Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-01-10

the reform school has been without
means 10 visit the homes In which the
boys have been placed to ascertain from
a personal inspection and examination
the nature Of their surroundings.
| | would suggest liberal appropriation
for the use Of the orphans home and re-
form school, available TO the superin-
tendent Of these institutions. to enable
them to procure homes through their own
and other agencies. and at suitable times
to make personal visits, and Inspections
SO as to know from personal observation
| the influences surrounding the children
who have been taken out Of the institu-
lions and placed In other surroundings
II would be wise to change the name Of
this institution from reform school to
industrial school 70. boys"
Industrial school for Girls.
The Industrial school for girls at Beloit
was In good condition when the present
administration entered upon Its term,
and Its condition remains practically the
same. Since the last meeting Of the leg
islature the engine room and laundry at
this institution were burned and II will
be necessarv to have an appropriatin for
would be we'll for the legislature to con-
slider the advisablllty Of insurance.
SOldiers' Orphans Home.
This Institution II we'll managed and the
CniIuren properly carer TOR. Inc las.
legislature made provision for the selec-
ton OF an agent to find homes for the
children now In the institution. The sue
cess attending this effort does not, In
my judgment, justify Its continuance, and
l respectfully recommend that the law
creating such agent be repealed.
Institution for the Blind.
The institution for the education of the
blind at Kansas City was taken charge
OF by the present superintendent nearly
two years ago, since which time It has
been placed In good condition. The build
ings are old and wholly insufficient for
the needs of the institution No per-
manent improvements have been made
at that institution for number Of years.
Deaf and Dumb Asylum.
The institution for the education of the
deaf and dumb at Olathe has had to con-
tend with many difficulties. The supply
OF water at this school was entirely ex-
hausted during the year 1900. and the city
refused to furnish water In compliance
with the terms of the contract which had
been prevlosuly entered into between the
board and the city. The sanitary system
was In bad condition at the time the pres
ent board took charge. This defect was
partly remedied, but additional work must
be done before II Is made complete. As
the result of the imperfect sanitation and
the poor water supply, there has been
much sickness In that institution. The
board Is now paying the city of Olathe
the sum Of $50 per month for water, and
there Is no guaranty. that this arrange
ment VIII continue. ! do not think fur
ther appropriations should be made for
additional buildings until sufficient sup
ply OF pure water has been obtained
Asylum for Idiotlc and Imbecile.
The state asylum for idiotic and imbe-
Gle children at Winfield Is of growing i'm
stitutlon are increasing. An additional
building has been constructed there with
In the last two years, and other improve
ments are necessary. The number In that
Institution In 1893 was 1872, In 1892 1859, and
In 1900, 22O, and I am informed that this
Increase Is likely to continue. This will
call for additional attendants. The un-
fortunate children In this asylum need
much personal attention. and the proper
ton OF employees needed Ii largely In ex-
cess OF that Of other institutions.
Would Lop on Two Members.
The board Of charities, as now COM
posed, consists Of five members. 1t can
be reduced to three, without In any way
lmpairing the efficiency Of the board and
l respectfully suggest such reduction.
Private Institutions OF Charity.
There are "A private institutions in the
state, engaged wholly or partly In char
table work, receiving aid In the way Of
appropriations The last legislature made
an appropriation Of 800 to each of these,
ror each of the fiscal years ending June
10, 1860 and 1901 The average number of
persons cared for yearly in these insti-
tutlons Is about 1000, and ranges all
Rest, TO 40 in the Rescue Home-the
total enrolment ranging from nine In the
Old Ladies Rest, to more than 1000 in
Saint Margaret's hospital Some of the
institutions are wholly charitable, others
only partly so; some care for many, others
for few-and 1t Is hardly equitable that
they all should receive like assistance
from the state. In cases where aid Is
given II might be well to require the re-
cipients to, make annual reports to the
board Of charities.
The State Penltentiary.
The number now confined In this In
stitution Is 1,025-236 Of whom are from
the territory Of Oklahoma and five are
United States prisoners, leaving the num-
Der committed to the institution by the
courts Of our own state at 1884, The last
legislature made provision for the con-
structIon Of plant for the manufacture
OF binding Irvine at the penitentiary.
This business was entirely new, both to
the warden and the board Of directors Of
that institution, and by reason Of their
lack of knowledge, the purchase Of raw
material, Its manufacture into the finished
product and Its distribution among the
consumers Of binding Irvine, was attended
with considerable embarrassment Not
withstanding such embarrassment, a rea-
sonabe degree Of success attended the
enterprise, and the sale Of the manufac-
tured product now on hand, at consider
ably less than the present market price,
would leave the revolving fund unim-
paired, and enable us to continue the man.
ufacture of the product for another year
with the advantage. of one. years ex-
perience. 1t can hardly be said, however,
that the enterprise Is beyond the stage
of experiment, and 1t remains to be seen
whether the state can successfully en-
bark In business Of that character In
his report, the warden suggests that his
duties In the management Of the prison
require his entire time, and he should not
be burdened with business responsible
ties The board Of directors recommend
that the tWlne plant De placed under
separate management, with capable SUI
perintendent In charge. As the state has
invested nearly 100000 In the Irvine plant,
these suggestions of the warden and board
ought to be considered, with view Of
placing the manufacture Of binding Irvine
under the control of superintendent,
who could devote his entire time to that
department.
No Use for Board Of Pardons.
At the last session Of the legislature |
requested that the law creating the board
Of pardons be repealed. For some rea-
son this suggestion was not acted upon.
After an investigation | was convinced
that the whole system of issuing par
dons had grown Into fragrant abuse.
and declined to appoint members of
the board Of pardons. Two years Of trial
has satisfied me that this power can be
more safely lodged with the executive
than a board Of pardons, and | now re-
neat my recommendation that the law
creating the board of pardons be re-
pealed.
Eavors the Parole OF Prisoners.
I suggested to the last legislature the
passage of a law establishing parole
system at the penltentiary. The legsa-
tiIre failed to act upon this suggestion.
After the adjournment Of the legislature
| a N avo u,iuati tim NJ the statute relating 10