The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-07

has been beneficial 10 the discipline Oh
the prison. and is, / believe. approved
by the public. So Tar a total of To- con-
ditional pardons have been granted. and
we are vet h hear OF the first one OF me
beuefciarics of the act violating the COM
ditious imposed uI on him when executive
cIemeucy was exercised. ] ask your ate
teutiou 20 what the Board of Directors
has to say about amending the act so as
TO bring within the operations of the law
many prisoners who are now excluded
( from It's benefits.
The prevalence Of smallpox in certain
cities and counties of Virginia during the
past year. made il necessary that unu-
sual precautions should be exercised.
concur with the Board and Superin-
teudcut. and emphasize their suggestion
AS 90 the desirabiiity of appointing a
chaplain for the penitenuary The min
listers Of the gospel i'm this city have done
ID great and good work In visiting the
prisoners. and 1 hope they will continue
their visits: but there should be one in
daily attendance upon the prison. and for
such services tho State should be- willing
10 pay reasonable salary.
The health maintained i'm the peniten-
: tiary and at the farm is highly creditab.e
10 the surgeons and other officers IL is
institution Is now provided with the
amplest and best hospital facilities IL
has ever had. Yet the necessity remains
To safeguard the penitenuary and farm
against epidemic diseases. and for some
months during the past year they were
"quarantined" against the smallpox,
difficult and responsible work. which was
admirably done.
COLORED REFORMATORN.
our colOrod citizens through the zeal
and intelligent effort of one ol their NUM-
Der Prof. John a. Smith. late Minister
Resident and Consul General % Liberia,
through a chartered association. known
as THE Negro Reformatory Association
of Virginia" are attempting work SINH
, lar TO that of the Reform School or the
Prison Association Of Virginia, for white
boys They have succeeded i'm establish
ing the Virginia Manual School at Ham
over Va. a plantation of l,,5 acres or
land has been purchased at "a cost of $li-
l2oo. by contributions of our own cii-
zcns and philanthropic persons from OUT
side of the State. and this fund has been
supplemented 10y ID generous gift from
Mr.. Coils 4. Huntington. OF New York,
Of over Sll.000. Some needed repairs have
been made 10 the buildings. and the
school has been put in operation.
granted conditional pardon 10 seven boys
under sixteen years of age and sent them
90 the school. and J am glad 10 report
that on visit of inspection % the farm
by the Board of Managers Of the peniten-
tiary and myself We found them making
most satisfactory progress These boys
have so far been clothed and fed by the
institution.
Virgin has given large opportunities
for common school and higher education
for cOlored children and youths. and yet
3 here is a distressing lack of moral adj
/ Nanc meut among some OF them. as Wit
. Messed by the crowded condition OF our
pcn.tentiary and jals. ana the State
should for its own good and the welfare
. Of this class. devise some plan for saving
the large number OF negro children and
J youths who are beyond the influence OF
| the public schools or intelligent home re-
| straints II is 10 the interest Of the State
/ and of society that every effort b. made
| for the moral religious and educational
advancement of all classes of citizens.
/ This work. % course Is iu a large meas
ure experlm .ntal bat boo efficient hands ANA
with proper and sufficient encourage
| mcnt il is well worthy OF experiment.
| and IL would be well for the legislature
10 make some arrangement with the in
! stituton to take incorrlgible or criminal
boys or girls on something like similar
| terms as those under which they are taxi
en- at the Laurel Reformltory
IL may be that the legislature will see
Us way clear 20 make reasonable sppro-
pration Tor necessary buildings.
STATE HOSPITALS
The reporls OF the various State Hes
tails are before you, and point you TO
the recommendation and suggss tions
therein contained. There will be neces-
fco,tfnuad m Sfxth pagal