The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-26
THE GIRLS REFORM SCHOOL.
Mr.. Jenkins Report GA the Bill Rails
ing the Age Limit.

Representative Jenkins, OF the Rouse
| Committee on the District of Columbia
has submitted an interesting report on
the bin raising the age limit for admis-
sion to the Girls Reform School from six
teen years to seventeen years. The re-
port says;
1T will be observed that the only OBJ
| lection offered by the, learned Commits
sioners of the District Of Columbia is
based upon the objections 0. the Board
of Charities; that is, as far as they are
| concerned. they make no objection indie
pendent of the Board of Charities hut
they say that the Board of Charities is
making a special study Of the work for
dependent and delinquent children in the
District OF Columbia and express the
opinion that, pending the completion of
that investigation. the enactment Of frag-
mentary legislation, as contemplated by
the bill. is unwise.
Now, in the judgment of The COM
mittee, the learned Commissioners are
very much mistaken in making this ate
-nent. How can it be unwise Cor Con-
gress to do for poor. unfortunate girls
what they have already done. without the
disapproval of the Commissioners, in ia
vor OF unfortunate boys? In the iudg-
ment of those Interested this beneficial
legislation should be extended to unfor-
tulate girls seventeen years of age.
While these very learned members OF the
Beard of Charities are making spe-
cial study some poor. unfortunate girl
OF seventeen years Of age may be for
ever ruined.
They have not seen fit to tell Con-
gress when they win be through with
therr study Of his question, or what sug-
gestlons they can make to Congress show
ing the proposed legislation to be unwise,
or what suggestions they contemplate
making. ard the learned Commissioners
are certainly mis- aiken when they say
that the pending bill would establish a
duplicate agency for the commitment Of
delinquents. There is not a single word
OF line in the bill to Justify any such
statement. The Board of Charities have
no power TO commit. The poor unfortu-
mates are committed by the courts or
in single other case the president of
the board Of trustees may also commit
in cases not bad enough TO require the in
tervention of court so that there is no
duplicate agency for the commitment of
| delinquents.
The Board OF Charities is UnquestiOn-
ably composed OF gentlemen OF high char
acter. and il can well be said of the board
of trustees Of the Reform School for
Girls that there are no better or finer
people in the District of Columbia than go
TO make up this beard. They are laiies
and gentlemen OF high character and large
experience. devoting their time. without
compensation to the Improvement OF poor,
! unfortunate girls. Their judgment is that
| it will tend 10 save many an unfortunate
| girl If the age limit can be changed from
| sixteen to seventeen years, and That is
| practically the only material change sug-
gested. The other two changes herein5e-
| fore referred to are mere incidents.
| Now with all due respect to the OBJ
| iections Of the Board of Charities, your
| committee are OF the opinion that Com
! gress can and ought TO lesislate in this
particular. and when the good people com
! posing the Board OF Charities have their
suggestions to make to Congress, il it be
| found that any error has been committed
| it can be rectifed by subsequent legisla
ton; but certainly this very needy change
| in the law ought not 10 be held in abey-
| ance while the Board OF Charities arc
| making special study OF their work
without any suggestion that Trey intend
at any length Of time to make any rec
| concentrations to Congress.
Your committee, who have very care
fully examined this question. both for the
| Boys Reform School and for the Girls
School as well. can see no possible objec-
ton to placing the Boys School and thai
Of the Girls School on the same footing