Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-30
TWO YEARS HISTORY
PRESIDENT cAsKrE's REPORT OF
LAUREL REroRMAToRy READY.
TO BIZ PRESENTED TO LEGISLATURE.
II Treats OF the Management of the
Institution, Occupation of Boys
Moral Influences, Discipline' FL
nances, and Gives Some Statistics.

few days. The text OF the report, whicf
has been written by President James
Caskie. is as follows:
| To the General Assembly OF Virginia:
Section Z of the charter OF our associa'
| ton directs us to make an annual report
to you OF our work, embracing In the re-
port such information and recommends
lions as we may deem best calculated 10
aid you IN improving and perfecting the
laws touching matters within the scope
of the purposes and work Of the associa-
ton.
Your sessions being biennial, our re-
ports are made every two years, and this
report is, therefore. for the years 1896
| and 1897.
The labor of establishing and conduct
Ing our reformatory. in which only white
boys are received, has been so onerous
and incessant that we have been able TO
do but little In furtherance of the other
objects Of the association, which are the
Improvement of the prisons and jails or
this State. the aid OF discharged con-
victs. sc.
The increase in the number of boys In
the institution was so rapid. increasing
boys on January ], 1896. that the Legisla-
ture early in 1896 appropriated $4,000. Of
which amount $1,000 was for a new build
ing. and 5000 to pay a debt contracted
In support OF the institution. In order
to build and equip house sufficient for
our needs we spent Sll.990.95, thus con-
Stunning not only the whole appropriation
of $4,000, but also contracting an addi-
tionaI debt of 81, S9O.95. This new build
ing, which is a solid and attractive struc-
ture. is used as kitchen, wash-room,
dining-room. school-room. and dormitory
for III boys.
EMPLOYMENT OF THE BOYS.
On July 5, 1895, the association entered
into contract with J. j. Wright X
Stokes, whereby II furnished said Wright
& Stokes its factory building and forty
five boys for the purpose or manutac-
turing horse collars. at the price OF &,5OO
for the first year. and 5000 for each ad-
ditional year.
This contract was terminated on Aprll
g. 1897, owing to the failure of said
Wright & Stokes. On May l. 1897, the as
sociation made contract with the Lau-
rel Manufacturing Company, whereby IL
was agreed that the factory and 100 boys
were to be furnished to said company at
a compensation of $500 for the first year,
ending May 10, 1898, and $500 a year for
the next five years. This contract pro-
videS for eight hours work each working
day, except Saturday, when only five
hours work is had.
We have been rarely able to furnish
more than ninety boys for this factory
work, Of whom three are under II years
Of age, thirteen under IA, and the rest
from IA to 20 years of age. All boys under
IA years Of age are employed in sewing
on buttons, and none of them work on
the sewing machines.
This contract not only teaches the boys
employed a trade, and keeps them occu-
pied. but the amount received from their
terially assists in the support Of the asso-
citation. The boys now spend eight hours
In labor. two hours and forty-1ve minutes
in school, and one hour In play each work
ing day, except Saturday, on which latter
day they work five hours, and the balance
Of the day is a holiday, there being no
study hours on Saturday. The boys not
employed in the factory are employed on
the farm, in the laundry, kitchen, shoe
shop, &C., and their hours for work,
study, and play are practically the same |
as those of the boys who work in the |
factory.
OBJECT TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.
The educational advantages of the insti- |
tuition. are as complete as our opportuni- |
ties allow Many of the boys committed |
10 us are very Ignorant, not being able |
to read or write, and many OF them do |
not know the alphabet. We teach them |
reading, writing, and arithmetic. and go |
as far beyond these elementary branches |
~ their limited stay in the institution
Will permit. The health of the boys, as /
/ rule, has been excellent, and we point
with some pride to the fact that only one
BOY has died whilst with US since the in
stitution was founded, and he was
Among our officers is a resident physi-
ian, who receives a regular salary.
The object sought to be accomplished |
~ the laws under which white boys are
A. 1
not the punishment of Maynard and
criminal boys; and, therefore, the period
# detention is unlimited, except that a
provision Is made that the minor shall
lot be detained after he has arrived at
he age of q years. To some persons the
Indefinite or indeterminate sentence
Gems TO be a great wrong, but these per-
ons evidently associate the idea of pun
shment with the sentence. and leave
ut of view the controlling idea of refor-
nation. Reformation is gradual, quicker
n some cases than in others, and If a
10Y is to be reformed, 1t is necessary that
e be kept under discipline until the
reformation is had, and the time in |
essarily indefinite.
PERIOD OF DETENTION LAW.
Suppose the present law should be
hanged, and the sentence say in mis- |
emeanor cases, should be limited to one ,
ear, what would be the effect on the
OyS SO hIlOWiilH lndL tDeY
ould be detained no longer than a year
nder any circumstances many of them ]
Iould set themselves steadfastly against
verything that was reformative, and
'ould be as insubordnate as possible.
hey thus would prove to be leaven OF
isorder and trouble. the bad effects of
hitch would be felt throughout the en-
ire institution. We advise, therefore,
hat no radical change in the present
aw as to period of detention be made, as T
should always be borne in mind that
lie indeterminate sentence law belongs 7
specially to minors who are criminals, 7
r are about to enter upon a criminal 7
fe. T
BADGE SYSTEM EXPLAINED.
Our plan Of management is what Is y
nown as the badge system. Each badge T
spresents a month. Good behavior les (
ems the number of badges whilst bad S
ahavior increases them. Prior to March
oective Of age and offence, started with s
10 sixteenth badge We became salts
I'd that this plan was wrong; that the I
BY committed for q minor offence should 4
art with lower badge than the boy r
i 0ps; 50 on plan Mar'n which I i' Clearly
ecognizes the various grades of Of f
,nces. since then boys committed for
lgrancy, disorderly conduct, petty lar 8
'ny. drunkenness. &c. are given the
vsntieth badge; for grand larceny, FORGE s
:. robbing the mail &C., the twenty-ffth
,dge; for felonious assault, burglary | Z
ostruoting railroad track, &C.. the thir-
eth badge, and for murder, the thirty s.
tn badge. Il
noes. and is, we think. a proper one. NJ
he boys who start at the twentieth
ldge gain four months for continuous
,od conduct, and can thus secure their