The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-04-23
SOLDIERS ORPHANS.
PATTIsON MAKES HIS RE-
PORT OF WHAT HE SAW.
II. ". uIGBEE REQUEST.
ED TO RESIGN HIS OFFICE.
REV. j. w. SAVERS AND MRS. u. y. HUT
TER, INSPECTORS, REMOVED.

1
| TER, INSPECTORS, REMOVED.
GENERAL LOUIS WAGNER APPOINTED
INSPECTOR.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, COMMON
WEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, OFFICE OF
THE GOVERNOR, HARRISBURG, April
Il, 1886
To the Honorable LEWIS G. CAssIrY
Attorney General-Dear Sir: Some
weeks ago charges of maladministration
and abuse were preferred by respon-
sible public newspaper of Philadelphia
against the management OF the Soldiers
Orphans Schools of the State. The
accusations were not mere general
criticisms but were specific, detailed
and circumstantial. 1t was impossible
to ignore charges thus made by rep
utable accuser. If true, they merited
prompt official denunciation and, as far
as possible, punishment. They invol-
we'd abuses 80 shameless, revolving and
inhuman as to demand for the fair
fame of the Commonwealth, denial, or
exposure and correction as the facts
upon investigation would warrant.
Assisted by yourself and accompani-
ed upon invitation by the gentleman
who had made and avowed the charges
that were published, and by a steno,
grapher, | began an official inspection
of one of the schools on the 9TH day of
March last. The charges had been
published on the 22d day of February
preceding, and on the 9th day of March
ch, eleven days thereafter, the Super
intendent of Public Instruction, upon
whom the law imposes the direction,
care and control of the Soldiers Or
phans' Schools, certified in letter ad-
dressed TO myself and simultaneously
given to the public that he had exam
ined certain of the schools where
abuses were alleged to have taken
place and TO exist. He also said, in
effect, that he found the charges un-
sustained and the exposure untrue !;
that the orphan children were properly
and humanely supported and that the
bounty of the State was honestly and
legitimatcly applied.
Regarding the letter of the Superln-
tendent, from it's tone and substance,
as ending all investigation on his part
of the charges made, and believing
the answer to be inadequate and its
conclusions unsupported by satisfac-
tory proofs, and that his examination
of the schools had been hurried and
superficial, / deemed it my duty to
continue the inspection of all the
schools where the soldiers orphans
were supported.
The schools were visited and care
fully examined. All the buildings,
every room in them the ont-houses
and grounds the furniture, beds and
bedding; the accommodations and
drainage the food and clothing, and
everything and place in any way per-
taiDing to the schools and the children
were inspected. Principals, matrons
and employees were called upon to
testify under oath. Some complied
and some refused. l had no lawful
power to compel testimony. While
the production Of books, papers and
accounts was requested at each of the
schools, in two only were they pro-
duced. Before concluding the work,
the Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton and the two official Inspectors
were notified that any statements or
further replies they might have to
make would be heard. The former
official appeared but added nothing
material to his public letter The two
Inspectors made general denials of
mismanagement in the conduct of the
schools and avowed their satisfaction
with the condition of the institutions
and the care and support of the in
mates. All who possessed anv informa-
tion or were in any way inculpated by
he testimony were heard in full when
they expressed desire to make state
ments. Altogether over 100 witness
es were examined, nearly all of whom
were employees or officers of the insti-
tuition. The Secretary of the State
Board OF Health also was requested to
officially examine the schools and re-
port upon their sanitary condition.
The complete result of the investigation
embracing over 700 pages of testimony,
and the completed portion of DR.. Lees
report l herewith transmit to you.
1t would be impossible within the
limits of this communication to give
anything like detailed summary of
the facts proved by the testimony. 1t
unhappily establishes, however, the
substantial truth Of the allegations of
abuse and mismanagement which were
made against the schools. The testi-
mony shows most pitiful, cruel and
inhuman neglect of the children a
want of the commonest necessaries of
decent living an insufficient moral and
religious training, as well as suggest
ions of depravity aud immoral practices
in some of the schools and that are too
vile for enumeration. If the evidence
was not so overwhelming and undoubt-
ed, in most instances confirmed by
personal observation, it would be diff
ticult to believe that in this age and in
our own Commonwealth such practices
were possible. A few instances out of
many may be stated as samples of the
inhumanity referred to.
In some schools during the entire
winter the children were not supplied
with winter clothing, bnt were COM
pelled to endure the rigors of the sea.
son with sunni er or, at best fall gar
ments. Children-some sick, many
frail, most of tender years-lived
through the winter without winter un-
dergarments of any kind upon their
persons, and in palliaton of this neg
lect the school managers declare that
they had not provided them because
the department regulations. did not
specify undergarments in the list OF
articles to be furnished each child.
There were taken from the feet OF
boys stockings that had been unchang,
ed for over month, and fr.,m which
the toes and heels of the children pro
truded in filthy condition. The same