The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-06
REFORMATORY.

REFORMATORY.
The most enlightened craftsmanship.
the dictates of common humanity, and
the teachings of Christianity, unite q,
urge upon the lawmakers Of this State
to establish one or more Reformatories
for the care and reformation of young
criminals. TO send youth to the State
prison, and compel him to be, for months
and years in association with hardened
and confirmed criminals is. to make it
sure that he will receive an education in
crime, and be turned out upon society a
desperate. All those who have given
special study to the subject. are of the
opinion that it is better and cheaper to
prevent crime, than it is to punish it..
And the experience of those States
which have erected Reformatories,
should encourage us to lose no further
time in providing Institutions wherein
youthful evil-doers may be restrained
and taught to be useful citizens. |
therefore recommend to the General As
scmbly to take this matter up at the
present session. and do what may be
deemed wise and sufficient to put North
Carolina in line with many of her sister
States in this regard
1t is believed that the penitentiary au-
thorities have done all they could to pro-
feet the juvenile criminals from the re-
suits of evil associations, but their efforts
in their behalf are necessarily limited.
PARDONS AND COMPUTATIONS.
Since the Inauguration of the present
Governor, on the 10Th day of January.
1897, that is for the two years. 1897 and
1898, there have been issued fifteen 10l
combinations, and one hundred and
seven 400 pardons. a report of the
same. and the reasons therefor will be
submitted to the General Assembly ut
this session.
THE NORTH CAROLINA RAIL
ROAD.
In the early part of the year 1897,
suit in equity was brought by the
Southern Railroad Company in the Cir
cult Court of the United States for the
Eastern district of North Carolina, to
SET up the 99-Year Lease of that road
to the Southern, to have the lease de-
cIared binding and valid IN law, and to
enjoin the North Carolina Railroad Com
pany and certain officers of the State
from bringing actions for the purpose
of invalidating said lease. In the course
of this litigation it became apparent that
the Federal Court would entertain the
suit, and would decree the relief which
was prayed for by the complainant.
Seeing that this would be the result, |
advised the directors of the North Caro-
lima Railroad Company to submit the
matter to the court upon the pleadings
and proofs without further resistance.
provide the Southern Railroad Company
and would save the State Treasury
harmless against all expense. This was
done, and thereby large amount of
money was saved to the State and to
the North Carolina Railroad Company.
The court entered up a decree in favor
of the Southern Railroad Company.
BY this action, the rights of the State
as a sovereign are in no wise impaired
or affected The suit was substantially
between the Southern Railroad Company
and the North Carolina Railroad Com
pany The decree is in no wise binding
upon the Legislature.
ATLANTIC AND NORTH CARO-
LIMA RAILROAD.
The gross earnings of this company
have increased. the material condition
of the road has been improved, the diyi-
dends Of two per cent have been earned
and paid to the stockholders, and it'll