The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-29

e 7th, sth and sth--NAT GoODwIl
tft t-------------------------
O. al building at Sockanosss,
=, 1ti,ted and it will soon be r aiy
Il ,e an excellent example Of tha
ei ed by the boys in the ya-iou,
b ustrial training, the work on
Il wing been entirely performed
mmOdations are now required
q A@ the workhouse and house ol
c, a rercrowded; and another cot
tf tst erected at the Sockanossei
~ lering further acquisitions foI
N t ng this crowded condition il
W pc your duty 10 inquire IL il
W le 10 inaugurate more eco
n, i the matter OF construction
W ling the health or safe keep
IN 4----s wards. This thought has
come doubtless to ,aany who have examined
the building recently erected at Cranston
Our corrective and charitable institutions are
fsmqps for superior structures and efficient
management, ara TIE po6'ticn they hold in
the public estimation is due to the fidelity OF
an abgs corps Of officers, supervised by n
Board whose mentors devote their ex-
periencnd service without cost to the state.
We arc for.unate in being able to find such
citizens as compose the Board Of Charities ana
Corrections willing to undertake this duty.
Nevertheless, 10 Is possible that, through
zeal TO maintain tho high standard OF the in
stitutions, the Board may be led to suggest ex'
penditures Of too liberal rature, and II be-
comes your responsibility to guard against
any tendency in that direction.
IL is Slso a serious question whether in the
management OF the prison and jail the COM
mendable motive to reform criminals by the
adoption of milder methods and more com
Portable surroundings has not tended TO IN
duly diminish the penal nature OF imprison-
mont, thereby lcssening its effect as restraint
upon law-breakers
1t is thought that the payment by the State OF
the cost OF care and commitment of the inmates
OF the workhouse Sock inosset School, OalSlawn
School, and also Of the pauper insane, Is re-
sponsible to large extent for the heavy de-
mand upon the accommodations Mt the institu-
tions during recent years. In the matter OF
arrests. for instance il is believed that the
commitment fee acts as an incentive TO officers
to make apprehensions which would not be
made IL the fee were paid by the town In
which the prisoner had found legal settlement.
This matter was fully referred TO in my last
| message, and more detailed information can
| be obtained from the reports OF the state
Agent of Charities and Corrections.
renew my recommendation for tho enact
| ment OF n law making the reform school the
| only place of detention for children. and re-
| quiring that their commitment to the prison
| for serious crimes shall be contingent upon
| the approval Of justice OF the supreme court.
|
asylum and corrective institutions should te
| placed under separate administrations, but
| with so many problems of grave import de-
| manding your thought / do not think such q
change OF sufficient moment to require dis
cussion at this session. 1t will, however, Mt no
distant date become matter TO which the
legislature may well give attention.
Militia.
In attempting to estimate the condition OF
fha, oil
recently HIS The state adopted the more liberal
policy evidenced by appropriations for ar
mories, lighting and heating and the camp
ground, Hence the present expenditures for
military purposes scer perhaps unreasonabiy
heavy when compared with those OF other
States where such accommodations were fu'$
nishcd many years ago. The facilities for the
care Of State property have been very meagre,
and there is pressing need of central store
house or arsenal. Much Inconvenience also
arises from time to time in consequence OF the
limited clerical assistance at the disposal OF
the department officers. Considering these
facts and the difficulties imposed by the pres
ent militia law, it seems TO me that the brigade
may Justly be credited with having made
satisfactory progress in discipline and general
efficiency.
The advice and instruction of Lieut.. Wooley,
u. S. A., has been OF great benefit He Is
surely a competent Judge Of the condition OF
biased i'm his opinions From his report to the
War Department as inspecting officer OF tho
last cncampmen., i make the following cx-
tracts THE personnel os the briga lie is very
good, its officers are almost without exception
young business men who have joined the
militia out OF love for the profession. at an ex.
pense in most cases OF much time and money"
"The discipline of the brigade Is very good,
there being evidence mt all times of obedience
and respect for their superiors. "-"The com
panies are rs rule well drilled in the manual
OF arms except I'm the loadings and firings)
and in all company movements THE char
acter and condition of the cavalry and artillery
armament is most excellent. The light battery
should be armeS with guns of the newest pat
tern. Infantry arms are in comparatively good
condition, except In ons regiment."-"Condi-
tion OF clothing generally very good. A few
companies have abused their uniforms"
The exception TO this satisfactory view of
the brigade il found in two companies of 2nd
Regt. Inf. The court martial of the captain
commanding Co. II, 2nd Regt, the first held
under the militia law, resulted in the
dismissal of the accused from the States
service. Further investigation of this
company was followed by its disband-
ment in accordance with the find
ings OF the commission. II became necessary
during the latter part Of the year TO place the
armory and property Of Cos. and II, 2nd
Regt. Inf, under the direct care of the
quartermaster general, in consequence OF the
disgrac ,ful damage that had been done to tho
lockers. arms and uniforms.
The mobilization of the troops at Newport
at the opening Of the May session was sue
ccssfully carried out, and proved of much prac-
tical value. The officers unite in advising tina;
such an opportunity OF gaining experience In
Transporting and massing the men should be
afforded annually.
The frat of tho new armories which the State
A. providing 20. tho militia hal bocn finish II
and occupied in Newport. II is expected that
the armory in Pawtuck will be ready for oc-
cupancy In April next, and the Bristol armory
later on. The State has als acquired the own
ership OF the armory a, Westerly. Tho joint
special committee has entered into nogotia-
ti1ns with the city council OF Provid snec IN re-
gard 20 site for an nr ncry In that city. The
present rented quartcrs ARE inconv lnent and
il-suited for military pnrpose. and n modern
nrmory n impcritivcly needed, constructed
not only % accomm )datc the COM alies, but
also 20 furnish storag for State mili.ary prop
crty. Providence II che business c,nter OF tho
state tho natural ID sint OF cpocn fratfon aa