The morning call., 1890-06-05
The Industrial School.

ScU0Ol anu OI LIE MdSudleU Asylum.
The Industrial School.
The last annual appropriation for the main.
tenance of this institution was S3S. 900, allow
ing a monthly expenditure OF S3166 Sc. This
amount includes the maintenance of girls who
when committed to the Industrial School are
sent to the Magdalen Asylum, and maintained
in that institution at aSixed charge Of 90 cents
a day, paid out OF the Industrial School appro-
priation. The number OF boys In the Industrial
School varies from time TO time but the aver
age now is about 115, and the average number
of girls in the Magdalen Asylum is about 80.
The payroll OF the Institution for salaries Is
$3.50, the amount paid TO the Magdalen Asylum
for the maintenance Of girls sent to that institu.
tion has for some months been not less than
S1204. leaving about S672 as the total amount
ward OF 10 boys in the Industrial School, and the
feeding of the stock, comprising 10 horses and
s COWS.
FAILURE.
AS reformatory institution the Industrial
School has thus far proved a failure. It Is not
surprising that this should he An Industrial
School should be what its name implies. Ii
should contain plant and appliances for teaching
useful trades ana thereby encouraging habits of
Industry In youths who have inherited criminal
Instincts, or been allowed to dIilt into crime
through parental neglect or FROM other causes.
The present Superintendent does as well as
be expected with the means and appliances at
lied. What can be expected, when the appro-
praton for the support OF the Institution is bare
ly sufficient Tor The nayment Of salaries and the
cost OF feeding and clothing the inmates?
SHOULD BE REoRGANIZED.
The buildings are so constructed that 1t is
almost impossible TO grade the inmates, who
should be separated in classes, not only as re-
CARDS ages but with reference to the crimes for
which they are committed. Under the present
arrangement OF The buildings The only means
of separating the boys is to grade them in two
divisions, according to age, leaving the youthful
burglar TO associate with and contaminate the
child committed for violation OF the SO o'clock
ordnance The records show that in large
proportion OF eases boys released from the insti-
luton return TO IT, and, too frequently. lads
who come there IN the first instance
as The result of some childish freak re-
turn under commitments for higher grades
of crime. The Industrial School Is only a
stones-throw In distance from the House of
Correction. and 1t would seem that the one in-
stilutiOn is merely graduating school Tor the
other The whole school needs reOrgaulzlug II
should either be made an Industrial School in
fact as well as IN name, or II should be abolished
altogether The present Superintendent is do
ing what he can 10 remedy some OF the defects
above referred TO. AS many OF the boys as can
be employed he keeps at work, some in the
tailor shop, In which all the clothing used In the
school is made, and others In making shoes for
tie use OF the inmates. But the number en-
pioyed ID this work Is necessarily very small. A
few boys md employment In tie bakery, in
which the bread used III the institution is made,
and others are employed about the grounds.
FROM OTHER COUNTIES.
The Grand jury desires TO call attention to the
fact that many boys are sent to this institution,
and the burden OF their maintenance Imposed on
this city, who ought never TO be sent there.
There ave boys in the institution wno come from
Australia. China, other STATES III the Union and
nearly every county In this State. One cause of
this Is TO be found IN The WORKINGS Of the ms itu
tlon, supported partly by private charity and
partly ly State aid, known the Boys and
Girls Aid Society. The school Of this last-named
institution is located in tins city. Parents, not
only IN this ciiy, but In other counties in this
State, who are unwilling or unable to accept the
responsibility for ihe management OF their own
refractory children, turn them over voluntarily
TO The control of the Boys and Girls Ala So
ciety. II they escape from that institution, or
attempt repeatedly 10 do so. or prove otherwise
refractory Or unmanageabe, II Is common
practice to canse complaint to be made TO one OF
our local Police Judges, and on that complaint
the offender Is, almost as matter OF course,
committed TO the Industrial school, In this way
youthful offenders are brought 10 this city from
other counties, and even from other States to be
finally charged ON the taxpayers OF this city,
This practice Is wholly without excuse. II the
Boys ana Girls AID Society brings youths here
from other parts of the State il should accept its
own responsibilities and not Try 10 shift Them on
10 our citizens. Ii II brings child from another
section oi the country 1t should be compelled to
taEe care OF that child or return 1t TO its own
home.
REPAIRS NEEDED.
Returning to Ihe affairs OF the Industrial
School we hnd that the buildings much out of
repair. The rOJf leaks. the floors are badly
worn, the plumbing and sewerage In bad cOn-
ditiOn and The oven in the bakery burned out
The necessary repairs should be made even AT
the cost OF an increased appropriation.
The MaCdalsn ASYLUM.
This institution We have visited, as il Is o
branch of the industrial School, in SO far as it
Is used as a place of detention for girls COM
mtted 10 the lastnamed institution. In the
opinion OF this Grand Jury it would be impos
sible 10 speak OF The Magdalen Asylum and its
management by the Sisters, who have devoted
their lives to the work OF reformation that Is be-
ing carried on there. in terms of too high praise
We can suggest nothing that could be done TO
improve l.. Its work speaks for itself The iu-
mates are well cared for, trained and educated.
While II is true that all efforts TO reclaim some
OF the erring girls who have been sent To the In
stitutiOn have failed, the records OF The asylum
show that in a large proportion OF cases the work
of reformation has been complete, and that
many girls now living honorable. industrious and
useful lives owe their redemption from the con-
sequences OF youthful folly aud crime to this
most worthy and well-cOnducted institution.