The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-13

The greatest burden upon the TAX
paying people is crime Not only IN its
direct rayages upon life, reputation, or
property. but through the SoOO,ooo an
nually spent in criminal prosecutions, the
erection and maintenance or JAMS ana
work houses, and the support or the
nenitentiary. besides the loss to product
i've labor OF those who become habltual
criminals. =.
Furthermore. this burden is steadily
increasing. I have heretofore estimated
it at five per cent annually; the last re-
mort of the honorable Attorney General
gives about II per cent increase for the
past two years. And all this taxation
is for punitive measures-there is no
reformatory element, or next TO none,
now at work.
Is it not time to do something, put
blindly smite with the vengeance or
the law? Cannot the lives of the children
who fall into evil-doing be changed, and
the energies now devoted to lawless en-
terprise be directed into useful pursuits?
Many of these are the victims of abso-
Int Observation-Disclosures or without such
fathers as win train them to usefulness.
They violate the law: sometimes ignor-
antly at first or under temptation from
have no education, no knowledge of any
useful calling, and no friends to provide
for them. Again, they MAY have all
these, but burst through the ordinary
restraints of life, and need, not simply
punishment, but diseipline-steady train
ing; the gradual formation of good habits
and the evolution of~eharacter by years
of good habits become second nature.
Many estimate 300 annually to be the
number that fall into the hands OF the
law. A census taken four years ago by
the Board of Public Charities approached
that number. 1t is usually by years of
gradual downfall that boys reach the
penitentiary; first the friendly admoni-
ton by the judge; then night in town
lookup, and bye and bye, a brief term in
jail: then few years in work house
finally the great outrage upon society,
which demands ten years or more, in the
State penitentiary.
Yet, from a report received this day
from the North Carolina penitentiary,
for the Board OF Charities, j note 81
convicts were admitted tout of 1,121g
who were under 10 years of age, upon
admission.
We are not prepared to erect a refor-
matory at this time; for offenders of 16
or Is to 81 years. We shall have all that
we can at present expect, to take charge
OF children under 10 years, in what is
more properly called a reform school, or
in some States, State training school.
We shall not have to look into hedges
and highways to find them. They are
already in the penitentiary, the work
houses, and the county jaIls. III sufficient
number for the organization of the in
csi Ir xx-a alafbn and fand
them at the public expense, and train
them to be outlaws-it is only a question
of clothing and feeding and training to be
citizens. asss&S
Who says these things are true? The
most experienced members of the bar,
the judges of your Supreme and Superior
courts. and the solicitors Of the same;
the sorely tried mayors Of our cities and
towns, the superintendent of work
houses and the penitentiary authorities.
The Board of Public Charities, which
| represent, has patiently presented the
facts to the people for seven years. Your
Governors have approved. The great
religious bodies Of the State have re-
quested legislative action.
1t was not unwise to wait until the
whole force of strong public opinion
could be aroused not only to the creation
of reform school, but to its hearty and
earnest support.
Will it do any good? Let facts answer
Seventy-6ve institutions of this kind are
at work in this country. Not one has
ever been abandoned-but on the con-
trary, they go on to greater development.
There are before the writer now hundreds
of letters and reports in favor of their
efficiency-the average estimate is from
6S to so percent. saved to live useful
and honorable lives.
From O large correspondence, quote
two letters. This week, from the AT.
torney General of Nebraska, in descrio-
ing the reform schools for girls and boys
(separate) he says:
I'm my opinion they are much more
popular with the people of this State
to-day than they were at the time they
were established; l doubt IL anything
could be done to lead the people to aban-
don the project in this State" And again
he declares emphatically: TN my opin-
ion, there is not an investment made
in this State Of the peoples money,
which is more profitable to the body
polite than in that which is devoted
to the support and maintenance OF these
two reform schools"
0uAS very COTuldiiy,
"A. s, CHURCHILL,
attorney General"
The three States of the United States.
whicht have checked the increase OF
crime, and absolutely diminished it per-
ceptibly, have developed reform schools
most thoroughly. Just here, | quote
from letter received this day, dated ST.
Paul, December 7th, from Hon. III. III.
Hart, general secretary of the National
Conference of Charities of the United
States. He says: sit is the general
opinion of those who are familiar with
this institution (the State reform school
that it has done much to prevent and
diminish crime in the State of Minnesota.
We have population of about 100000,
and of that population only 613 convicts.
We believe that this small proportion is
due to the work Of the State reform
school, and what is known as the State
public school, where children are sent,
who would otherwise go to the poor
house I am sure North Carolina will