The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-01-15

Of learning, which include this at Olathe and the
one at Kansas City. Here. as at the latter
| place, are taught trades. so that the child.
when graduate, is well equipped to go out and
| compete with those who have been more fortu-
nate. Certain wants are spoken Of in the re-
| port which believe will bear your investiga-
ton. and any money appropriated for the neces-
| sites Of this institution will meet with my
| hearty approval
school for the Blind.
| An erroneous idea appears to prevail through
out the state IN regard to this most worthy in
stitVtiOn. BY many it is regarded as a charita-
bic institution. This is not true. 1t is an edu-
| cational institution similar to our university.
normal school or agricultural college. Within
! its walls education is offered to and life made
! brighter and happier for those who have been
bereft of their sight. Many of the children
| there are as intelligent and bright as those who
attend our other institutions. There is nothing
! that should appeal to our sense of humanity
| more than these children. and ! would recon-
| mend that their wants be duly investigated and
| that the Improvements demanded by the super
intendent receive careful consideration. Strange
| as it may seem. many OF these children are self
| supporting and. with judiciouS Investment of
! the state of n small amount of additional cash
each year in order to increase its facilities. it
| will be not only a credit TO our humanity and
citizenship. but will turn out class of citizens
fully equipped for the battle Of life in many of
| its avOcatiOns.
Kansas Penitentiary at Lansing.
The penitentiary contained sol prisoners June
80 1895 OF these II were women. For the
fiscal year ended June 80. 1896 the expenditures
of the institution were $751;. 6OO2q. the earnings
S14S9l6.50. The report of the warden. board of
directors and officials contains an exhaustive
treatise on the expenditures and necessities of
| the institution. But few realize the magnitude
OF this institution or the careful attention
which it should receive from the legislature in
order to keep it abreast of institutions of the
same kind in sister states. At times in our his
tory this has been a self-supporting institution.
AT other times it has been considerable of
burden to the taxpayers of the state. The out
put of coal from the penitentiary has been it's
principal source of revenue, yet there is
sentiment in portions of the state
against utilizing this coal except
for state institutions. In another
portion of this message certain recommended
tons are made in regard to the,Surplus after the
state institutions 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 in
stead OF producing so much coal, other manu-
factories could be established which would not
compete with the free labor of the state, it
would be better than our present system. To
place man in enforced idleness would in
crease his cost of maintenance to the taxpayers
of the state. and while his efforts may in
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 attention is directed.
The principal necessities seem to be the COM
pletiOn of more cells for the use of prisoners
and additional clothing for convicts The COM
pletion of cells will necessitate the
placing of heating apparatus and a
few other necessities in these cells. l would
recommend to your honorable body that the
efficiency of this institution should not be i'm
paired by any lack of substantial assistance on
your part. Economy that would make cOndi-
lions so that the guilty could escape from
prison cells and again be thrown loose upon
the communicated society would not be economy
in line with the best interests of the state Your
committee from the two houses will visit this
institution and no doubt will carefully investi-
gate and report to you any improvements 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 Judgment the re-
form school for boys, situated in our capital
city. IS that one Not that would charge in
competence upon its management or employees
but from the fact that it is impossible to reform
boys in idlenesS 1 am informed that. when
this school was established, the object sought
was to take the erTing boys and lead them to q
better and higher life In order to do this they
should be taught trades and made useful citi-
zens. For some reason unknown to me, the
Legislature has failed to make appropriations
for buildings and mechanical apparatus for car
rying out this idea. l recommend to the legis-
lature that it is thought impracticable to fur
nish apparatus suitable for teaching them
trades, that additional appropriations be made
for the Hutchinson reformatOry and that the
boys be removed there where they can have
the influence 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.
State ReformatOry at Hutchinson.
The refOrmatOry at Hutchinson, established
by the legislature in 1885, was made ready for
occupancy in 1895, and opened with 80 of the
least hardened criminals from our state peni-
Tertiary. The report Of the board and my
knowledge Of the institution lead 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 a career of crime. In con-
nection with the institution is farm Of $40
acres which, 1 am informed, has produced
about ~, 600 bushels Of corn this year. in sddi-
ton to large amount of vegetables
for use in the institution in return for the work
Of the boys A tailoring department and a shoe
factory are conducted, where the inmates
are taught trades. Schools are maintained at
night for those who labor during the day and
during the day for those who do not labor. The
board Of directors is asking for an appropria- |
ton to complete certain portions Of the building
so that it can be used to accommodate other in |
mates, and in my judgment the requests should |
be granted. to the end that the erring may be |
and our young boys who have taken |
a step in the wrong direction be brought back |
TO the path Of rectitude and right and made |
honorable citizens
Industrial School for Girls at Beloit.
All that have said relative to the reform |
atory for boys at Hutchinson, will apply to this |
Institution While that teaches good citizen |
ship and habits Of industry to erring boys, this |
does the same for hayward girls The superin-
.endent and the state board of charities deem |
il essential that certain improvements be made |
would commend to you these reports and that |
this institution receive fair and just treatment |
Board of Agriculture.
In its past in our history the board OF agricul-
lure has been matter of public deriSiOn. but |
IN later years. in the hands Of competent men |
and men who have taken deep interest in the /
natter. it has become a matter Of state pride
81. Ill lie