The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-02-14
STATE REFORM SCHOOL
superintendent Bickers Says Some In
teresting Things Concerning 1t.

superintendent Biekers Says Some In
teresting Things Concerning 1t.
Pendleton East oregonian
H. f. Bickers, superintendent Of the
state reform school, who was in Pendle-
ton a couple Of days the past week, gave
the East Oregonian some information
regarding that institution that may
prove Interesting to great many people
oeople throughout this section Of the
state. Mr. Bickers was appointed to
he srperntendency Of that institution
last April from this city, and, as he is
so well known to everybody here, what
he says will be given much more weight
than would if coming from stranger.
"The majority of people look upon
reform school, said Mr. Bickrrs, "as a
kind of peniientiary upon small scale.
This is far from the truth. While, OF
course, boys are placed there for com.
hitting some oifense or because their
parents are unable to control them, they
ire not looked upon as convicts or re-
ceive any such treatment accorded those
people. The fact is, it is far different.
In the institution over which l preside
is as fine an educational system as any
parent could wish to give his son the
advantages Of. A large corps OF able
teachers is employed, and every boy
placed there is TUNED ont with a COOL
business education. Besides this, each
young man is given the advantages of
learning trade. We are now instruct.
ing boys as carpenters, tallors, engineers
and shoemakers, and laundry work.
cooking and farming are also on our list,
Every boy is compelled to work at one
nr the other Of these trades for half Of
each working day, the other half being
spent in the school room. Consequent.
ly, il Il boy is placed there when 10 or
10 years OF age, he is given his liberty AT
the age of 81 with a thorough business
education and is good tradesman Of
some sort.
"When the legislature meets again,
we shall try and get an appropriation for
the purchase Of a small newspaper plant
and, aside from instructing in the print
ing art, will issue small newspaper
from the institution. We hope in this
way TO enlighten people rs to what the
institution is accomp ishing and what II
was established for. Another matter that
will be brought before the ,egislatu e
will be an appropriation for =
brary. We now have a fairly complete
assortment of books that have been con
tributed 10y various religious societies Of
the state, but II is not as complete as we
desire, and the state will be asked to
help us
"The progress OF the institution has
been hampered TO a certain extent by
the smallness Of the appropriation set
aside for It's maintenance by the legis-
lature. Heretofore, some $65,0OO have
been expended in conducting the insti.
tuition, but the present amount for that
purpose has been cut down to $35, ,0n0.
This is barely sufficient and will not per-
NIT OF the improvements we would lik,
to make. When took charge las'
April, there we're only So inmates
They have now increased lls, and thil
also uses up our funds to a much create
extent than was figured upon. However
we will bring all these matters up be
fore the legislature at their next session
and hope to get larger appropriation
and add some very essential depart
menls 10 those we now have