The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-17
ABOUT PRISON REFORM.
the yfRGINIi ASSOCIATION m
FORE THE FINANCE CUMMITTEE d.
An Appropriation of ala, 900 Asked for TO
Aid That Worthy InstitutIcn--An
Ambiguity in the Law.

The House Committee on Finance met
Yesterday morning at l0 o'clock In room
DO. /, on the upper floor OF the Capitol
(uildlng. The frs, bill taken mp was one
introduced by General Hundley. OF Ame-
liza, which seeks 10 abolish an ambiguity
that exists In the present law in regard
10 the duties OF the Register OK the Land
ONCE. Subdivision OF section 1873, chap
ter IA. OF the Code OF Virginia provides
that the Register OF the Land once, who
IS also the Superintendent OF Public
Buildings and Superintendent Of Weights
and Measures, shall receive as comDen-
sation for all OF his services "A salary OF
xl.JO0 Section 1905 OF the Code, on the
other hand, provides that the SuJerin-
tendont OF Weights and Measures shail
receive compensation OF 500 Tor MS
services.
General Hundley stated that Mr.. Epes,
the present Register of the Land once,
had never claimed that additional amount
Of $500 but that he had been advised ny
good lawyers that he was emitted 10 IL
by law. The bill under discussion seeks
10 straighten out the law by eliminating
from subdivision OF section le5, chapter
"a, OF the Code, the words and super
intendent Of Weights and Measures. ,u
In view OF the fact that there Is a Dii
pending In the House at present whlch
seeks 10 abolish the office OF Sealer OF
Weights and Measures for the entire
otAtc. the commute UhSSiAl
leys bill 10y TO await the acton 10 pe
takenl by the General Assembly, On uie
other bill.
PRISON ASSOCIATION
Major Robert Stiles Mr.. James Caskie,
Hon. y. p Munford, Mr. J. X. Tucker,
Jr. and Mr.. Roosevelt Page appeared
before the committee on behalf OF the
Virginia Prison Association, 10 lay be-
fore that body the needs Of their orgam-
Mr. cask,e the president of the asso-
citation, who spoke first, stated that the
association asked the State for an appro-
priation OF 5000 for the years 1886 and
1897, 10 assist in the defraying OF IT'S
running expenses, and also for an appro-
priation OF $1,000 for the erection OF an
additional building. lie said the assocla-
ton had been in existence for five years,
and owned a farm OF one hundred acres
of land at Laurel Station, eight miles
from this city, with dwelling house ana
factory on II. Mr.. Caskie then read be-
fore the committee the last annual report
of the organization. which showed that
the first boy was received in the ihstilu-
1890 TO November. 1891, there were re-
ceived 2s boys; during the next year "a
boys were received and I discharged,
during the third year - Dogs
during the fourth year 81 boys We're
received and 20 discharged, and during
the last year 40 boys were received ana
As discharged. The total number OF boys
received during the five years or the
existence OF the institution was 225, while
81 We're discharged. The number OF IN
Nine of the boys. Mr.. Caskie said, were
formerly inmates of the penitentiary. The
work done by the association was hoi
local, for boys were received from all
parts of the State. and the maintenance
OF the institution should be by the state.
The object OF sending the boys 10 me
institution was not TO punish then. put
teach them discipline ana educate thtih-
While inmates of the institution the
boys are taught farming, shoe making
carpentering. ana the making OF hor Sc
collars. After their discharge rom Inc
institution the boys are looked after by
the association as far as possible
The expenses Of the school are ratheI
heavy, for inasmuch as the boys are not
locked up in cells. the employment OF
guards and OF teachers becomes neces-
sary; but IL is thought by the ooaru
Of directors that after the year ls9, t eo,.
State will no longer have TO be asked Tor
financial assistance The Appropriation
of $4,000 for a new building is asked lor;
so that accommodation might be provided
for sn Increase OF the school during the
next five years.
MAJOR STILES ADDRESS.
Major Stiles who was the next speaker,
made avery interesting address on prison
reform generally. lie stated that the
criminal class in the United states num-
bered from 800 600 TO 100000. of whom
about 10000 are inmates of the various
penitcntarIes. Each one of these crimi-
nualiy for carrying out precautionary
measures losses on property, etc, max
ing an aggregate Of from i've hundred 10
six hundred millions OF dollars maj
class of people was increasing oVerwhelm-
ingy faster than the population OF the
country The first proposition OF oriso!
reform was TO separate those who can
be reformed from the others. The aim
OF the Prison Association was TO MAKE
the boys under their care laW-abidins
and productive members OF society by
taking them away from the bad influences
surrounding them and placing them un-
der good discipline and education.
In nearly every state of the Union was
one or more of these Industrial schools
in existence. but If the State was to take
charge of the institution its maintenance
would cost twice as much as IT did now
Since the existence OF the school Major
Stiles said, Il have collected the sum oil
$1,000 for its support. and expect 10
continue TO collect money, but the state
would lose this revenue SHOULD II TAKE
the management of the school in It's own
hands. and probably the work would
not then be done as well as at present
Great Britain is the only country where
the criminal class is not increasing as
rapidlv as the population. 1t has about
200 such Industrial schools, but none OF
them is controlled 10y the Government
Their managers. however make their an
nual reports 10 the Government AT the
industrial school at Laurel station the
boys are kept in school Tor four hours
they are kept at work for four hours, ana
four hours are allowed them Tor play
They are well treated, and the attempts 10
escape are few. However, the INSTITUTION
cannot be kept unless the state renders
the assistance asked for or the boys OF
the institution who remain there on the
average from fifteen TO eighteen months
% per cent. make a good record. Under
existing circumstances there are not &C
commodations enough to meet the de-
mands and some OF the boys actually
have 10 be turned away.
MR. MUNFORD'S VIEWS.
Hon. b. h. Munford next addressed the
committee. and spoke Of the good WORK
done by the association lie thought the
State was especially indebted TO MAJOR
stiles and Mr.. Caskie for their untiring
efforts on behalf OF the institution. lie
pointed out that the school had not cost
The State one cent except $4,000 for the
erection of buildings. The law gives the
keeper OF TAIL twenty-five cents per
day for the support OF each prisoner
and the same amount is paid by the state
20 the Prison Association for the support
of each boy at the school
Mr. MunfOrd invited the committee 10
visit the school some afternoon and look
for themselves as TO its merits, in order
20 convince themselves that the work was
worthy Of the support OF the State.
The gentlemen then retired after Chair
man Cooke had given them the assurance
that the committee would cheerfuly con-
cider their request.