St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-09
CHARITIES AND CORRECTION.
Summary of the biennial Report OF
the state Board - Reco I'M menda.
IiOuS.

Summary of the Biennial Report OF
the State Board - Recon- menda.
lions
Secretary H. Fl. Hart has received some
of the advance sheets of the biennial report
of the state board of correction and chart
ties. The report recounts the action of the
board during the past two years, gives the
condition of the various institutions, the
number of inmates, ETC., cost OF maintain
ing them. and includes some very important
recommendations. The board recites sew
eral reasons why the location of the state
reform school is becoming incOnvenient is
the linn. ted amount of land. lack of seclu-
sion and absence of sewerage facilities, and
makes the following recommendation:
We believe that the institution ought at an
early day to be removed and the girls de-
partmenr separated. and we are OF the opinion
that the land is or soon will be, valu able enough
TO pay tor land and good buildings suitable for
$50 pupils We therefore recommend that no
more buildings of permanent character be
erected and that the board Of managers be
authorized TO select site and arrange for
the early removal Of the institution TO site
where they can obtain draina&e. water sup
DIV and an adequate quantity of land.
The board recommends cuStOdial care for
idiots as follows:
The need of custodial care for adult idiots,
especial ounE women, is increasing. The
maiorit, of these women, if unprotected,
bring forth children like themselves. who be-
come in turn charge upon the state. From
an economical point of view, if either class
must be neglected. it wouli be wise to let the
imDecile children go and provide for those
who are capable of becoming mothers. We
therefore recommend an appropriation for a
detached war; Tor custodIal cases. These
Or7ifa sir in
and the care which they require, to the in
sane. and can be accommodated in buildings
similar to those now being built at st. Peter
ana Rochester. at a cost of SEQ to $3.50 per
bed. The new buildings recently built for
costodials of this class at Elwyn, Pa, offer
many points of suggestion.
Regarding the ''good-time" money OF
convicts the board says:
The good-time law, whereby each convict is
allowed one-fifth of his earnings on condition
Of good behavior, works great good. 1t pro-
vides each man on his discharge with work
ing c9pital of his own earnings Under the
present law, the warden is obliged 10 pay tC
each man. upon his discharge. the whole
amount due him. The first few days after
being discharged are the times of great temp
tatiou, and often the whole amount IS
squandered Immediately. This could be pre-
vented. in many cases, if the warden could
withhold part of the amount to be sent to the
of the amount in the hands of some respOn-
sible person to be expended for the benefit OF
the convict. We recommend, therefore.
legislation authorizing the prison wal den, in
his discretion. to retain a portion of any
prisoner goOd-time money on his discharge,
and to pay the same in installments, or in
one sum, provided that no part of such good
time none shall be so retained by the warden
longer than six months.
Speaking of the institutions for the deaf
and blind and the school for the imbecile>
al Faribault. the board says:
The schools for the deaf and bind are es
sent ally educational, the school for imneclles
is essentially charitable. In view of these
facts we renew our recommendation of two
years ago, that distinct estimates and sep
arate appropriations be made Or these inst
tutions.' The two insane hospitals under
one board of trustees and having enc and the
sumo treasurer have always had separate ap
preparations and we believe the same rule
should be followed here.
The board recommends that hereafter 9
special appropriation be made for repair:
and improvements for each state Institution
amounting to about per cent of the origina
cost Of buildings and lands. as shown by tht
official inventories. and that corresponding
reduction e mat e in the appropriation to-
current expenses: expenses for repairs. etc.
not Overed by the Speci,l appropriation, tC
be paid from the current expense fund, as
heretofore. Also. that hereafter sentences Il
city worknouSeS for 4 shorter period than ter
days be prohibited, and tdat provision be
made law ior cumulative sentences in
creasing with each repeated conviction fol
the same offense.
state inSttut onS for the two years ended
July 81. 1886. and the amount expended i.
shown in the following table:
al