The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-12-24
STATE CHARITIES BOARD
FEATURES OF TIE BO.tRD'S ANNUAL
REPORT.

Asylums and Industrial schools and
Their Needs.
Hartford, Dec. 2S,-The general re-
port of the state board of charities was
presented to the governor to-day. 1t
covers the period from September 80,
1895, to September 80, 1896.
A brief account of the principal In
stitutions and the recommendations
concerning them is as follows:
Numerous changes have been made
at the prison during the past year in
the matter of enlarged and improved
buildings and in the introduction of
new features in the internal admins
tration. The board favors greater lib
crafty in the matter of secular litera-
ture for all it's inmates as means of
securing a more cheerful and healthy
condition of mind. The erection of a
separate ward for the insane is strong
ly urged, and it is recommended that
a scientific investigation be made of
all cases of insanity that occur in or
der to ascertain the probable cause,
influences in the daily life of the pris-
oners
1t is the opinion of the board that
the proposed state reformatory should
not be located within the limits of any
large city, but in some suburban dis
tricts where farming may have it's place
with other useful occupations. The
need of railway communication with it's
-hn hTy
the experience Of similar institutions
in other states. 1t is questioned, also,
whether tramps and offenders over
thirty years of age are suitable candl-
dates for an institution whose chlef
purpose is the regeneration of younger
offenders. Especial regret is felt that
the proposed plans do not provide for
the womens department as directed IN
the establishing statute, since for them,
in a large measure, the reformatory
was originally established 1t is rec
commended that if only one department.
of the reformatory can be erected at
present, that one be the department for
women.
At the State School for Boys it is rec
commended that some form of system
attic physical exercise be introduced.
Glasses in working trades have been
carried on during the year, but the
whole number employed is small in
comparison with the population of the
school A large proportion OF the boys
are engaged for five and half hours
a day at Gaming chairs, than which
there are few occupations less inspir-
ing to hands and brains. 1t is recon-
rnended, therefore, that Sloyd work
and industrial training be provided for
all members Of the school in order to
prepare them for honest, self-sustain-
ing careers.
The steady growth of the hospital
for the insane is noted, and it is ques-
toned whether the insane wards of the
state may not best be provided for in
two institutions, one a hospital for the
scientific treatment of acute cases and
the other an asylum for the restraint
of chronic or incurable cases. The ad-
ministration of the hospital as in pre-
yiol1s years. is marked by careful econ
omy in all departments
In regard to the county jails, the ex-
tensive alterations completed or now in
progress in Hartford, New Haven,
Windham and Litchfield counties are
described Whenever the proposed
state reformatory is completed it is rec
commended that the jails be reserved as
houses of detention for persons await
ing trial in the higher courts, and for
the restraint of less serious Offenders
for whom cumulative sentences should
be imposed in the case of their second
and third convictions.
There are at present eight private
asylums for the insane in the state
sheltering an average number of l9C
inmates AS means of preventing the
possible operation of impropert places
for this purpose, it is recommended
that an official license from some suit
able authority be required for their es
Establishment. 1t is also recommended
that a state commission III lunacy be
appointed to exercise a general super.
vision in the interest of insane persons
throughout the state.
At the Lakeville School for Imbeciles
the need of increased accommodations
is reported and it Is recommended thai
a more liberal policy be adopted by the
state in the interest of the institution
The American school at Hartford
for the deaf has enjoyed another veal
of satisfactory progress and plans are
under consideration for removing the
school to some quieter location in the
suburbs.
At the Mystic Oral school improve
ments have recently been made in the
furnishings, but the school is small
and not up to the standard of Other
state aided institutions. In view of the
schools unofficial system of manage
ment, its limited facilities and lack O.
provision for acquiring useful trades
and in view, furthermore, of the fac
that it has never been shown that tht
state needs two schools for the in
struction of it's deaf wards, the board
recommends that the appropriation O
state funds be withdrawn from thi:
school and that suitable provision fol
the state pupils therein be madeN else
where.
In regard to the industrial depart
ment of the Connecticut Institute FOL
the Blind, criticism is made that the re
suits of its work do not appear com
mensurate with the amounts of money
expended and the board urges a gen
eral Improvement in the discipline ant
system of work in the institution.
On September 80, the county tempo
rary homes were sheltering 59S in
mates and attention is called to th'
danger of their becoming more perma