The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-30
GOVERNOR ELISHA DYER.

in the manufacturing villages. The
time has gone by when u was thought
TO be useless TO put child In school be-
fore IL was seven years of age. The 9TH
er matter TO which / refer lis the es-
tablishment OF evening schools for
adults In the different towns and man.
ufacturing centres, for the study OF
the English language, United States
history, and the principles OF civil gov
ernment these schools 20 be taught
by competent teachers who could in
struct not only from textbooks, but
by discussion and debate.
January /, 1899. there were 63 pupils
at the Rhode Island Institute for the
Deaf: IL were admitted during the
year, making a total of IS enrolled.
During the year IA left school, leaving
the number at present 81.
The recent outbreak OF scarlet fever
at the state Home and School empha-
sizes the necessity for more ample ac-
commodations Thirty children sick
with scarlet fever, boys and girls,
were crowded into house hardly large
enough for the nineteen usual inmates.
with a yearly increase in the number
OF children committed 20 this instltu-
ton, a new cottage for use as a nos
pital is absolutely necessary. Although
everything possible is done for the sick
children this crowding is not only In
convenient, but dangerous. Had there
heen a hospital where the first cases
could have been isolated, the epidemic
might have been prevented.
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
The statutes provide that the board
of state charities and corrections Shall
consist OF nine persons, three from the
county of Providence. one from each
of the other counties. and one from the
state at large. together with such per-
son as may be appointed secretary or
the board This last provision, in my
opinion. is wrong. The secretary should
be a selaried officer. but not a MEM
ber Of the board. IL Is an anomalous
condition for a servant of the board
TO be n member thereof and one OF
the persons who appoints himsif' anu
10 whom he is responsible.
Under the present law superlntend'
cnt appointed by the board OF state
charities and corrections has control
and management Of the state farm,
state workhOuse house of COrrecWou.
state almshouse and state REFORM
schools. and practically the appoint
ment of every person employer IN
these Institutions with power To dis
charge them az his pleasure. The ma
tural result Of this extraordinary power
is that any investigation or inuuirv
into the md hcds Of discipline or man
agement of these Institutions inevit-
ably results in a perfect endorsement
Of tho official acts of the superintend-
ent through the endless chain " en-
ployes whose tenure Of office and en-
poymart Is sub iect 20 his pleasure.
therefore most Strenuously urge
that tho law 10 80 amended that each
fnetitutinn shall have rs own super
intendent reporting directly 20 that
board which rs charged with the care
and oversight of all the dependent de-
fectaye anil delinnucrif ci1s~es NJ tho
state. further urge most strenuous
lv that the sunerir' endent OF the oak
lawn school for girls be woman: n
woman possessing proper educat'on.
refinement. and the pecessarv tro'n-
inc to carry out the higher pirposes
FOR which refOrmatory. and not a
prison. is intended.
I also earneftiv urge thet sccton ~
Of c.hapter pol he amended. or n row
eoction added uroviding what In add
| ticn 10 his duties az an ofhoi"H visitor
| ~ fhe prison the governor shall be the
| offcial visitor ~ al Cf TIE state In
s'itutiors. whether penal correctional
| char'sal,le. or foe The insane. NV ren-
eo- Tor ur~inc tN,is amendment or pd-
| aitior Is thaf tho governor is cnn.
| ete ~fiv pnrr aiol 20 nv tho rnlatives
| prd friends ~ inraafes - thnse TN.
| stt''-'to',s 20 irvae'tvate aiiere1 'wrcnrs
| ~ Injustice srd unde- 'he present law
' has not even the right 10 visit these