The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-04

institutions where they are confined. Deal
ing with this the report continues:
ION July /. 1899. there were 3.l3I United
States convicts in the various prisons ana
reformatories of the country, as against
2.932 at the close of the last fiscal year
on June 80, 1860. OF the total number IN
confinement at said last date, 902 were IN
the United States penitentiary al FORT
Leavenworth. Kan. and IS in the United
States penitentiary at McNeils Island,
Wash The remainder. 1852, were IN the
various State institutions made use OF for
, the purpose.
Attention is called to the report of trus-
tees of the male and female reform
I schools OF the District Of Columbia.
The report of the board of trustees OF
, the Reform School OF the District OF CO.
lumbia shows that at the beginning oil the
last fiscal year there were in the school
2O6 boys: there we're received during the
year 1903. a total of 300. as against 3l3 for
the previous year There were discharged
during the year III. leaving in the school
June 80. 1900. 1872. In the eleven years.
from 1887 to 1898, the average number OF
! boys in the school increased from lai to
$50 The present report shows that the
diminution in the number which began
after that period has continued. and that
the reasons for such dminution given by
the trustees in their report for the pre-
yious fiscal year still exist. but owing TO
the passage of the act at the last session
OF Congress authorizing parole discharges
and extending the limit of age for admis-
sion to under seventeen years instead OF
under sixteen years. II seems proDabie
that the number will increase during the
current year. The trustees report a grow
ing Improvement in the character OF the
work in the schoolroom. manual training
school and the instruction given in the
various shops as well as in the outdoor
work. A new assembly hall. for which
Congress made an appropriation. Is near
" completed and will be of great use.
AN instructor has been provided for
physical culture, the good effect OF when
is already apparent. The trustees suggest
that the school be utilized as far as pos
sible to the limit of its capacity by send
ing boys to it whenever circumstances
seem to warrant such course. rather than
the turning of them over to agencies in
tended more strictly for charitable work
thereby distributing them to persons OF
places where possibly they get little or
no instruction, those to whom they are
committed getting not only their services
but compensation. making an additional
expense to be paid from the public treas
ury. | agree with what the trustees Sd!
on this subject.
THE reports of the trustees. of the
superintendent. ard other officers show
that the condition of the school Is good
and the direction of its affairs satisfac-
tory. The new building is substantially
completed, and will be occupied about
January l. This addition viii pro-
vide for sixty eight more inmates. VIII
permit the admission Of white girls as
well as colored girls Of the statutory
classes. and will, IT is believed. result III
increased effectiveness of administration
and in a marked reduction of per capita
cost.
Il urge again upon Congress the i'm
portance of legislation which shall reduce
the age limit of admission to the school
and enlarge the powers of the trustees.
so as to provide by parole when earned,
or by transfer to the workl,ouse in re-