The news & observer., 1900-12-21
CAPT. benson SECRET TARY
Reading of the Secretarv's Report DC.
cupied Their Time Yesterday.
REfoRMATORY FOR YOUTHFUL CR MlNALS
Capt. Denson Gives Many Cogent Reasons
Why il Should b. Established by The
Next Legislature.

lne State Board OF OnaI1lleS was III
session here yesterday. The MEM
bers came in ON the afternoon trains
and the meeting was called to order
at 5 o'clock in the Senate chamber.
Those present were Dr. Chas. Duff
fy, of Newbern, chairman; Messrs.
w. A. Blair, of Winston; w. n. Jones,
and Captain benson, of Raleigh, the
latter of whom is secretary to the
board.
The reading of the secretary's re-
port took from the meeting of the
1t was very voluminous and complete,
containing a variety of information on
the work coming within the scope of
the committees authority. The report
treated very thoroughly the State
penal, and charitable institutions, the
orphanages in the State. the hospitals,
and the county iails and institutions.
The chief feature of Captain Den
sons report was that portion relating
to the establishment of State re-
form school, which project Captain
benson and the entire board favors.
In considering the problem he says
we are brought face to face with the
problem of how to suppress crime
among the youth. He argues that we
should take the youthful criminal from
his evil surroundings, and association
and train the good that is in him until
what was once the terror of society
shall become its supporter.
The public mind is now ready for
the change The ablest minds of the
country nave announced that they
know no other way by which this
waste of a States most valuable ma
terial may be stopped. The child
saved is the man made. These facts
are continually thrust upon us.
While these facts and figures are
being urged in support of the PROPOSE
ton, more children have become
felons.
The matter was brought up in the
Legislature of 1S99 and was post
roned on account of the multiplicity
of important questions then confront
ing the Legislature, until 1901.
The removal of those children in
the work-house, jails, penitentiary
and convict camps to quarters more
congenial to the formation of charac-
ter and proper ideas of life is the
| y
Capt. benson told of sending letters
to the leading men of the United
States that have interested themselves
in the matter and says a generous
4 response resulted. One hundred such
institutions now exist in the United
States. North Carolina cannot afford
to delay this step in her further prog
reSs.
The following questions were pro-
pounded in the letters:
!. Are the citizens Of your State
satisfied with the reform school?
3 What per cent of the inmates are
permanently reformed?
3. What do YOU consider the best
system for this work?
4. What is the cost per capita?
5. Is it we'll to try to make the insti-
tuition self supporting?
The replies indicated a state of
affairs ais follows:
l. No institution is so valuable in de-
creasing crime and providing safe
guard. 1t is the best investment pos
sible for the tax payers.
2. About rs per cent of the inmates
never return to Jail or The pententiary
and thus are considered permanant
reformations
3. The cottage plan, no cells or high
| walls. should be used. The school is
for youthful criminals-not even
| young men.
I 4. 1t varies. The lowest cost an
nounced is 500 per annum the highest
$276. Capt benson thinks a scheme
could be devised by which North Caro-
| lima can provide for the youthful
criminals at a less cost than the 500,
+ (which, however, is cheaper than allow
ling them to stay in jail. This costs
1.-THE State S120 per year.
5. The reformatory is not money
making scheme, and the idea of maxi
4 ing the inmates self-supporting should
be suborlinated to that of developing
lcharacter.
Capt. benson said that the person to
! preside over the institution should be
one of high ability, fortified by eX
perience, and attested by results
achieved elsewhere.
Public sentiment endorses the
scheme, Supreme court judges urge
| the measure, it has received the sane
ton of the bar and press: the Chamber
of Commerce of Raleigh, the various
lodges Of Odd Fellows have endorsed
lit; Reform Association has been or
| ganized, and il has been endorsed by
| the Friends. Baptists, and Presbyte-
rians in Official session. and the voice
of the women through the Kings
Daughters. and Christian Endeavor, is
heard in its favor.
This part of the report closes with
these words:
Read the report, the work
houses, look in the iails, and then with
hold your aid from this project if you
can"