The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-08
THE STATE SHOULD CONTROL
Findings Of the Committee In The Re.
formaiory Investigation.
SHOULD EXERCISE PARDONlNG POWER
The Committee Also Expresses Opposi-
tion to the Use of shackles, and Fears
That the Punishment In Some Cases
IL Too Severe Board Exonerated


The House Committee on Asylums and
Prisons met yesterday morning IN room
No ]. on the upper floor OF the Capitol
building with DR.. Winston in the chair.
The object OF the meeting which was
secret one, was to approve the report
framed by the chairman. Dr. Winston at
the request OF the committee with ref
erence 10 the Investigation OF the man.
asement OF the Reformatory ,school at
Laurel station.
THE REPORT.
The full text OF the report is as fol-
lows:
TO the Members OF the House OF Dele
gates:
Your Committee on Asylums and
Prisons rave made a careful investiea-
ton into all matters pertaining TO the
Prison Association OF Virginia. commonly
known as the Laurel RefOrmatOry. as We
Were required 10 do by resolution which
pas sed this body on the 18th day Of Janu-
ar 1898. copy OF which resolution Is
hereto attached
THE Prison Association of virginia
was chartered by Act OF Assembly ap-
proved March 3. 1890.
The charter Of this Association
IS very broad and comprehensive. and
conferred large powers upon the Asso-
citation, which powers. together with sub
sequent acts passed relative 10 the com
mitment, care and support of minors I'm
the said Prison Association. are OF such
q character as TO warrant your committee
in thinking that the control Of said
Prison Association Of Virginia should be
In the hands Of the State In making
this suggestion. we are not unmindfui
OF the high character of the present
board OF that Association. and think It
but proper 10 say that in our judgment
they compare favorably with and are
equal in every respect to any Board in
this commonwealth appointed by the Gov
ornor to the various public institutions.
The members Of this board. with the ex-
ception of the secretary. work without
compensation, and the labors imposed
upon them are both eXacting and ar
duous.
GOOD FINANCIALLY.
'"The financial management Of the Assoc
citation, so far as your committee have
been able 10 ascertain, Is above criticism
and any impression that may prevail
among the people that II is or can be
made a source of revenue. is erroneous.
IT is only by the exercise of the strict
est economy that they are able to meet
expenses. and even now the Association
has a debt upon it of $500.
1T is the judgment of a majority Of
your committee that there has been no
cruelty practiced towards any Of the
inmates by any Of the officers Of the
said Association, but the majority OF
your committee are constrained TO think
that ,ho punishment i'm some cases has
been unnecessarily severe. particularly
I'm reference to the application Of the
badge system i'm lengthenng the time
Of detention of the boys IN the custody
of the Prison Association.
NOT PROPERLY CLOTHED.
so far as the food furnished the min
ors in the custody OF the Prison Asso-
citation is concerned, the large prcpOn-
derence of testimony taken by your COM
mittee warrants us i'm the assertion that
it is not only well prepared. but ample
in quantity. and o. satisfactory KIND
and character.
Your committee regrets exceedingly
20 have to say that in the judgment Of
a majority OF the committee the inmates
are not properly clothed during the win
ter months. but in justice to the board
we desire to emphasize the fact that we
do not believe that there has ever been a
complaint made 10 the board by anyone
upon the subject Of lnsuhicency OF
clothing. and with our personal know
ledge of the members of the said board
we feel that had such "A complaint been
made. they would gladly have remedied
the matter 10 the extent that the finances
of the Association would have admitted
AGAINST SHACKLES.
The use Of shackes at the Association
does not meet with the approval OF
majority of your committee, and We feel
that other means could be pursued 10
bring incorrigible boys under proper con-
troll. which would be less grating 10 the
public. and less calculated to carry with
il a feeling of a sense or degradation
and would. at the same time. be equally
as efficacious And I'm this connection
would suggest that it would perhaps be
well to prepare a few cages 10 be
used MS a substitute for shacklcs We
will say. however. that the board ana the
SUPERINTENDENT of the Association thought
shackles preferable To confinement.
THE PARDONING POWER
ON the Judgment OF your committee
the Governor should have the right 10
naraon any minor who is committed 10
me prison Association II. in his judg-
nent executive clemency would be war
ranted. This view of your committee
together with their judgment as 10 the
necessary changes TO be made in the
present law governing the commitment
md care Of minors TO the Prison Associa-
ton viii he submitted for your consid-
ero,ion in the shape of a bill, Of which
We resDectfullv ask as speedy a consid-
Grafton as the House may 'iihh p'P''
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