The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-02-18

III tue at NtAAhAhN W
each other at the table for not being COM
potent In sewing a patch on garment
to specially please the seamstress, for
accidentally spilling water. breaking dish
es or making unlntentional mistakes; for
not getting the stitches close enough on
clothing. and many like petty onenses,
except In extreme cases. Corporal punish
ment oftentimes administered for these
small offeuses Is certainly brutal and
cruel, and the regularity with which the
thick, heavy strap IL administered to the
children we feel has caused the superin-
tendent to forget the power of his right
arm. We find that the boys and girls are
oftentimcs beaten upon the cords OF the
wrists with u ruler or strap hard enough
to cause the wrist TO swell 10 twice It's
natural size. We lind that the girls have
~ times been severely punished for haN-
ing occasion 10 use the chamber at night.
one of the rules of this establishment Is
that they are allowed to so In u body at
different hours OF the day 10 the outside
closet, but after o'clock ut night. under
no consideration. except when sick, are
they allowed 10 obey the calls OF nature
until : O'Clock. ANY violation of this rule
causes severe punishment with strap
to the girl who violates II. and when the
aware of this inhuman rule he at once
pronounced it cruel and a crime against
nature. The children are oftenltmcs whip
ped black and blue Tor petty orenscs. We
find that the male superintendent at dif-
fcrcn times has punished the girls himself
by raising their dresses ana administer
ing strokes with leather strap.
I'VE recommend To you that In the fu-
turc the matron or female employees atone
be allowed TO administer punishment TO
the female inmates OF this home,
I'VE find after careful Investigation that
one of the girl Inmates. by the name OF
Bell was sick. and for complaining oil
such sickness she was severely punished,
The next day she was removed to the
hospital and treated for diphtheSia and in
n few days she died. The physician of the
institution Informed us that the death was
caused by heart failure. In this connec-
tion we find that many OF the inmates
who have at different times complained
OF illness, aud whom We are satisfied
were justified in their complaint. have
been seriously whipped while there are
cases of fcigncd illness. in which the Of
fender should receive punishment We be-
liove that the eases of complaint have
not been thoroughly investigated and
they have been too readily punished for
such complaints. Al two different times
have children been accidentally struck
over the eye aud forced TO carry u black
mark for days.
AT different times when the boys have
complained To the trustees, who. We hoid.
had perfect right to receive their COM
plants, they have been severely punished
for so doing, one instance being when
they asked for better food.
THE whip IL not the only instrument
used for punishment. but oftentimes the
superini endeut has used wooden latin.
and at one time with his bare hand he1V-
lily slapped for slight dsobedience.
which caused marks 10 remain upon the
boys face for several days
we believe that the superintendent al
lows too much power to n certain teacher
named Estep. We have investigated the
actions of this teacher and most warmly
recommend that he at once he discharged.
one favorite mode administered by this
teacher Is to throw a silver dollar ~ the
boys, and in one instance the missile
struck the boy and caused n cut on his
head from which the blood flowed freely.
This Same teacher In open school. ac-
cused. Inundated and made fun of II boy.
blaming him for an unnatural crime.
For boys who attempt to escape. the
mode of punishment is in placing
shackles upon their feet In several cases
keeping them on from two TO six months.
at all times. not even removing them AT
night. In the pcnitcntiary this might he
necessary. hut your committee believe
that in a reform school IL Is inhuman and
unjust. The favoriIc position In which
boys are placed when whipped is to force
them fiat upon barrel his coat having
been removed. when he Is ut the mercy
of the chastiser. The most unjust punish
ment that has been administered Is. In
our opinion. IN the eases OF ignorant boys
who cannot read being whipped for not
being able TO commit verse OF the Bible
to memory. or in falling to learn their
Golden Text. II has seemed to us impos-
sihlc for them. in their ignorance, TO learn
such verses as required. and we believe
that this rule should be eliminated. In
this institution there are many simple
minded boys. who. In their ignorance
make mistakes. Some allowance should
he made for them. yet they are looked
upon the same as are those OF "a more In
telligent mind, and. II anything. because
OF their Ignorance they are punished more
severely.
"In conclusion We recommend that the
superintendents salary he reduced from
sl25 per month to Sl00 per month. that n
record he kept of each violation OF tho
rules and the punishment administered
therefor and the dates of same and IN,
name of the cmploye who administered
punishment.
"Wealso recommend the abolition OF ths
above unjust and inhuman rules. We ar,
perfectly satisfied that the suspicious and
rumors of criminal intimacy In the schoo
are unjust to the trustees, manager ano
employees.
we recommend that the mouth pads
that are placed upon the riris' mouths t,
| restrain them from talking bc dispensed
with. Hs We believe II is barbnrous ano
| should not be permitted I'm an institution
| in the great commonwealth OF Montana.
We find that the best OF treatment 1,
| given 10 the inmates during sickness. an,
| firmly believe that no Improvement cOul,
b. made in this particular point.
We recommend FOR the girls depart
ment number Of bathtubs. abolishinl
| the system Of causing the girls to ba,h,
In common washbowls
! I'VE believe that the trustees and th'
| people OF Miles city are not conversan
with the true facts regarding the punish
/ ment 80 the reform school. and we mos
/ heartily recommend that the board o.
| trustees be more rigid. that they admins
ter more authority and as much rs posst
/ BE specify all the workings Of the insti
tuition.
/ We recommend that the rules be- print
I ed as clear as possible for IN" tnforma
U tiOn of the new inmates. ~ under the oil,