Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-01-16

less cost to the state than IL Obliged To
build it by sections The last legislature.
under the act authorizing the reforrnatorv
(chapter S57, laws 1895, approved March
%, 1695), appropriating the sum OF 500.
GOO ito purchase the land necessary. erect
main building, walls hospital and 10
furnish complete two wings under the plan
as adopted by the commissioners. n OF tha
100000 SO appropriated, but $50, 900 ID
now available. The appropriation law Of
1895 (chapter 434, before mentioned) was
approved June 25, 1895, but did not be-
come operative until Nov. i, 1895. By that
act and chapter 401, laws Of 1895. the re-
fornatory commission was limited in the
expenditure Of the 500, 900, heretofore
appropriated to the sum Of $50, 900 prior to
Nov. /, 1895, and $50, 900 during the cur
rent fiscal year. On Nov. /, 1925, the ap-
preparation for the time anterior thereto
was intact, and under the laws mention
ed, lapsed and became part Of the general
state fund. The commission has there
fore, at its disposal but $50, QUO Of the
800, 900 originally appropriated. 1t was
not, apprehend, the legislative intent 10
deprive the commission Of any part Of the
500, 900 appropriated by the reformatory
/ act The appropriation was divided upon
| the idea that the half thereof would be
needed before Nov. /, 1895, and the re-
mainder not until after that date. It il
evident that the commission cannot sue
cessfully prosecute its work with the $50
600 now available. 1T therefore becomes
necessary for your honorable bodies to de-
termine how largely that sum shall be
increased.
State Reform School For Boys.-The
number Of inmates Of this institution at
the date Of the superintendent report
| (Oct. 81, 1880 was 376. The admissible
age Is between years and is years. but
the trustees may bind ont the inmates a.
apprentices or servants until they become
II years Of age, or for any less time The
declared object Of the school is to cause the
boys ito be instructed in piety and moral
tty, and In such branches OF useful knowI-
| edge as are adapted to their age and ca
pacity, and In some regular course Of labor
either mechanical, manufacturing. agri-
cultural, or a combination Of these, as il
best suited to their age, strength, disposi-
tion and capacity, and in such other arts
or trades as may seem best adapted to Sc
cure the reformation, amendment and fu-
ture benefit OF the boys" ANY boy be-
tween the ages stated, arrested or convict
ed OF any offense Except murder or man
slaughter), may be committed to the re-
form school. This institution, while per
forming in a generally satisfactory man
ner its declared object, Is in the opinion Or
the trustees and principal greatly hamper
cd by insufficient accommodations and ap-
pliances. A hospital, much needed, is In
course Of erection, for which the last leg
islature appropriated $5, 900. The de-
fcient supply Of water, OF which com
plaint was made in previous reports, has
been remedied, so that now sthe quality
of the water is good and quantity ample.
The trustees and superintendent regard a
chapel as an urgent necessity. The ac-
commodations now furnished for religious
exercises are cramped, crude and in all re-
Epects inferior By chapter 272 OF the laws
Of 1891 an appropriation of $7 600 was
made for the erection OF a chapel. Ato the
end that necessary facilities may be afford
ed for the religious and moral instruction
of the inmates OF said school, BY chap
ter 40l, laws of 1895, it was provided that
said appropriation should mot be avail
able or drawn from the treasury until
specifically hereafter appropriated and au-
thorized by the annual appropriation act. y
The trustees and superintendent greatly
regret this action and trust that the ap-
preparation may be restored BY your hon
orable bodies The boys are instructed in
farming, gardening, and in almost all
branches of mechanical industry, and with
very good results. But there il a great lack
Of room or buildings properly to instruct
the boys in trades. The building now used
as carpenter and wheelwright shop and
that used as a blacksmith shop were old
frame buildings when the school farm was
purchased 80 years ago. These buildings are
small and incommOdiOus, one being is by
40 feet and the other 20 feet by 20 feet
The needs Of the school demand a commo-
dious building In which to teach carpen-
tering, blacksmithing, bricklaying, plas
tering and plumbing. Such building. the
superintendent says, could be erected al
most entirely by their own labor, Of bricks
made by the inmates, and not be expen-
sive. The trustees also report that there
Is Imperative need OF building to contain
kitchen, bakery and cold rooms and gen
eral storage combined-all which is sub
mitted for your careful consideration.
Industrial School For Girls.
The Industrial School for Girls Is located
In the county OF Mercer, about two miles
from the city OF Trenton. On Oct 81.
and 80 out at service under indentures, a
total OF ISL girls subject TO the control Of
the institution. During the past year con
siderable improvements have been made
to the buildings and grounds, and the
trustees report the school as being Ia
very satisfactory condition and well sub
serving the purpose for which ii was in
stituted. The school has existed 25 years,
1tss ~ rf h
between the ages OF and l6 years. Any
girl between the ages stated, who l. guilty
Of any crime Except murder or man
slaughter) OF who is habitually disorderly,
incorrigible or vagrant, i a fit subject for
the school. All such the law intends shall
be consigned to the school and not sen
fenced to jail or prison. All details a. To
the conduct and management OF the school,
the admission Of inmates thereto and the
reforming influences to which they are
there subjected can be found In the very
full and interesting report Of the trustees
for the year ending Oct. 81, 1895.
state Charities Aid Association.
The board OF managers report that the
condition of the almshouses throughout
the state is much the same as last year. In
several OF the amshouses are number OF
chronic insane. This the managers regard
as a great evil and will ask Of the legisla-
ture at it's present session the passage OF a
law similar to that Of the state of New
York, modified to suit the conditions OF
this state, requiring the placing OF all in
sane In the hospitals or asylums provided
for them.
A general improvement In the condition
Of county iails Is reported.
The management OF the state reform
school, at Jamesburg, and the Industrial
School for Girls, at Trenton, Is commend
ed
Penal Laws.
Joint resolution No. 8, approved March
25, 1895, recited Whereas it appears that
the infexibility Of our penal laws l. an
important factor In the reinforcement and
perpetuation Of the criminal class; there
fore resolved, that commission OF five
persons be appointed to make careful in
vestigation Of the subject named in the
preamble and report at the next session Of
the Legislature t1S96) the results or their
peiiberations- II
The sum Of 81 900 was appropriated to
defray the expenses or the commission "in
investigating the results of the system now
in use in Massachusetts, and also the sys-
tenn now in use In other state also to re-
port upon the principle OF probation as q
substitute for imprisonment for first Of
fenses, and also to report upon the indie
terminate sentence now in operation iii