The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-01-22

I AGO students. and a library of $4,000 books.
This institution has an income of S36, 200, of
which, for the year ending June 80, 1895,
S4146.e9 was received as fees from the
model department, special classes and ir-
regular students. One hundred and eighty
Ave children are instructed in the model de-
partment, which is utilized for training pur-
poses Ninety counties are represented at
the institution During the last ten years
11,OI8 pupils have attended the State Nor
NAL school, coming from ninety-four coun-
ties. Last year there were students from
twelve other states and territories. TWO
thirds of the present attendants are ladies.
"The board of regents urge that the law
providing for the recognition of State Nor
NAL school diplomas for cities of the first
and second classes be made so SPECIFIC that
there could be no question in the minds OF
anyone as to their legality as teachers GER
tifcates. 1t occurs to me that the state
owes II to itself to see that this Is done. III,
after all the money expended, the gradu-
ates of this institution are not fitted TO teach
any of our common schools, the institution
Is a failure. We know that our state nor
NAL ranks high among similar institutions,
that its students are as efficient, curriculum
as liberal, its instructors as proficient as any
of its rivals; therefore, its diplomas should
be as good, at least, as the certificates issued
by the county board of examination
1.-The board of regents ask that GER
tain improvements and additional room be
furnished Under the head of educational
institutions 1 recommend that 1t would bet
ter serve the interests of the people to es-
tablsh an auxiliary normal school In some
other portion of the state, rather than to
erect more extensive buildings at Emporia.
The State Penitentiary.
"The penitentiary contained 891 prisoners
June 80 1896. Of these seventeen were
women. For the fiscal year ending June 80
1896, the expenditures of the institution
were S15l 6O0.29, the carninfs S14S, $1,000.
The report of the warden, board OF direct
ors and officials contains an exhaustive
treaties on the expenditures and necessities
of the institution. But few realize the mag
nitude of this institution or the careful at
tention which it should receive from the
legislature in order to keep 1t abreast OF In
stitutions of the same kind in sister states.
At times in our history this has been self
supporting institution. At other times 1t
has been considerable of burden to the
taxpayers of the state. Like all other instl-
tutions where manual labor Is performed,
the state prison at Lansing makes the best
showing when times are good, money
plenty, and the worst during hard times.
1.-The output OF coal from the penitentiary
has been its principal source of revenue,
yet there is a sentiment in portions OF the
State against utilizing this coal except for
state institutions. In another portion OF
this message certain recommendations 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 1t could be so arranged
that instead of producing so much coal,
other manufactures could be established
which would not compete with the free
labor of the state, II would be better than
our present system. There are certain rec
concentrations made by the board to which
your attention is directed. The principal
necessities seem to be the completion OF
more cells for the use of prisoners and addi-
tional clothing for convicts.
Reform School Criticisms.
IF there is any institution in the state
which is open to criticism, in my judgment
the Reform School for Boys situated in our
capital city, is that one. Not that I would
charge incompetence upon its management
or employees, bnt from the fact that 1t is i'm
possible to reform boys in idleness. The
miniature 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
lulc Hd0uS 10 anu IL ILLS NC lIuC' anu L
accept 1t as as true, think his satanic maj
esty is quite likely visitor at the Reform
School
II am informed that when this school was
established the object sought was to take
the erring boys and lead them to 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 appropri-
h nj
ratus for carrying out this idea. True
drill master has been employed and the
boys are being trained in the manual of
arms for the life of a soldier cannot
agree with the superntendent's report that
this is proper and right My experience is
that nine out of ten boys who go astraY do
so through the influence of dime novels and
cheap literature, wherein bandits, highway
men, blood and thunder and gunpowder are
promiscuously mixed. Any training which
they might receive in the line of creating
bloodshed and CORY war inculcates the same
idea In the inside that brought them there
from the outside. In my humble judgment
they should be taught and instructed in the
line of a peaceful citizenship, rather than
that of a soldier and war.
II recommend to the Legislature that If it
is thought impracticable to furnish appa-
ratus suitable for teaching them trades.
ludt duultlOHdl dppIOpI ldllOhS NC hlduC lOA
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. A continuation
of Dick Turpin and Jesse James ideas inside
the walls of this institution will not reform
the boys, and while 1t may hold them in
restraint for the time being and relieve So
ciety of their presence and influence, yet
when they are turned loose their moral
judgment will not be improved to any great
extent
Tho Hutchinson Reformatory.
ITO reform the errlng and make good citi-
zens of young men and boys who have been
led astray is one of the noblest 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 occupancy in 1895, and
opened with thirty of the least hardened
criminals from our state penitentiary. The
report of the board and my knowledge of
the institution lead me to believe that 1t has
proven success and Is solving the problem
of what to do with the young criminals who
are started on a career of crime The rooms
now completed are crowded to their full
and the board of directors are
asking tor an appropriation to complete
certain portions of the building so thatit
can be used to accommodate other inmates.
This will necessitate more help, and, in my
judgment, the requests should be granted.
The Board Of Agriculture.