The progressive farmer., 1901-01-15

OAOSJ DuG IL Is a stain
upon the civilization of our time
that insane persons of both SEXES
should be confined in the loathsome
ana unsanitary jails of our counties
Oh account of the lack of room to
receive them and care for them in
Ghe asylums that have been Drovided
Tor such unfortunates.
THE REFoRMAToRY.
The attention of the Executive has
Oeen called to the fact that a large
number of the most enlightened citi-
zens OF the State have formed them
selves into reformatory association
TO agltate the matter and educate
the people so as to secure the estab-
hshment of a reformatorv 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 reformatory at an
early day. The supreme Importance
OF taking steps at once for the estab-
hshment of such an institution at
some suitable location is manifest.
1t may be said that owing to the
depleted condition of the public
treasury, the State is not able now
to make the appropriation necessary
to the esta blishment of such an in
stltut1on. 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.
1t is notOriously true that young
boys and girls who are found guilty
of some 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 persons of both sexes who have
long been criminals; and those
Juvenile offenders instead of being
benefited and reclaimed are con
hrmed in their viciOusness and go
away from prison, after first term of
service there, prepared by their
vicious associations for yet greater
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 tendencies and result in
their reformation and reclamation to
industry and social usefulness. Sta
tiSticS CLEANED from other States
show that from seventy-five to eighty
per cent. of the juvenile criminals
who are treated in refOrmatOries are
reformed and made to be useful citi-
zens. What has been done in this
regard in other States, can be done
here in North Carolina, and the do
ing of it ought not to be delayed for
the space of one single unnecessary
hour.
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
This institution is certainly en-
titled to more consideration and
larger appropriation. 1t should be
made creditable to the State by i'm
provements in the buildings and
grounds and the better maintenance
of the inmates.
MIN T,UrN-TrrTvNr11T
Attention is called to report of the
superintendent of the Penitentiary
from which it appears that the insti-
tuition ought to be self-supporting in
the future.
The Legislature some years ago,
by special enactment, created what
is known as the "Criminal or Dan
gerOus Insane Department, " and
located it in the west end of the
penitentiary building. This, the
management of this institution
thinks, with all good citizens who
have given serious thought to the
matter, was a grievous mistake.
In6f6 can D6 uO SUCH GuluS DIS du
insane criminal, for an insane per-
son cannot commit crime, and the
few unfortunates who are slowed
away in one corner of the States
prison are perhaps no more danger
Gus than many of those confined in
the hospitals at Raleigh, Morganton
and Goldsboro. 1t is a discrimina-
ton that should not be made. The
department is a menace to this insti-