The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-09
THE BOARD WILL WAIT.
EFrECr or TIVE REPORT on THE
REFORMA yoRr scHoo1.
Tho Report That Mr.. Caskic win Resign
the Presidency Discredited-Mr. Potts
criticises the committee's Finding.

II was reported yesterday that in view
of the recommendation Of the. House
Committee on Prisons and AsyIums. who
investigated the Reformatory school at
Laurel. Mr.. James Caskie. the president
OF the Prison Association OF virginia.
would resign.
Mr Caskie could not be seen. but Major
stiles did not believe the report.
DIsPLEASED WITH THE REPORT.
Mr.. Thomas Potts. who has been a
member OF the Board OF Directors ever
since the Prison Association OF Virginia
has been. I'm existence. said last evening.
when ] called on him al his residence,
corner Grace AID First streets:
Il have not heard anything 10 the
effect that Mr.. Caskic intended to resign
and 4 do not believe that he will The
only gentleman on the board whom !
have heard say anything about resigning
was Mr. Andrew n. Christian. and I
think he only did 50 on the impulse Of
the moment and has since changed his
mind
The board has not yet met. and
hardly think u will take any action IN
the premises until II has been decided
what Is to become OF the bills that have
strange on the part OF the committee 20
take the words OF n lot OF irresponsible
boys and Of women and parents some
or whom did not have very savory re-
putation. as the gospel truth against the
men. who have given their time and labor
10 this work OF love TO rescue boys from
life Of crime.
WILL AWAIT THE OUTCOME.
'"rhe committee has secured the city
and the State 20 find dissatisfied persons
who would tell their grievances. be-
iieve That the chains which We have in
troduced as the means to keep boys from
running away. are far better and more
humane than 10 put the bows in cages.
rs the committee recommends In its re-
port where they would be deprived OF
fresh air and exercise. Something GER
tainiy must be done 10 boys who have
violated our rules
II do not believe that the board will
take anv final action until the two
Houses have determined the fate OF
these bills. I am glad however. TO see
that the pardong power has been given
20 the Governor. for this will relieve us
from an immense labor and loss OF time,
which we had to srend heretofore in lis
fening TO the pleadings Of parents who
are first willing to have their boys com
mitted and then afterwards come and
ask TO have them released.
The committal OF hOv for sneei-
fed. time makes him criminal and he is
no better in the eyes Of the public thah
the convicts OF the penitentiary If the
legislature has no confidence in the
Board Of Directors and think thar tlat
body will not manage the affairs OF me
institution in the best possible manner
then II would be better 10 abolish 1t en-
III Il oh of ntir
ton and of the Reformatory school is 70
save the boys from becoming criminals
and to reform them.
Il have been Il member of the Board
since It's organization. when we had
charge of only one boy i'm the eastern por-
ton OF the city and since Mr.. sampson
became the superintendent OF the institu-
ton. That gentleman is the most effci-
ent competent and Christian superintend-
ent To him and his wife is large ly due
the success of the institution. He IS
kind TO the boys and have told him 1e-
peatedly that ne should he O little more
rigid.
THE committal Of a boy for a specified
time makes him feel that he can he there
and do as he plcases for eighteen months
when he II bound 10 be discharged aud
there is no incentive for him 20 be good
There Is not member on the board who
would not be willing IN resign tomorrow,
II the school should be placed under State
rule. so as 10 leave the Governor perfect
~ free to make mis- own appointments.
hope, however. that the institution will
he kept as a Reformator.- aId will not b.
made an annex to the penitentiary by
specifying the time TO- wnich the boys
shall be committed"
WHAT OTHERS SAY.
MIR. Stewart NJ. Woodward. another
member OF the Board. also stated that he
had heard nothing 10 the effect that Mr.
Caskie intended To- resign and that he did
} u think the report was true
Mr.. John W. Cringan. who also has been
n member Of tn Board since the organ
ization was started said, n had good rea-
son 20 believe Tia Mr. Cashe would not
resign a. president of the Board. He
thought tlat n he Legislature should de-
eide in their wisdom that the method pur-
sued by the Board was not tho best one
then the latter body would try to carry
out the formers recommendation and he
did not believe that any member cOntem-
plated at this time giving NJ the work
altogether.