The Jersey City news., 1899-10-23
FORCE If NEEDED.
Trustee 0'Mara Says Girls
in the Reform School
Must Be Disciplined.
KNOWS NOTHING OF INVESTIGATION
The New Board Deals Only
With the Future Gives
Matron Full Power.


| Mr.. Patrick O'Mara. of this city. Gov
ernor Voorhees, most recent appointee to
the Board of Trustees of the State In
dustrial School for Girls, was interviewed
by a reporter of 1.-THE News" regarding
| the present condition of the institution,
thefuture plans of the Board and the
mode of punishment inflicted under the
regime of the present matron. Mrs. Eyler.
Mr.. o. Mara was seen III his cftice in the
building of Henderson & Co, seedsmen,
on Cortlandt street. New York. Mr..
O'Mara was the private secretary to the
late Peter Henderson for nearly fifteen
I yers. He is at present closely connected
with the firm. The new trustee received
his appointment last week and attended
the first meeting of the new board on
Friday at Trenton. He was asked what
the future pins of the Board were:-
AT present, said he, the board has
no definite plans. Our board is practically
a new one and therefore not wholly famil-
lar with the condition and affairs of the
institution. For myself 1 can say that I
was entirely satisfied with the condition
of the school, judging from superficial
observation. Like other business men /
have paid very little attention to the past
matters concerning the management and
investigation of the institution. There
fore you will readily see that I am in no
position to commit myself as to matters
of the past.
in the little time that / have spent in
my position as trustee, ! have visited the
institution and attended one meeting of
the board NO matters touching on the
recent investigation were brought up for
discussion In fact, few of the members
Of the board have interested themselves
in that matter. We are to deal with the
future management of the school.
The bylaws will doubtless be amended
In two sections. Heretofore all commune
cations to be considered by the Board,
were first received by the matron, The
amendment will cause these communities
tions to come direct to the board. So
there may be something in that. That
amendment. proposed myself. The other
will cause the office Of Managing Trustee
to be abolished. Executive power over the
entire school win be vested in the matron-
These I have no doubt will be passed by
the next meeting, of the Board, to be held
next month, These are the only radical
changes in view
He was then asked if Mrs. Eyler would
be retained and If the present method of
inficting punishment would continue in
use.
II am not what one would call re-
former" he replied, NOR am I a fanatic.
knowledge Of the existing affairs is neces-
sary before one can act. Jumping at
hasty conclusions does not pay. When
matters concerning the school come to
our notice and prove other than what we
think are wholly proper, action will be
taken accordingly.
There are dark cells in the school. OF
couse this is known. l doubt seriously
if there is similar institution in the
country that hasn't them. Girls are not
sent to these places for their health or for
vacations They are sent because of an
incorrigible nature and to be reformed II
possible OF course if they will not listen
to reason force is resorted to. But, the
question is how far should this force go?
Now. I viii not tolerate any unnecessary
force or violence This win not be allowed,
l am sure The other members of the
board are of the same opinion. The force
to be used will of course depend on the
person to be dealt with. But no unneces-
sary force will be allowed.
"Our board will only be too glad to
consider any communication touching on
the management Of the school. All the
members feelt that this institution must
be managed properly and our efforts will
be put in that direction.
Really, l cannot discuss the past In
vestifation he said in answer to a
question MY short connection with the
Board of Trustees has not enabled me
to become very familiar with the work.
ings of the school. l visited the institu-
tion and as far as l could see, the place
was in eAcelletn shape.
'sOf course one in my position could
scarcely be expected to be posted to any
great extent. Not having interested my
self in the past investigation, can only
talk of the future. The methods Of pun
ishment l am not acquainted with How
ever, you may rest assured that there will
be no unnecessary force used in the fu-
ture il there has been in the past. This,
of course, do not know. Matters touch
ing on the old management, have not
come before our board nor do think that
such matters come within the scope of the
trustees now in charge"