Evening star., 1898-12-07


The report of the board of trustees of the
reform school of the District of Columbia
Exhibit Nj shows that at the beginning
of the last fiscal year there were in the
school pa boys; there were received dur
ing the year l30, a totalo of 354 as against 344
for the previous year. Ninety of those re-
ceived were Committed by the Police Court
and t.-.rteen by the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia, sixteen by courts
outside Of the District. and eleven by the
president of the board of trustees.
There were discharged during the year
eighty-five by order of the trustees, twelve
by expiration of sentence Omitted States
COURTS, two by order of court lChange of
sentence one by transfer to the insane
asylum, one by pardon of the President of
the United States, and four escaped and are
still absent. leaving i'll the school June 30,
1898, 24Y There Were deaths during the
year, and the general health OF the inmates
has been and Is good.
The figures given show how the popula-
ton of this school has increased. Quite re-
Gently il became necessary to notify the
courts that no more boys could then be re-
ceiVed for want of room. new family
building should be provided for at once
and | recommend that Congress appro-
pirate the amount necessary to erect it, and
also to erect an assembly hall. The need
for both of these is apparent without
lengthy argument The assembly hall has
already received the Endorsement of the
Joint committee of Congress appointed to
Investigate the charities and rcfOrmatory
institutions in the District of Columbia.
| also repeat the recommendation made
in former reports that Congress should
take ACTION upon the suggestion of the
board Of trustees. that it be given such
control of the boys after discharge as will
enable il to reclaim and return to the school
any boy whose subsequent conduct is bad.
The joint committee above mentioned. af-
ter saying in its report that the general
management of the institution is in the De-
a1t
ed by appropriations made in the District
appropriation bill, makes the gratifying
statement that the school is in so excel
lent condition. and so ably managed with
such good results that the committee deems
that 1t would be unwfse to make any
change whatever in its control; further
than that. If the general system of organi-
ZatlOn shall be adopted, the school should
have whatever advantages may arise from
being part of the general system" and
further on calls attention to the fact that
''the reform school for boys has been able
to control its inmates without duress or
any form of confinement All of this l
heartily indorse, and think 1t worthy the
consideration of Congress in making ap-
preparations for this institution.
District Reform school for Girls.
The report Of the president of the board
o. trustees shows the condition of the
school at the close of the last fiscal
year. During the year under review there
were an average twenty-seven girls in
the school. Fourteen girls were committed
to the institution and one previously hound
o'it was returned. Nineteen girls have been
released, some to their parents. and others
as apprentices in families in the District
and elsewhere
The reconi1nen ndatiOns as to reduction of
the age limit OF Submission to and dismissal
from the school, or the committal OF that
question in Individual cases to the discre-
n he n "a
tions and the portions of the report reat-
Ing to the use Of the institution for white
girls we'll az colored girls of the defec-
tive and incorrfeible classes, and the pro-
posals regarding the new building. are com
mitted to the attention of Congress with
particular approval.
Attention is-f11vfted as heretofore. to that
portion of the rapport which relates to the
treasurer of the, school and to the method
of appropria ton by which in the past IL has
beer necessary to ask for a deficiency ap
preparation to prbvide for the salary of that
official previously earned. The recommen-
dation of the trustees that the sum of 5000
b" appropriated for the treasurer's salary
for the fiscal year 1Ss9-l!Do to be available
in monthly payments from the beginning
of the year, and of 500 to make up that
amount for the fiscal year ending June 30.
lS.9, receives my approval.
The suggestions of the report touching
the status of the school as a reformatory
ather than a charitable institution. and Of
the propriety of the ultimate control of and
responsibility for it. as in the case OF The
reform school for boys. being lodged n the
Attorney General rather than in the Com
missioners Of the District, are especially
called to yout attention.
Statistics concerning the institution since
1t was organized will be found in the ex-
hibits accompanying the trustees report.
For further Information regarding the his
tory of the school and legislation affecting
ii reference is made to my reports for the
years 1894 and 1895. and to the reports of
the board of trustees thereto appended /
am clearly OF the opinion that with proper
provision for the needs of the school and
with careful management IL may be so de-