The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-09
THE REFORMfrORT SCHOOL.
hall the Terms of tho Inmates Be Lin
tied?

hall the Terms OF tho Inmates Bo Lin
tied?
The House Committee on Asylums and
Prisons held a called meeting yesterday
morning I'm Room No. on tho upper 0oor
Of the Capitol building. with Or. Winston,
OF Hanover. I'm the chair Tho meeting
had been called 20 give the members OF
the Board Of Directors OF the Virginia
Prison Association IN opportunity 10 ex-
press their views on the bin introduced
by Or. Winston. entitled, "a bill to amend
and re-enact an act, entitled an act au-
thorZing certain persons. when arrested
or convicted to be committed 10 tho Gus
tody % the Prison Association Of Nir-
gina, approved March 4. 1890. as amended
and re-enacted by an act, entitled an
act TO authorize certain persons, when
arrested or convicted 10 be committed
10 the custody Of the Prison Association
Of virginia, approved March Q. 1896"
The bill provides that boys shall only
be committed 20 the industrial upon
being convsted OF an offence and
In case OF a misdemeanor the state shalt
Withdraw its support after twelve months
confinement. and. I'm case OF a felony. ar
ter a confinement OF five years.
The Prison Association was represented
by Mr James Caskle. the president: Ma
ior T.. T. ID. Myers, Major Robert stiles,
Mr. j.. H. Addison. Colonel John $. IIar-
wood. Mr.. Thomas Potts Mr.. John Grim
gan. and Roosevelt Page
slR. CAsKIE EXPLAINS.
Mr.. James Caskie addressed the COM
mittee at some length and stated that ac,
cordng 10 his recollection there had never
been boy sent 10 the institution without
having been convicted OF an offence
However. the Board OF Directors was per-
fectly willing to have the Jaw so changed
that no boy should be committed on an
arrest only. As 10 the limit Of time as
proposed by the BIN Mr. Caskie stated
that the board was necessarily opposed 10
any such restriction. because II would
undermine tho usefulness OF the institu-
ton and practically XIII II. Because as
soon az the support on the part Of the
State should cease the means Tor the
maintenance Of the institution would be
taken away.
For similar reasons Mr. Caslle spoke
against the provision or tho bin under
which the same conditions should Dc app
piled 10 the boys now I'm the institution.
IL this was carried out. forty-hve of the
$50 inmates would have 10 be NJ once dis
charged and perhaps a like number with
In the next month or two.
Major u. y. ID. Myers pointed out that
the educational advantages offered al the
institution were FAR better than usually
within the reach OF that class OF boys
that are confined at The institution.
MAJOR STILES APPEAL.
Major Robert stiles then addressed the
committee and by his earnest and most
impressive manner, greatly stirred the
hearts OF the members. lie stated how he
first was prompted 10 take UP fhe subject
OF educating Youthful criminals SD az 20
improve their moral character. Tie TO-
lated a number OF instances where this
work had proven to be or great benefit
lie pointed ont that there were about
300.0 900 criminals I'm this country and that
it took from 500 10 so millions OF dollars
annually to keep this class OF criminals
down. In all countries. except In Eng
land. the criminal class had during the
past increased more than the population
and the establishment Of such a school
was to cut OF the supply Of the raw ma
teral from which the class OF criminals
Is made up.
To conhne a boy 10 the institution for
one year only. would be Just IS bad as 70
send an insane person 10 Williamsburg
for one year only.
An invitation was extended by Mr.
Caske 10 the committee on behalf Of the
Board Of Directors of his association 10
visit the reformatory school at Laurel
Station. The invitation was accepted and
the committee decided TO 20 20 Laurel
Station next Tuesday afternoon a.
o'clock.
The chairman was requested 10 invite
the Senate Committee on Public Instltu-
lions and Education 10 Join the House
Committee on This occasion.