The evening times., 1899-07-03
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR BOYS.
Industrial Commission Receives
Reply From Baltimore.


The Industrial Commission has received
from Brother Dominic, superintendent Of
st. Marys Industrial School for Boys, in
Baltimore in answer to some enquiries
regarding the employment of ''convicts in
jails and penal and reformatory institu
tions other than penitentiaries, and the
effect that such employment has upon free
labor" Brother Dominic replied as fol-
lows:
I'VE can speak only of the reformatory
institution. St. Mary's Industrial School
for Boys has no mark of the Jail nor penal
institution. 1t has neither manacle nor
cell. nor does il adopt at any time bread
and-water regime. Ii has no need for these
prison appliances and appurtenances. It's
mission is the reformation and preserva-
tion of boys committed to its care. These
are irresponsible youths, the outcome of
Indifferent parents, or youths who have
been bereft of parents, and not having rel
atives who care TO assume the responsibli-
ties of guardianship and direction, are
gathered in by officers OF the law and are
committed here. Others, again, are the
children of respectable parents, but, OBJ
jecting TO control and manifesting a dispo-
sition to waywardness, are placed here for
safekeeping and for training in the walks
of industry
During ten months of the year every
boy in st. Mary's Industrial School goes
10 the classroom At least two and a-half
hours daily. These hours are for the
working boys. All are thus assured an
education fitting them to commingle with
their fellowmen when they leave the in
stitution and secure a fair start in the
race of life. The juniors-those two
young for the workshop-pass, daily, six
hours in the classreoms, divided into three
sessions.
During FIVE days of the week the boys
work six hours a day, and on Saturdays
three hours. Legal holidays are honored,
that the boys may be schooled into obedi-
ence to law and become imbued with the
history and purpose of the holidays of this
country. Many of the boys, despite
'heredity,' and the decentralization of early
associations, become apt scholars and ex-
pert workers, forgetful of the past and
hopeful of the future.
Printing, painting, carpentry and its
allied industries, shirtmaking, stocking
making, brushmaking, and bToomaking,
gardening and farming are the main oc-
cupations of the boys. These industries
of st. Mary's Industrial School cannot af
feet the employment of free labor" The
boys at work might have an Gppreciable
effect upon free labor were they appren-
tices in shops or factories, or seeking en-
ployment in stores and offices. They
would be in competition then with the
other young and free breadwinners.
THE problem of the employment CT
free labor with adequate remuneration is
a present and pressing one, and worthy of
the earnest consideration of the profound
est thinkers and the practical men of the
country. The restless inventor, brainy
engineer. daring chemist, and searchful
physicist are ever bringing into being the
machine or element which at once dis
penses with the services of human hands,
thus increasing the number of men and
| wonderland, unfortunately, boys and
| girls, too-who must compete for the do
| ing of the work that requires skilled or
so-called unskilled manipulation."