The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-11

Which was Read Before Both Houses of the
Legislature Yesterday.

selves for the higher yocations or HE.
The statement of the needs or this m
stitutiOn is transmitted herewith, ana
it is hoped that the General Assembly
may be able to find a way TO meet the
demands for enlargement which the
statement contains.
THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
AND MECHANIC ARTS.
A report Of the Board having control
of the College of Agricultural and Me-
chanical Arts is submitted herewith,
and exhibits the operations OF that in
stitution for the two years past. The
enrolment of the College is larger
than at any other time in it's history,
and it is believed that no other insti-
tuition within the State is doing more
| to elevate the standards of our ciyili-
cation that Is being done at this Col
| lege.
THE COI.ORED AGRICULTURAL
AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE.
The report of the Board managing the
Colored Agricultural and Mechanical
College is transmitted herewith and
the attention of the General Assembly
is called to it's statement of work and
it's appeal for the continued support
and favorable consideration of the rep
resentatives of the people.
PUBLIC HOSPITALS FOR THE IN
SANE AND THE SCHOOLS FOR
THE DEAF AND DUMB AND
THE BLIND.
The reports of the three hospitals for
the insane and of the schools for the
Deaf, Dumb and Blind are transmit
ted herewith. | again earnestly. call
attention to the application made by all
these institutions. 1t is not only
shocking to the highest human sensi-
bilities, but it is a stain upon the civili-
zation of our time, that insane persons
of both sexes should be confined in the
loathsome ard unsanitary jails of our
counties, on account of the lack OF
room to receive them and care for them
in the asylnms that have been provided
for such uniortunates.
THE REFORMATORY.
The attention of the Executive has
been called to the fact that a large
number of the most enlightened citi-
zens of the State have formed them
selves into a reformatory association
people so rs to secure the establishment
of a reformatCIy for the restraint and
education of juvenile criminals. In
former message, the attention of the
General Assembly was called to this
subject urging the establishment of a
reformatory at an early day. The SUI
preme im3oI lance of taking steps at
once for the establishment of such an
irStit1ItioO az Gonna c11itab1a location iS
manifest.
1t may be said that owing to the de-
pleted con l.tion of the public treasury,
the State IS not able now to make the
appropriation necessary to the estab-
lishment of such an institution. 1t is
the opinion of those who have made
a special study of the question-as it is
of most of the economists of the time
that it is economy to spend money in
this way. It is VIGOROUSLY true that
young boys and girls who are found
guilty of Sorie small criminal offence
for the first time and who are not yet
hardened in crime, are sent to our jailS
and penitentiary to associate with per-
sons of both sexes who have long been
criminals and those Juvenile offenders
instead of being benefited and re-
claimed are confirmed in their vicious
ness and go away from prison, after
first term Of service there, prepared by
their vicious associations for yet great
er offences against the public laws. A
properly conducted reformatory would
take these youthful offenders and put
them under restraints and within the
sweep of influences that would turn
them aside from their criminal tenden-
cieS and result in their reformation and
reclamation to industry and social use
fulness. Statistics CLEANED from other
States show that from seventy-five to
eighty per cent. of the juvenile Grimm
ais who are treated in reformatories are
reformed and made to be useful citi-
zens. What has been done in this re-
gard in other States, can be done here
in North Carolina, and the doing of it
ought not to be delayed for the space
of one single unnecessary hour.
PARDONS AND COMPUTATIONS.
The list of pardons and combinations
together with the causes for which they
were granted, will be transmitted.
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
This institution is certainly entitled
to more consideration and larger appro-
DF1aIlOn. IT SnOuIQ DC Iflduc .CIGulldUIC
to the Stare by improvements in the
buildings and grounds and the better
maintenance of the inmates.
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC CHART
TIES
The report of the Board of Public
Charities is presented herewith, and
the attention of the General Assembly
Is called to it's recommendations.
THE PENITENTIARY.
Attention is called to the report of the
Superintendent of the Penitentiarp
from which It appears that the institu-
ton ought TO be self-supporting in the
future.
The Legislature some years ago, by
special enactment, created what is
known as The Criminal or Dangerous
Insane Department" and located it in
the west end of the penitentiary build
ing. This, the management of this in
stitution thinks, with all good citizens
who have given serious thought to the
matter, was a grievous mistake. There
can be no such thing as an insane
criminal, for an insane person cannot
commit crime. and the few unfortunates