The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-24

comfortably accommodate. The conduct Of
the inmates has generally been good and
the condition Of the school is very salts
factory.
The report points out the expenditures
since 1898 and asks for an appropriation
of $685. for salaries and only s1I.3s5 for
maintenance, against s19.3S5 the previous
fiscal year and SS5, 725 in 1899.
For the year 101 girls were committed to
the school and 81 released. Incorrigibility
was the offence charged against Sc of the
girls; larceny. 2S and vagrancy. Is. One
girl was sent to the school for horse steal
ing. OF those released. IL went to the
Board of Chi,iren's Guardians, SO to par
ents, and 80 as apprentices.
President Hoyt emphasized the state
ments made In his annual report of last
year upon. the great number of girls be-
tween the ages of eighteen and twenty 60
who have been inmates OF the Institution
for several years.
Some of these girls" he continues,
have been out under indenture and on
probation once or twice and have been re-
turned because of INSTRUMENTATION or I'M
tidiness. or unsatisfactory or depraved
conduct in other respects in the places
which were found for them. The record
of these girls at the school has. however.
been, on the whole, excellent. No one of
them could fairly be .classed as a crimi-
nal. In the school they are faithful,
willing. and efficient workers. and they
are quite capable of earning their living
outside by homework and needlea.ork
In ""'ainipy such girls in the school, for
q successful couuuuu v.-Li.t n duo and
steady movement in and out is reqtIsft-.
many children who might be benefited by
the care and training are excluded. We
believe that such girls as have been re-
ferred to would work as they ought and
would behave themselves in the places
found for them il they knew that in
stead of being sent back to the school
for misbehavior under their indentures
they would be sent to the Jail or the
wcrkhouse after they reached the age of
eighteen years. Something may be done
in the solution of the problem by the
imposition OF a more continuous industrial
discipline when we are able to enlarge
the scheme of work of the institution SO
as to include some simple forms of sys
tematic and productive industry.
Shodld Reduce the Age Limit.
But. in addition to this remedy. ii is
obvious that the board of trustees should
be able. in 4 proper case and after due
elaboration. to obtain a transfer to the
workhouse or the Jail, either by their own
motion or order or upon an order of court,
of girl over eighteen who, by reason Of
criminality or indelible incorrigibiity. Is
no longer proper subject for the school,
and who may contaminate the other in
mates. On this point We also renew our
recommendation. contained in the report
for last year. that the age limit of al
mission to the school should be reduced
from eighteen to sixteen years: and it
seems to us that the courts should be
more careful in ascertaining the age OF
girls committed. since there is almost
always dispute and disagreement upon
that subject between parents or guar
dams and girls themselves. and the MS
representation to the court of a girls
age may work. and often does work. seri-
Gus disadvantage to the school, the re-
suit being that girls are admitted and en-
tered on the records as several years
younger than they really are. and. OF