The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-22


/ The Board Of Public Charities OF
| North Carolina held their annual meet
| ing at the capitol on Friday and Satur-
! dav. Goth and 21st inst. Presents:
! Messrs. Charles Duffy. NJ D., chairman,
| of Craven county; l.. j. Haughton,
| ESQ, Chatham county, and Wesley n.
! Jones. Esq, of Wake, with Capt. c. Il.
benson. secretary.
The secretary presented the annual
report for 1895, embracing reports
from the various State institutions for
the insane. deaf and dumb, blind, or
| phan asylums, Soldiers Home and pen
itentiary, including special reports III
full from the committee of the Board
visiting the State Hospital and North
Carolina School for the Deaf and
Dumb at Morganton. One hundred
and ninety-three reports from inspec-
tions of county homes and jails, work
houses, etc, made during the present
year, were also rendered by abstracts
therefrom. exhibiting the high degrees
of efficiency which this department of
the public service has reached. This
is voluntary service of eminent citizens
in each county, the visitors being I'M
paid. In addition thereto, the secre-
tary discussed a number of desirable
reforms, and referred to improvements
already effected.
The reports exhibited show that the
homes in the counties are good land III
some cases excellent), in forty four
counties. or nearly half the number; as
bad or needing decided repairs in
buildings or better supervision in their
management, in twelve counties, while
the rest may be ranked as fair to in
different. Four counties provide for
their poor otherwise, and have no
county home.
In reference to the iails. we find that
fortv-tvvo counties have good or fairly
tolerable prisons. a few of these very
good. and reaching the highest modern
standard: eleven are bad or very bad,
and the rest fair to indifferent. In
two counties. jails destroyed by fire
have not vet been replaced.
The increase of the number of iuve-
nile offenders sent TO the jails, work
houses and penitentiary and calls
loudly for a State reform school. This
measure should be actively urged upon
the next General Assembly. and
brought to favorable decision. Thirty
children have been taken from the
streets of one city in North Carolina,
under the worst circumstances, and
placed in orphanages and reforina-
tories, benevolent organizations.
The secretary calls the attention of
Board to the need of buildings to the
notice of the Governor and the Gen
eral Assembly the following, among
many topics of State interest: The
great evil of oyercrowding OF our
county iails with Federal prisoners.
Urged by the frequent reports Of gross
negligence and cruelty (as in masslng
ninety prisoners in asheyille Jail, built
for forty-eight), in crowding another
during the great heats of September,
until there was not room for them TO
lie down at the same time.
He has made protset before
the Attorney General of the United
States. and authorized by the ENecu-
tive of the State, he has asked the
Department 10 request Congress to
provide accommodations for Federal
prisoners.
He explains the construction OF the
Manly Model jail building at the At
lanta Exposition, and the advantage TO
efficiency of service: refers to the need
of a clear demarcation in treatment
between these under arrest upon sus-
picion and untried, or those prosecu-
tions. and those who have been actually
convicted of infamous crimes: TO the
best methods of discouraging public
executions: the appointment OF chap
lains 10 the penitentiary camps; the
more systematic management of con-
victs worked upon the public roads:
the organization of city hospitals in
towns of suitable size.
The State institutions are in better
order, more thoroughly equipped, and
doing more service than ever before.
This is no empty statement; there were
n recoyeries this year Of those sent TO
the Morganton institution as insane, or
over 81 per cent of admission; the
number recovered at Raleigh was 62,
being nearly one half all admitted or
46 per cent, and the number at Colds
boro was 40. being percentage of
30 Id; the most brilliant record in the
history OF the State. This applies all
along the line, and should encourage
all, without respect TO party, who have
the interests Of humanity at heart.The
report consumed nearly four hours.
and was unanimously received and a.
dopted Other routine business was
transacted, and the Board in a body
visited all of the institutions in the
city ON yesterday, before adjournment
An iIuDOrtant meeting of the Minis