The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-10-17
SEVERITY NEEDED.
Western R~eformatory Man.
ager Upholds Mrs.
Eyler.
INMATES NOT ANGELS
Complete subjugation the
First Step Towards I'm
proved Conduct.
Whipping. Dark Cell and Bread
and water Indispensable
in Extreme Cases.

The State Charities Aid Association.
through Mr.. Hall, addressed an open let
ter to Governor Voorhees, September II,
on the subject of the management OF
State reform schools for girls. 1t was a
ummary of the answers given by the ofil-
cials of numerous State reformatories, to
the following questions asked by Mr. Han
and the State Charities Aid Association;
i. What are your prescribed punish
z. What rules have you in regard to
8. Do you keep a punishment book, and
under whose supervision IS 1t! 100
4. Do you allow corporal punishment.
S. What discretion has your superln-
&. If corporal punishment is allowed, IS
1T doneadn the presence OF the otner III
mates, or in whose presence?
I. Do you allow male employees to assist
in any way in the correction or controi
of inmates in the administration Oh pun
s. Have you found such male assistance
necessary?
10. Have you punishment cells; II so
describe them?
Ii. Do you think them necessary or ad-
u. How do you check obscenity, and to
what extent is a factor in retormaporg
problems?
ID. tfQdE Go YOU QO ] ~
,-nmanageable girls? Are there any sucns
n. How do you punish runaway girls!
IS. Do you consider trained service nee
essary in the superintendent OF sueh an
Is. what is your opinion Of the congre-
gate plan?
Since the publication of the open let
ter another reply has been received by
Mrs. Williamson, and has been forwarded
to Governor Voorhees,. This reply, it is
explained, would have formed a part of
the open letter. but was received too
late.
It is from the State Reform School at
Adrian, Mich, and as it was mani
testify the intention of the State Charities
Aid Association to make the whole or the
essential parts of it public, Governor
VOORHEES, has given 1t for publication. The
latter Isl
City of Adrian, Mich, Sept. %, 1899.
Emily e. Williamson, Jersey City, N. j.:
Dear Madam-Yours of Aug. "a, to l..
c.. Storrs, Lansing. making inquiries con-
corning our Industrial Home for Girls,
has been referred to me for answer. Per-
init me to say that I have read the report
to the Governor, signed by Mr.. Han, n
am of the opinion that he is far from
correct and shall SO write the Governor.
Concerning the questions asked, which
seem to be a s~tereotyped form. permit
4A3C l " dis q IA liz
l. There are no prescribed" punish
ments. Discipline in the home Is the
first requisite and it is expected of every
officer, as 1t is the basis OF every effort
at reform. In case of extremely 1nso-
lent, rebellious or defiant girls, corporal
punishment, solitary confinement, 81
is necessary, the girl IS spanked with the
bare hands or struck with strands or
soft hollow rubber tubing, the size OF a
3 The rules relative to punishment and
for governing girls and officers are print
ed, and / send you a copy Thereon unoer
another cover.
8. Yes. Each manager of a cottage
keep a record of all punishments in her
cottage, and the superintendent keeps a
general book, in which she records pun
ishments of every family. A report is
made by each manager monthly, which is
examined by the board of guardians and
kept on file. I enclose a copy OF a MONTH
ly report blank.
S. Full. She exercises her Judgment
and reports every case to the guardians.
No. 6. No. The superintendent is expect
ed to infiict the corporal punishment or
direct it. Managers report the instances
whenever they deem corporal punishment
necessary, and if the superintendent ap-
proves it is usually administered in the
presence of the manager.
T. Yes 1t IS allowed. but never has
been resorted to except once, some
seven months ago. The girl had
barricaded her room and the farm
employe was required to force the door,
and the girl resisted to such an extent
that he had to hold her hands. This Is
the only case. The farmer has charge
of the girls, when working in the fields,
and has authority to direct them, but no
authority to punish. The engineer is
given full authority to control them
while he has them in charge, as a fire
company, for they act as fremen and
handle hose with dexterity.
s. Yes. occasionally in the case of large,
strong, defiant girls, who would resist
beyond the strength of the lady officers.
The cases are not numerous; 1 believe
but two instances have occurred in eight
years.
9. My opinion is that the refractory girl
should be subdued and conquered, if 1t
required the State militia to be called in.
There are girls in the home stronger han
the managers or other officers. Even a
sheriff finds an ugly, strong girl difficult
TO handle. I certainly would direct the
superintendent to summon male assist
anee If she could not manage the girl.
when about to punish her. S~ubjugation
is absolutely necessary TO successful man
agement.
10. Yes. They are all plain rooms. bare
and cherries, with light only from the
window at the top. The rooms are dry
and warm, but are in the basement
II. Yes. Not SO much for use. as for the