The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-16

III iylsiDi ol sentiment DelWeen llt tasiA--
bers of the Board. Such pulling apart
Of itseif alone in our opinion is sufii-
cient reason why the present members
should resign, and give place to a new
Board in which united counseIs may pre-
vail
I'm our opinion also the present Board
has virtually abdicated its functions by
turning over the control of the school
to managing director in receipt of a
salary. In our opinion the establishment
of six punishment cells, whether comfort
able In themselves or not, whether clean
" or liable to the visitation of reptiles is
confession that the methods adopted
are utter failures
The record book of the school in itself,
in our opinion, abundantly proves that
the Incarceration In these cells is, If they
are to be used at all, unduly prolonged.
and we have no doubt whatever, that to
feed a young girl in one Of these cells
with merely bread and water for periods
ranging from two or three days to seven
days, and even longer, is a method Of
reformation which ought to be new at
tury.
I'VE fail to understand the hopefulness
of morning and evening prayers conduct
ed by the husband of a matron who could
coolly issue such orders as these affect
ing young persons of her own sex. We
are of the opinion also that the fact, ii
it be a fact, that the frenzied child, weak
in frame and liable doubtless to the ply,
sical weaknesses of her sex, might upon
manifesting contrition have ceased her al
most ceaseless walk up and down flight
of forty steps of stairs for twenty-five
consecutive times does not in any degree
justify the enormity of such sentence
Girls have died from the amusement of
jumping a rope for an inordinate number
of times, and it was fortunate seemingly
results followed.
'The whole long night spent in a
strait jacket with the lower limbs pin
ioned together with straps. is something
which in our minds is not capable of ex-
aggeration: res ipsa loquitur.
The reformatory (?) spankings in the
presence of men, as we understand it,
are practically admitted; the angry and
cowardly blows administered while the
girl is held are. as we understand it, de-
MED, in spite of the evidence of the men
employed against their wills to hold the
girls.
''But the bruises and abrasions which
DR.. Satterthwaite testifies that she fre-
auently found upon the girls are not ex-
planned; the practical starvation Of the
girls is admitted; it is admitted that wa
ter is supplied but twice day for drink
ing purposes, and the matron explains
this by saying that some of those wretch
ed sufferers were in the habit of twisting
up the handles of the tin cups as tools to
enable them to leave their place of tor
ment; to our minds as pitiful picture
| (parnted by the matron HERSELF as any
which was depicted by the employees who
testified against the matron and her man.
| agement.
In our opinion, if such reformatory
measures as those disclosed 50 far, upon
the brief and inadequate inquiry, are
necessary measures. better, far better dis
continue the school altogether and send
! the girls to the State Prison. We are In
formed that this is the view which Is
being entertained by the judges
| But our association will abdicate its
functions and end its honorable career
when it ceases to believe in the possibil.
| ity of reformation. Our information is
that the school in question is no longer
| effecting the results for which it was es-
| tabished and results which we believe il
| to be possible to be attained
| 1T become, then, our bounden duty te
| do all that lies in our power to see to ii
that this particular refornatory is en-.
! gagged in its sacred business of reforma.
| ton. 1t seems to US that the school L
! being conducted on the principle fata
! principle to start upon-that the girls are
| criminals, and to be controlled by Grim
| inal methods.
In our judgment, love to God an6
love to men cannot be inculcated by ths
| infiiction of hopeless suffering; no mar
can be convinced by beating him ovel
the head, or woman, either. But ever
criminals have rights which trustees and
matrons are bound to respect
Cruel and inhuman punishments are
forbidden by the organic law. A person
who viii undertake to swab out the
| mouth of a girl who uses an oath with
castor oil and quinine has committed
an assault upon that girl, for which
that person should undergo punishment
in turn.
I'VE would most respectfully but mos
urgently request of Your ExcelIency that
such measures shall be instituted respect
ing this school as will satisfy our aspir-
ations and of all those throughout the
length and breadth of our beloved land
who love the right and abhor the wrong
and who do not measure the gravity OF
cruelty which she states she is prepared
to sustain by evidence.
"All of which is very respectfully sub.
mitted.
DAVID P. HALL,
Chairman Committee on Reformator,
les. State Charities Aid Association >
The mother of Sadie Weissman, who
was driven insane by her six weeks oi
cruelty. has begun action 10 secure re-
dress from the State because her daugh-
ter Is now a heavy charge on her. She
declares that she can prove that hei
daughter was in good health before she
was sent to the school and Mrs. Eyier
began to beat the devil out of her.
At the present time she can do nothing
and will be HELPLESS all her life. She
has asked the ChiIdrens Aid Society tc
begin action against the State. Her home
is in Paterson