Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-22
TO REDUCE THE COST
EFFORTS BEING MADE TO CUT DOWN
THE STATES CRIMINAL EXPENSES.
Members of the Senate Committee Hear
Suggestions from Major STILES and
Others and viii Prepare Bill.

Strenuous and perhaps united efforts
will be put forth at the next session of the
General Assembly to secure such amend
ments TO the criminal laws of the State as
will greatly reduce the heavy expense to
which tho Commonwealth is now subject
ed for the prosecution of evil-doers.
Reports having this end in view will be
made to both houses and the special CON-
mittees Of the Senate and House which are
now. looking into the question will proba-
bly, have conference before the Legisla-
ture meets and try and agree upon general
measure 10 be presented simultaneously in
their respective branches.
Inc adoption OF such course would almost
insure the passage and enactment into law Of an
amendatory statute that would save Thousands
OF dollars 10 tho State. This subject IA one OF
great Importance and the committees are giving
II snch careful consideration as It's gravity de-
mands.
The House committee has had several meet
ings at the Capitol and he's made good progress.
SENATORS At WORK.
Now the senator's are earnestly engaged In
the performance OF their tedious but very i'm
portant trust. Only Messrs. Blackstone and Little
are mere, but they have been hard at work tor
three days, and will have their concluding ses-
sion this morning The other three senators
were 80 engaged that they could not meet their
associates Just at this time.
These two members Of the committee spent
nearly three hours and half yesterday hearing
| suggestions from different gentlemen Interested
| In this particular branch Ot the State govern
ment and looking thoroughly into laws as they
now exist.
| Major Robert Stiles president Of the Prison
| Association Of Virginia, which has established
retOrmatOry or industrial school at Laurel, nd-
| dressed the committee by invitation. The
| Major spoke for about An hour and gave IN in
terestlng history OF the movement which result
ed In establishing that institution and the Work
| IL Is now doing. He discussed interestingly tho
| influence the refOrmatOry IL having In the drec-
| ton OF reducing the criminal expenses OF the
| commonwealth. Its effects Tor time, he said,
| might not be perceived. But il aimed to get at
the very root Of the evil and cut down and
| remedy as far as possible the very things that
| create the expenses.
| WORK or TIE REFoPNATORY.
The speaker explained TO the senator's how tho
| ReformatOry took hold Of the boys who In time
| might become the criminals Of Virginia, and
| taught them how TO work and lead n better life.
| MAJOR Stiles gave n description Of tho associa-
tlon's property al Laurel, and the plan OF lnstruc-
| tion maintained there. He explained how at
| tractve the place has been made, and what
| those interested proposed TO do still further in
| that direction. The place, the Major thought, Il
! something to show tho world that Virginia is
keeping up with the advances and progress IN the
| highest type Of civilization.
lie indicated that the Governor had expressed
| n willingness, II the law permitted him 10 do 80,
| % allow the use Of convicts in laying out the
| grounds ~ the RciOrmatory. There are now
about eighteen or twenty inmates In the institu-
| tOn. IL friends hope, II their plans are carried
| out, O. have the grounds shaped up and In good
| condition by fall During his address, which
| was entertaining and abOundci IN information,
Major stiles spoke Of the progress OF the work ot
| reform IN Europe and quoted many oiflcial STA
| tis;ics t0 show that nothing has contributed 80
| largely there 90 the reduction Of criminal eN-
| peuscs as Just such reformatOries rs that being
1 conducted
such deep Interest.
WANT THE BOYs.
Major Stiles concluded by urging the import
ancp TO the State Of friendly action on The part
| Of the General Assembly toward the association,
| whose cause hc represented. He felt surc tnat
nothing would 40 successfully reduce the crmi-
nal expenses ~ Virginia Hs 20 place youthful
| offenders, before they become hardened criml-
mails, m wcll-managed reiormatories where
| moral and educational influences may be thrown
| around thom and industrious habits iuculcHted.
Justice John j. Crutchneld and sheriff y. :.
! CRtrs were present for some time during the
| conference and were consulted with reference Ia
| sOmo matters ~ eXpcdcncy IN the proposed re-
| vision. The committee roso al ten minutes 10 3
| o'clock, having been in constant session since
| 1880 o'clock.
TO PREPARE BILL.
Messrs. Blackstone and Little win hold pr-
vate session to-day, ~ which they will agree upon
| a bill the draft OF which Will be submitted 70
their associates Tor their approval or suggestion
| Of changes Tho main features Of the bill that
| will be prepared we're outlined in an interview
| with Chairman Blackstone, published In the
! DrgPArCH a day or two ago. The measure vii
| be constructed with view 20 altering the OOue
| az little as possible.
one Of the changes recommended md the one
| that il expected 20 work greater economy than
| any other will be 10 80 enlarge the jurisdiction
| Of Justices Of the peace as 10 embrace all com
| mon law, mislemeanor and assault and battery
| c1ses which do not amount 70 iclOnies. Thu
will it f. cOntcndcd, save great deal in the wal
| OF Jury and witness fees, inasmuch IA thcre vii
| be- no necessity for grand lutics in a great many
instances where they are now had. The rlgh
| Will be reserved 90 any person brought before Q
Justice 10 select trial by Jury. Mr.. Little T. un
| derstOOd 10 be- somewhat In favor OF abOlishin,
| witness fees entirely. lie advocated this idea IL
! the Senate at the last session.
| Another change that there Is some talk Of re
| commencing Is to give Justices power to try meI
| charged with resisting officers. This would be
| great saving. In brief, tho report OF this com
| mittee will be based in a general way on tina
| prepared by the Senate Committee for Courts o
| Justice, and presented in that branch shor
| while before the Legislature adjourned in tht
| spring OF 1890. This included nino bills in ad
dltion to several special ones which had beer
previously passd.
TO ASK A CONFERENCE.
After the Senate committee agrees upon re-
| port the House committee charged with simi
| lar work, Of which Mr.. Hay, Of Madison, Is chair
man. will be invited 90 meet here in Joint session
| and together discuss the subject The object o
| this Joint meeting Is the hope That Il may resni
| in formulating plan for tho reduction OF th'
| criminal expenses OF the state upon whch b0tl
! committees may agree. II that ~ done, there
| will be but one report TO submit 70 the Two houses
| when they next meet.