The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-26
VILLAIN0US
METHODS
For Years at the Reform School
For Boys
Where Attendants Are Hired
Because Of Political Work
ARE TO BE STOPPED.
III the Report of the Special
Committee
Is Taken In Good Faith by the
Legislature.
ARE TO BE STOPPED

I'VE would recommend that so far as
practicable, if not wholly SO, this in
I stitution and all other charitable insti-
tutions of the state be taken out of the
| realm of politics and not be left as the
/ foot ball of curbstone politicians
The above is an extract from the re-
port of the special committee appointed
by the house of representatives, Seaton.
chairman. to investigate and report
upon the conditions at the state reform
school in this city. This is an unusual
admission coming from the old time Re
publican party politician such as GIr.
Seaton but it seems to meet with con-
siderable favor in the house, although
! nothing has been done which will result
in action of this character on the part
of that body.
The report of the committee was filed
late Wednesday afternoon by Mr.. Sea-
ton. Immediately following the fore
going appears this additional recon-
mendation: I'VE would recommend also
that that the charitable institutions of
the state, including the asylum for the
insane, be supervised by a proper COM
mission whose duty it shall be to di-
vorce the question of employees from
politics and to take the employment Of
these persons out of the hands of the
state board Of charities and such COM
mission be held strictly responsible for
the good order, economical manage
ment and trustworthy character OF
these institutions.
We find that the institution, as it
now stands, and has stood for years,
has very little for the boys to do, except
house work, such as scrubbing, cooking,
cleaning up, barn work, and work on
the farm.
We find that since the establishment
of the institution, first one and then an
=
of the school, carried out their own per-
sOnA methods, whether good or bad,
and as all men do not think and act
along the same lines, especially in the
control of human beings, we are inclined
to believe that a bill establishing regu-
lations whereby no serious set back by
changes, that have been so frequently
made by the political changes of the
state in the last few years.
We were informed that the water
supply for all ordinary purposes was suf-
nclent but not sufficient In case of ire
or accident.
We would recommend a more rigid
system than is now provided, as we are
informed that the general rule has been
to start the boy when ne becomes an
inmate, with one hundred and fifty
merits to his credit, that every day he
receives one merit for good conduct, or
is demerited for misconduct. and If he
continually receives merit marks until
his score amounts to six hundred he is
then considered fit for parole. and I'M
ties is authorized to parole the boy.
The boy is then sent to his parents or
friends, and if not, is compelled to stay
there until by some chance he is re-
leased. A boy ordinarily bright can OBJ
tain his honor in eight or ten months
without regard to any reformation.
Asking Mr.. Butler as to the mode of
infiicting punishment for disObedience
of the rules of the school, he informed
US that punishment was sometimes ad-
ministered by the strap used on the
body
Miss Speaks, who is matron of the
institution, informed US that the state
board of charities, on visiting the in
stitution inquired into the conditions
and needs of the school. She replied that
she could not say they did, but seemed
to be of the disposition to turn back as
much money as possible into the treas
ury, and the result. was that we had
less to do with it than the legislature
intended we should have.
We found the floors in some of the
dormitories so badly worn through that
they were extremely dangerous. 1t
would be easy matter for a boy to
step through the worn out flooring, in
the dark, and break a leg. In the boys
bath room in main building, teh floor is
worn out, and in the boys dining room,
which is the first floor of the chapel
building, the floor is partially sunken,
and appears to be rotting out where the
joists join the wall; in fact we found a
great deal of work necessary in several
of the buildings to renew the floors, be-
cause of hard wear or rot.
The play rooms are in the basement,
poorly ventilated, with nothing but plain
bare benches The boys gather in these
rooms during Indictment weather to such
an extent (there is no other place for
them to gO) that they are packed like
prOverbial sardines, and the air becomes
very vitiated.
We recommend that some arrange
ments be made whereby a separate
building, of sufficient size, probably of
one story only, be erected. to be used
for a playroom or assembly room, where
all the boys can meet together.
We found an insignificant, small!
closet-Iike place, and in it were two
small bookcases, partially filled with a
few magazines, and some worn out old
books, principally song books This is
the extent of all the literary provision
made for the boys, and the only place
they can get anything to read during
their leisure hours. We recommend that
vide the school with a reasonably good
library, with books of suita BILE kind for
Juveniles, and the older boys
Our chairman, in conversation with
two or three of the attendants was in
formed that considerable disturbance
has prevailed almost constantly for the
past year and a half; that there were
factions between the officers, such as to
produce considerable disturbance in the
mana cement of the institution. OF
course, the facts pertaining to such
charges could only be ascertained by a
strict investigation, which we would not
at this time attempt TO recommend AS
the proverbial locking of the door after
the horse is stolen would not result in
any good to the institution, or the in
mates, and we can only say that all
that can be done for the institution in
the future is to establish a set of regu-
1ationS and a kind of civil service en-
ployment, under which none of the en-
Moves will he T1erT47iffed 70 take fha hit