The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-15

The statement showed the receipts and
expenses OF the institution, its assets and
liabilities. number Of employees. inmates
salaries and wages paid, and other facts
OF interest 70 the institution The sub
stance of these has been published in
The Times
TIE ANNUAL REPORT.
The President read his annual report,
which was Us follows:
Richmond. Va. April IA. 1898
To the members or the Prison Assocla-
ton Of Virginia
j have the honor Of submitting the fol-
lowing report relative 10 The affairs OF
your Association during the last twelve
months.
our contract with the firm Of J. j.
Wright q Stokes was terminated on
April %, 1917, owing to the failure OF that
firm
ON Muy 7. 1897. we made a contract
wish The Laurel Manufacturing Company
under the term Of which We were 70 fur
nish our factory building and one hun
drcd boys for the consideration OF $500
FOR the year ending May -, 1855.
That cOu'raCt has only month 10 run
ana 20 its expiration, We viii have a
large number OF unemployed boys on our
hands, unlesc in the meantime, We make
"A contract with some other responsible
concern.
II IS apparent 20 all that the esablish-
ment oe Some suitable industry at the
school is not only Of great advantage TO
the boys in teaching them trade and
in keeping them occupied but Is also OF
material assistance TO the Association
towards It's support
IL is 20 be hoped. therefore, that In the
very near future We shall have profitable
aud desirable employment for the boys
of on industrial character
During last January and February an
Investigation Of the management OF our
school was had by the Committee on Asy-
lums and Prisons Of the House Of Dele
gates
You are. no doubt familiar with most
Of the evidence taken by the Committee,
as our city newspapers devoted much
space TO it.
The report Of the committee. whilst II
WAS I'm some respects Disappointing 10
your board. yet in the main, it was a
vindication Of the management OF the
Association. The committee recon-
mended that some change be made in the
laws relative TO the commitment 10 ana
custody OF minors by the Association.
As result Of this recommendation the
LEGISLATURE passed four acts, all OF which
are satisfactory 20 your board except inc
act OF February q. 1898.
The FIRST Of the three satisfactory cats
provides that the Governor OF this state,
shall have the power TO pardon any boy
committed 10 us. provided your board
has refused TO discharge the boy.
The most onerous and disagreeable
duty which devolves on your board - the
decision OF application for the discnarBe
of bows. The grant Of the power 10 the
Governor 10 act on the appilca,.lon,
which your board has been constrained
N reject will have we believe most
Statutory effect In removing a prejudice
ovlstine in some minds against our assoc
cfotion due 10 the fact that heretofore
the Governor had not the power 10 par
don prisoners committed 20 us, whilst
he has the power as to prisoners COM
mitted 10 the jails and peniteniiary OF the
state.
The second act provides that no person
shall be committed TO or received INTO
our custody. after such person shal
have reached the age Of seventeen years.
The testimony taken by the Asylum
and Prison Committee OF the House or
Delegates. showed that the use OF CHAINS
on the ankles OF boys, which was so dis-
tasteful % some persons and rs sub
stltution for which. the committee re-
commended an iron cage or cages, was
limited 90 boys over seventeen years or
age.
These boys usually committed to us on
account OF serious crimes, are gem
orally 20 hardened that the percentage
of them actually reformed Is small, en-
brace practically all the runaways from
the school and are the disturbing and
disorderlv element IN the school
The enactment OF a law forbidding us
to receive them should be welcomed by
US
The third act provides in substance that
when "A boy is committed Co us as va
grant or disorder.y person, the court
shall ascertain whether the parent or
guardian s. able 20 support the MINOR
and II so, shall order he parent Or guar
dian 20 pay ms. not exceeding s. per
month towards the support OF the minor.
Tho object OF this act is 10 prevent par
euis. who desire 10 rid themselves OF the
expense OF supporting their children and
who arc able to support them, from
segdirg them 90 ms.
Tho act of February q. 1895 which is
the fourth and last act. and which did
not meet with our approval makes some
very radical changes IN the laws or
commitment and custody under which
We formerly acted
Under the old law the period Of deten-
llblA Oh a. ihtlA'l AbihtAAhNNN ~ Nf fftA'
unlimited. except that he could not be
detained after no became twenty-ono
years Of age.
The theory Of the old law was that re-
formation Is gradual. quicker In some
cases than in others and that II a boy
is to be reformed he should be kept UNI
der proper discipline until reformation Is
had and that the time I'm which this can
be accomplished g. necessarily indefinite.
Under our badge system, the average
time of detention of the boy who oboyed
the rules Of our school is about two years
and n he IL detained for a longer period,
the cause IS TO be found in his miscon-
duct The act Of February y. 1898. pro-
yldcs that i'm cases OF conviction A. Vag-
rants or disorderlv person. the period ~
detention shall not exceed eighteen
months I'm misdemeanor conviction not
shorter than two nor longer than three
years and I'm felony convictions not short
a. than three nor longer than five years.
This act does away with the indefinite
commitment and substitute IN It's place
a definite commitment.
This change Is liable TO the objection
that bow comitted for 4 definite period
and especially II that period Is as short
as two years. may So act that when mis-
time IS up" no substantial reformation
has been accomplished
They know when committed. that Ak a
certain time, they must me discharged