue the lost and lit up 1.-The
heart bowed down." then do not count the
peoples money with SO careful an eye TO yolr
own election to continued place and power as to
utterly fail in making your calling and election
sure to the house not made with hands, eternal
MI. VIM r. Lincoln, of Baltimore, gave briefly
the encouraging results OF his experience for
FORTY. FIVE YEARS IN REFORM WORK.
He said II was the general result Of founding re-
foTmatory Institution in n old, unsuitable DuiId
irg, and II an ineligible location that the whole
work was 4 complete failure, with heavy loss,
until proper foundation was secured. He rec
ana in the construction of a suitable building at
tie beginning. He said this ought to be the
mcdeI girls reform school OF the United States.
The members Of the committee heartily in
dorsed his opinion.
DR.. Ni.bofs said such surroundings would have
a cheerful, healthful, reformatory effect upon the
inmates Cf the Institution, and recommended
ample open space for out door work, for the culti
yBtiOn Of flowers, fruit and vegetables for sale
and use. He thought cheerful outdoor employ.
ment at suitable seasons adapted to the cure not
only Of mental but moral disease.
Mr.. VIM. r. Weber, of Baltimore, explained
the external and internal plans for the institu-
ton, and demonstrated their convenience and
economy. The committee were deeply interested
and asked many questions.
DR.. Caroline B. Winslow called attention to the
immediate need Of the hospital for mothers and
the sick as an expense not required by the Boys
Reform school, bat Indispensable to this institu.
ton.
The committee asked Mrs. Spencer many ques-
tons concerning the practical workings Of the
Institution, and found that she had carefully cOa
sideTed the minutest detail OF the work and
secured the ablest counsel on all important
points.
"oLIvIA" AGAINST THE BILL.
"Olivis" Mrs. Briggs appeared against the
bill, entreating that the young girls Of Washing
ton be spared the disgrace OF having an institu
tion called a Girls Reform school. As q tax
payer, she protested against its support Tor many
reasons.
Mrs. Spencer informed the committee that
three years ago, whcn the Girls Reform School
charter was conferred by the District IIegisla-
ture, "Ulvia" Immediately offered to sell her
homestead Tor the proposed institution, and said
not a word against the name, though in that
&C SO II wcaid have been written on the front Of
"Olivia'E" beloved home. As nearly the whole
District had been offered her since In parcels to
suit on reasonab able terms she had never smined
"UliYia's" property. Mr.. Briggs said It was q
question of veracity. She never made the offer.
She continued at some length to protest against
the name and against the general tendency Of
the Institution. Several members Of the com
mittee were busy examining the plans, and lost
the latter portion Of her remarks.
The interview shortly sfter closed.
Citarlh, DEAFNESS and Affection Of ths Ears
Cured.
DIR. Hartley submits the following testimonial
without comment: