Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-10
THEY WILL RESIGN.
REFoRwroRy BOARD DIsAPporxT
ED WITH COMMITTEES REPORT.
PRESIDENT CISGIE WILL RETIRE
sIessrs. a. II. Chrfstian, Virginia,
Newton. and Others VIII Feliow
suit-They Declare That usefufnen
of Institution Has Been Impaired.

VI tH< btt1 iAtttUs
Members OF the Board OF Management
OF the Prison Association OF Virginia re-
gard the report of tho House COMMITTEES
appointed 10 investigate the affairs OF
Laurel Reformatory as intensely disap.
pointing. While Il is evidently utendet
TO be. and is, In fact. complete vndica,
tion of the board. n is generally felt tina.
little irritating criticisms have been eD
pressed which were unwarranted by thf
facts developed in the course Of The
lengthy and most rigorous examination.
Some OF those who have been more oi
less closely identified with the board re,
gard the investigation as one OF the great
est blows to philanthropy in the way o.
prison reform that could possibly have
been dealt. They say that the active
directors have been men whose executive
ability would have been invaluable 10 any
great institution, and they have spared
neither shelr time nor their money toe
wards making the reformatory a SUGGEST
from every point OF view. Several prom
inent gentlemen We're asked for their
NltNS Dl lut cuDJttl last HiButs anu WIN
out exception they expressed the deepest
sympathy with the board. and criticised
the course Of the investigation.
PRESIDENT CASKIE TO RETIRE.
1t is more than probable that the in
vestigation will lead 10 the resignation
of nearly, If not all, the members OF the
board at the next annual Ueeting. which
will be held about the mludle Of April.
President Caskfe said last night: Il do
not think there will be any designations
at this time. The annual election takes
place in April. and / am satisfied that
there will be some then. My present ex-
pectation is that when the April meeting
takes place l shall retire from the pres-
dency, though not from the board. My
determination TO retire from the presi-
dency is not due TO the report OF the In
vestigating Committee at all. 1 had
made up my mind to do so several
months ago. for / have found that tho
reformatory and the Council have been
taking up so much of my time that
have been neglectng my own business.
Had l been wayering In my determina-
ton, though, this investigation would
certainly have made me decide to re-
sign.
THE REPORT DISAPPOINTING.
81 do not understand the report Of the
committee to reflect In any way upon tho
management. at the same time i am
frank to say that there are some things
in the report that are Disappointing to
me. | am surprised that the committee
found that there was any lack OF sufii-
cient clothing, I'm view of the evidence
before them. The question. whether boys
should have chains on their ankles to
keep them from running away. or whether
they should be confined In an
iron cage is entirely matter OF opinion.
The management thought II best to use
the chain and the committee seem TO
think il best 10 use the iron cage Every
body that has spoken to me upon
the subject seems to think that the re-
formatory is very necessary thing In
this State, and l hopo Il will continue
to DO good. Its scope and ITS possibilities.
however. seem 10 have been greatly limit
ed by the proposed legislation"
Speaking OF his duties as president, Mr..
Caskie went on TO say that for four
years he had given freely of his tins
and his money TO the institution, and
had frequently endorsed its paper when
funds were needed.
I'VE do not question the right u the
LEGISLATURE" he continued, ito lnvesti-
gate any institution in the State, nor do
we expect It to take into consideration
the status OF people in the community
who go 10 FORM an asSocidlion' Dut "o
are greatly disappointed with the report
of the committee"
MEMBERS WILL ALSO RETIRE.
Mr.. A. III. Christian. Jr., the second
| yice-president OF the Prison Association.
was also seen by a Dispatch reportaro
Mr.. Christian would, In the natural or
der. be elected TO SUCCEED Mr.. Cas<ie,
| as the first observation-disclosures stnes-
| has already served a long term apd re-
| tired from the duties. which he found
| too onerous four years ago. Mr. Chris
| tian said: 1T is my fixed purpose To re-
| tire in April from the board OF the
| Laurel Reformatory. My service 10 the
| institution has been purely voluntarily
| and has been rendered from belisr that
the institution was doing some GOOD IN
| the reformation OF the criminal youth OF
| the State. / believe that it's usefulness
| has been very much impaired by tne enN-
cism Of the committee, and though,
| so far as / am concerned, the nndlng
completely exonerates me as an mol
vidual. nevertheless, l do not care to be
| subject 20 such criticism In the future,
| MIR Virginius Newton. another MEMBER
| NJ the board, stated In very empnatc
terms that he would withdraw at the
| Anru meeting While he has not peen
| active i'm the management or tne ahaiis
| OF the institution. he says ne mas ne'd
alOOf because ne kne" eiA' nv
| the hands Of most capable men. re na''
however, lent his credit to the ins''.u-
tion and has endorsed its paper. lie re-
cards the withdrawal Of Mr. CASSIE Ma
| ior Stiles, and Mr.. Christian from ths
| directorate as public calamity anu sA-
| nrasses the belief that every memDer OK
| the association will Withdraw from the
Reformatory Board. He does not see
how they can do otherwise. he says, Tor
their motives have been impugned. ana
the fact that they have given so freeiy
~ their time and money has never been
taken into consideration. He thinks tn&s
.ha state should now take the institution
ma run IL to suit the Legislature.
| AS SIMPLE YET EFFECTIVE REMEDY for
! rnroat Affections BROWNS BRONCHIAL IkocHEs
-, a. !. a., ,,,,tl.c favor They are absolutely