The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-12


this coal except for state institutions
In another portion of this message GER
tain recommendations are made in re-
gard to the surplus after the state in
stitutfons are supplied. This in my
judgment. at this time, is as far as we
can go on the line of correcting the
placing of coal, mined by convict labor
IN competition with free labor If it
could be so arranged that instead of
producing SO much coal, other manu-
facturieS could be established which
would not compete with the free labor
of the state, it would be better than
our present system. To place a man
in enforced idleness would increase his
cost of maintenance to the TAXPAYERS
of the state, and while his efforts may
in a measure work a hardship on
men engaged in that industry, yet the
cost of maintaining him in idleness
would prove a grievous burden on all
who contribute to the support of the
state by taxation.
There are certain recommendations
made by the board to which your atten-
ton is directed. The principal necessi-
ties seem to be the completion of more
cells for the use of prisoners and adj
ditiOnal clothing for convicts- The
completion of cells will necessitate the
placing of heating apparatus and few
other necessities in these cells would
recommend to your honorable body that
sthe efficiency of this institution should
not be impaired by any lack of sub
stantial assistance on your part Econ
ony that would make conditions so
son cells and again be thrown loose
upon the community and society, would
not be economy in line with the best
interests of the state. Your commit
tees from the two houses will visit this
institution and no doubt will carefully
investigate and report to you any i'm
provements or changes necessary to
add to the efficiency of the institution
REFORM SCHOOL AT TOPEKA
If there is any institution in the state
which is open to criticism, in my
1~ef
situated in our capital city, is that one.
Not that 1 would charge Incompetence
upon its management or employees,
but from the fact that 1t is impossible
to reform boys in idleness. The min
iature man is so constituted that he
must have something to employ his
mind and hands or else he will invent
something for himself. An old proverb
of doubtful origin says: Satan always
finds work for idle hands to do" and
if this be true, and 1 accept it as true,
I think his satanic majesty is quite
likely a. visitor at the reform school
am informed that, when this school
was established, the object sought was
to take the errinS boys and lead them
to a better and higher life. In order to
do this they should be taught trades
and made useful citizens. For some
reason, unknown to me, the legislature
has failed to make appropriations for
buildings and mechanical apparatus for
carrying out this idea True. a drill
master has been employed and the boys
are being trained in the manual of
arms for the life of a soldier. I cannot
agree with the superintendent's report
that this is proper and right My ex-
perience is that nine out OF ten boys
who go astray, do so through the in
fuence of dime novels and cheap lit
erature, wherein bandits, highwaymen
blood and thunder and gun powder are
| promiscuously- mixed. Any training
which they might receive in the line of
creating bloodShed and CORY war, in
culcates the same idea on the inside
r 11crTaT fhnr~ fT.n1
side. In my humble judgment they
should be taught and instructed in the
line of a peaceful citizenship, rather
than that of soldier and war.
I recommend to the legislature that
if it is thought inpracticable to furn-
ish apparatus suitable for teaching
them trades, that additional appropri-
ations be made for the Hutchinson re-
formatory and that the boys be remov-
ed there where they can have the in
fuence brought upon them that will
lead them in the right line In case
you should see fit and proper to do this,
the reform school building could be
used for additional room for the insane.
am not informed as to under what
conditions the real estate on which the
reform school buildings stand was pro-
cured; if by purchase then the legisla-
ture can make this removal without
losing the states title to the land- If,
on the other hand, the conveyance was
such that it had to be occupied for the
purpose of a reform school, this latter
ever, I cannot refrain from asking that
something be done in the matter. A
continuation of Dick Turpin and Jesse
James ideas inside the walls of this in
stitution will not reform the boys and,
while it may hold them in restraint
for the time being and relieve society of
their presence and influence, yet, when
they are turned loose, in my judgment
their moral condition will not be i'm
proved to any great extent.
STATE REFORMATORYA AT HUTCH
INSON.
To reform the erring and make good
citizens of young men and boys VINO
have been led astray is one of the mob
lest works in which men engage With
the view of doing this the reformatory
at Hutchinson was established by the
legislature in 1885, was made ready for
occupation in 1895, and opened with
80 of the least hardened criminals from
our state penitentiary. The report of
the board and my knowledge of the in
stitution leads me to believe that it
has proven a success and is solving
the question of what to do with young
criminals who are started on career
of crime. In connection with the in
stitution is a farm of $40 acres, which
l am informed, has produced about L.
600 bushels of corn this year in addition
to large amount of vegetables for use
in the institution, in return for the
work of boys A tailoring department
and shoe factory are conducted where
the inmates are taught the trades.
Schools are maintained at night for
those VINO iapOr OuIlHS the oey anu
during the day for those who do not
labor The rooms now completed are
crowded to their full capacity and the
board of directors is asking for an APP
preparation to complete certain por-
tons of the building so that it can be
used to accommodate other inmates. This
will necessitate more help and in my
judgment the requests should be grant
ed and the object it seeks to obtain
be encouraged to the end that the err
ring may be reclaimed and our young
men and boys who have taken a step
in the wrong direction be brought back
to the path of rectitude and right and
made honorable citizens, rather than