Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-24
THE REFORM SCHOOL.
The Cost OF Maintenance Compared with
That of Other Institutions.

THE REFORM SCHOOL.
The Cost OF Maintenance Compared With
That Of Other Institutions.
Residents Of the District who are interested
in District institutions have generally exhibited
q good deal of affection for the reform school.
From the beginning that school has been a success
This result was to be expected, for never was any
such institution the subject of more active en-
deavor on the part Of its officers. Aside from
the many labors Of President Falls and his asso-
ciates a large quantity Of telling work has been
done by Col. and Mrs. Shallenberger and their
assistants More could be done if the necessary
means we're provided. President Falls has re-
Gently been directing his attention to the cost
Of reformatories in the United States and from
the material gathered has compiled a Compare
tive statement Of considerable value. This he
has submitted to the board Of trustees, with the
following letter:
II have the honor to submit herewith COM
parative statement of forty-seven reformatory
institutions in the United States, showing the
number of inmates, number of officers, salaries
of same. cost Of food, clothing, fuel and lights
and other items of maintenance. Also the pro
rata cost of each inmate per annum.
From this statement it appears that there
are 17,427.51 inmates of said institutions;
1924 ,272.60 was paid for salaries, 1886 ,345 %
for food. groceries, de-, 1882, 1876. 80 for CLOTH
ing s243, $40 II for fuel and lights. sos 1872 II
for other items of maintenance, o.. 423, III. 40
for total maintenance and $685., 9sO.53 total
expenditures. The average pro rata for each
inmate per annum is $193. IL and 23-100. The
pro rata expense of our school is 1904. 30 and
$500; but allowing us credit for the amount
paid into the treasury Of the United States pur-
suant to law our pro rata is reduced to S191. ID
and $500, which is less by s1.9S and 34-l0O
than the general average. Without this credit
there are sixteen institutions whose pro rata is
higher than ours; with the credit there are
twenty higher than ours.
The annual sal salaries paid BY our school
Guiding groceries, is s1O,oO6.75 This item
also includes everything purchaseable at
grocery store, such as brOOms, brushes, soap,
oils and many other miscellaneous items. The
cost OF clothing was "a the cost Of fuel
and lights, %, 1924; the cost Of other items
of maintenance, S13. 925.15; the gross expendi-
lures for the year, SAC, 572 90; the total number
OF inmates. 1893; total employees, 81.
1T will be seen from an examination OF the
table that these figures compare most favor
ably with those of other institutions. Some
institutions are under the control of Catholic
Brothers and Sisters Of Charity, who receive
no salaries. Other institutions are for girls
only, where fewer employees are required and
50 laries are not SO high.
There was paid by our school, as stated in
the table, the sum of s1O,006.75 for food, &C.,
thus costing the government for provisions
about 4.6l cents per meal for each inmate, out
of which the officers are also provided. Counting
the officers who are thus provided .he cost would
be but 383 cents per meal. 1t is true that the
actual cost is more, but these figures show the
actual sum paid by the government. The farm
is now producing largely, and from the sup
plies derived therefrom we are enabled to keep
the actual cost at these figures.
ut is well known that the greater the num-
Der OF inmates the less the pro rata. Our ap-
preparations are based upon population Of
$50 inmates. and although we have now nearly
200, we have not asked Congress for one cent
additional for maintenance, and not one dollar
additional has been given us for salaries.
'Should Congress be liberal enough to pro-
vide for building for another family, to ac-
commodate fifty more boys, they could be MAIN
tanned without calling upon Congress for fur
ther appropriations for maintenance; all that
would be necessary would be additional teach
ers and other officers at q cost not to exceed
81, 500. Therefore fifty more boys could be
maintained in our school with this small in
crease OF expenditure, or at cost Of $50 for
each additional inmate per annum, thus mate
rally decreasing our pro rata.
1T is earnestly hoped that Congress will, at
its next session, make appropriation for another
family building. We are now crowded beyond
our capacity, and am called upon almost daily
as president Of the board by the courts and by
parents to commit other inmates, which at pres
ent it is impossible to do and BOYS of a tender
age are now filling the Jail and work house for
want OF proper accommodations at our school.
II Earnestly ask that In our estimates to be
submitted to Congress at its next session an np-
preparation for new family building be asked
for, and sufficient sum for the necessary teach
ers and other officers. l have spent much
time, care and thought in the preparation of
this statement, having correspondent with every
institutions Of the kind throughout the country
the name and location of which l could obtain.
had to rely entirely upon the officers Of such
institution for my information, some Of which
is not as full and perfect as could wish. But
have done the best in my power with the ma
terial at hand. With one or two exceptions the
figures are complete.
"Our school has been managed with great
care and economy, and 1 don't see where any
material reduction can be made. We have a
plant for much larger institution, and with
more accommodations the population could be
increased very materially with a small increased
expenditure by the government.
Il know OF no institution throughout the
United States which does not have the benefit
of the labor of its inmates with the exception
Of our own school, and if we could prevail
upon Congress to permit US to make use Of our
earnings for the payment Of additional salaries
and improvement Of the farm, the enlargement
Of green houses and minor Outbuildings we
could accommodate at least fifty more inmates
without any additional cost to the government
except the erection of another family building
Il respectfully suggest that in the next an
nual report of the board of trustees to the
Attorney General and the Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia this be urged. The
amount covered into the treasury is very small
and would not be missed from the great reve-
nues of the government, but would be Of meal
culable benefit to our school.
I'm closing permit me to say that have Wis
tied number of reformatories, and in none Of