The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-04
ONTLINE OF A BILL To PRovIDE
FOR A STATE REFORM
ATORY.
AT COL. VIEWPOINTS,
AT WHICH THE SUBJECT WAS
AGAIN DISCUSSED AT SOME
LENGTH.
ALL ARE AGREED ON ONE POINT.
The Institution When Built ShouId
Not Be Erected in the Same
Place as Any Other.

Another meeting was held at the
nome Of Col. r. NJ. Newport last night
IN the interest of the bill, to provide
Tor the building and establishment of
a state reformatory for Winona. The
members of the legislature present
were Senators w. E. Johnson, Of Min
neapolis; Thompson, Spencer and
Hooge, and Representatives McDon-
ala and Hayter. A number of ladies
interested in the movement were also
in attendance
Mrs. r. M. Newport introduced the
subject by reading that portion of her
| address delivered at the annual meet
ing of the Associated charities, relative
to the need of a reformatory for wo-
men conducted by women. Mrs. New
port said that the need was no longer
denied. All people whose duties had
fam1liarized them with the workings
OF penal institutions admitted the
necessity of providing an institution
Tor the care and correction Of women
MIS-. Newport also dwelt upon the i'm
pOrtance and necessity of keeping the
proposed institution independent Of
and removed from any institution for
the care or imprisonment Of men and
boys.
In response to Mrs Viewpoints re-
quest, Senator w. E. Johnson outlined
the principal provisions Of his bill for
the establishment Of a reformatory for
women. They have already been pub
lished. In brief the bill provides for
the appointment of a commission of
hnri1aI
100 acres of land, not less than fiftv
nor more than seventy-five miles from
the Twin Cities. The bill also provides
that the sentences shall be Indefinite
the terms Of Imprisonment to be left
70 the board of manage of the insti-
tuition.
senator Johnson then proceeded to
read extracts from the annual report
or the secretary of the Massa chusetts
reIormatory TOR women, which is loca1-
Cd about fifteen miles out of Boston.
IL proved highly instructive and inter
eStlng. This institution is managed by
women. To insure impartiaIity in the
treatment of the inmates the attend
ants are kept in ignorance, so far as
PCSslple, or the otfenses for which each
inmate is committed
The inmates are classified into four
DIVISIONS, the highest being Division
-Four, the members Of which are en-
titled to privileges that none of the
others are permitted to enjoy For in
stance, the members of division four
can write letters once a week and
drink tea every Friday, while division
three must be content with half those
prlVileges-that it they must wait two
weeks. Division two is favored less
OFTEN and the members Of division one
count their happy days by the month.
Ihe most exemplary members Of div1-
ara Gtvr
or trust women" and to the credit Of
the institution, the report showed that
at the end Of the year. there were III
badge women" and only sixteen
women in division one. The report
also indicates a high percentage of
honor in the matter of keeping parole
pledges as compared with male prison.
ers. Out of POI women released on
parole, only one violated her promise
and failed to return
Senator Johnson said in conclusion
that he hoped the legislature would
not make the mistake of locating the
proposed reformatOry near any other
penal institution. Such action would.
he considered, be most unwise
Mrs. DR.. Helen E. Bissell, who was
for several years the physician of the
Massachusetts reformatory for women,
talked interestingly Of her observations
while there. She related episodes il
ference between man and woman,
whether in or out of Jail The women
never evinced any disposition to run
away. Nothing but a rickety eight
foot fence enclosed the grounds but
the women were content to climb 1p
on it high enough to look over. They
were permitted to roam over the neigh
boring hills in the summer and pick
berries, but before leaving they were
all required to raise their hands and
promise to come back. One day two Of
them failed to return, but a day or
two later they put in an appearance.
When reprimanded for their conduct
they excused themselves with the plea
that they had not raised their hands |
the day they went out 'berrying.'
They were subjected to a punishment |
that spread CONSERVATION throughout |
the institution. Their bangs were cut!
Not single inmate ever failed to raise |
her hand thereafter, and the offense
was never committed again.
DR.. Bissen also told how. when
young physician of the masculine per-
suasion was temporarily detailed to
look after the ailing, the sick list in
creased alarmingly. Thus was in
stanced, DR.. Bissel remarked, the |
demoralizing effect of man. DR. Bissell |
spoke of what she deemed the advan-
tage of an indeterminate sentence. The !
ignorance Of the inmates as to the time |
Iney Will De dlScnarSed exercised a !
healthy influence over them.
DR.. Bissell, in answer to Senator |
Johnson's question as to the propriety |
of locating the proposed female re- |
formatory at ST Cloud, replied that |
such location would defeat the purpose |
of the establishment.
Mrs. G. G. Higbee thought that the |
only question as to a reformatory for |
women was the feasibility of securing |
1t at once. That 1T was an absolute |
necessity there could be no doubt !
Should not the state" INQUIRED Mrs. |
Higbee. take care Of it's children? Is |
not the state after all an aggregation |
Of parents?" Mrs. Hlgbee was conf
dent that the location Of a reforma-
tory for women in proximity to any |
large number Of men would prove most |
unwise.
For such IS the nature Of women, |
particularly young women" added Mrs. |
Higbee. that he presence Of q num-
Der Of men in their near vicinity causes |
a fiutter Of excitement"
Mrs. Hiebee thought that an appro- |
priation Of $4,000 would enable the |
ladies' within two years to establish |
the woman's reformatory and demon |