Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-03
THE CAUSE OF PRISON REFORM.
Major stiles and Governor Fleming Ad-
dress Members of the Legislature.


After the adjournment of the legislative
caucus last night Major Robert Stiles ad-
dressed the members in behalf OF bill he
will have introduced into the General
Assembly providing for special legislation
relative to the Prison Reform Association.
The main objects of the bill is to secure
for the association at its reformatory :he
control of refractory children. 1t pro-
yldes that parents OF such children,
superintendents of public schools. super
intendents of the pOor-houses, orphan
asvlums, &C, may make application 20 the
courts for the committing OF such chill
dren TO the custody of the association;
also that vagrant children may be SO dealt
with.
Major Stiles stated in this connection
that n person connected with the public
schools of Richmond had said to him that
there were over hundred pupils IN the
schools here who should be IN the re-
formatory, and that Mrs. Gill, to whose
ability as superintendent OF the MAZE VI
phan ASYLUM he paid high compliment,
had informed him that there were two or
three boys in that institution that should
| be subjected TO such discipline.
The speaker gave some interesting facts
and figures regarding the workings of the
reform schools III Great Britain, and as
showing the wisdom of keeping them un-
der private control. He also expressed the
hope that the General Assembly would
make an appropriation for building shops
at the reformatorv.
GOVERNOR FLEMISG's REMARKS.
Governor Fleming, of West Virginia.
who was III the hall, was introduced by
Northumberland Tyler. and requested
to give his views regarding the reform
school IN his State. The Governor ex-
pressed his good pleasure at meeting so
many of the members of the General AS
sembly and said he would gladly comply
with the request. The reform school In
West Virginia. he continued, was a young
institution. having been established in
| 1889, but it had already accomplished great
good. When he first went into the office
| he did not take much interest in it, think
| ing il the movement of an enthusiast, but
| he was now satisfied that IL was one of the
most desirable and useful institutions In
the State. IL now has some sixty-odd IN
mates. The law provides that a justice OF
| the peace may commit boy TO the re-
| formatory on complaint of a parent, and
when a youth under IL years of age
Is found guilty OF certain offences
| by Jury 10 is discretionary with
| the Judge whether he be sent to
| the penitentiary, Jail, or the reformatory.
| So far as he knew not a boy who had been
| discharged from the institution as REFORM
I ed hsd fallen back into the paths OF vice.
| The boys were in school half the day and
| the other halt at work. They did not re-
| gard themselves as prisoners. The State
purchased the farm on which the reforma-
| tory was built and had provided work
shops for the inmates. Upon the whole,
/ concluded Governor Fleming. there was
no doubt the institution had largely de-
creased crime in the State.
Major Stiles read letter to Senator
John l.. Hurt from DR.. Hoge heartily en-
dorsing the work Of the association and
| the legislation asked for and impressing
the necessity of bringing those evilly dis
posed under good influences while they
| were yOuug.