Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-03-05
PRISON, INSANE ASYLUM AND
REFORM SCHOOL. q

In the general scheme of decentra!i
lation which II is hoped and expected
the first Territorial Legislature will
carry out, no department Of the govern
ment demands more specific attention
than the public institutions, the Prison.
the Reform School and the Insane Asy-
lum. These institutions will require
specific legislation to place them in n
position where advancement will be as
sured. not checked by reason of the
present superabundance OF central con-
troll
with the exception OF the prison.
which has the advantage of 4 board OF
tackled upon departments'wh whose admin
istrative members have not the time
and particularly with the Reform School
have not the disposition 10 give them
the attention they deserve and must
have II Hawaii's public institutions arc
to approach the standard OF common
American average.
Each of these institutions. the Pris-
on. the Reform School and the Insane
Asylum should be conducted under the
direction of n separate and independent
Board OF Trustees or commission.
These boards should be held RESPONSE
bic to the Legislature for the general
administration Of the institution. en-
ployment of officers and expenditure OF
all appropriations.
The only argument that ought to be
necessary to accomplish this end is
reference to the methods followed in
nearly all II norall the States and Ter
ritories OF the Mainland. II further
discussion is needed II requires only
TO note the. utter failure the Board Of
Education has made OF the Reform
School and the opportunity for i'm
provement in the Asylum and the Prls-
on. The great advantage of having
these institutions under separate
boards OF control is that the members
can centralize their interest and at
tention: not alone let the contracts. pay
the salaries and receive the reports OF
the officers. They can study the condi-
lions by becoming intimately acquaint-
ed with every detail of the work, be
critical II necessary but always CO.
operating with the officers TO secure
Improvement and to keep pace with
modern ideas.
The expense OF such division of Id
Dor will not be a heavy burden to the
Territory. Each board should consist
OF at least five members who shall
serve without pay and shall hold meet
are given control at least once each
month. An earnest and aggressive
Board would of its own volition create
subcommittee among its members
that would take up specific details and
make frequent visits between the dates
for regular Board sessions.
1t would certainly be to the advan'
tage of the institutions and the Terri
tory II members of such Boards wer
selected from islands other Oahu or TO-
calities other than Honolulu. A res
sOnable mileage allowance ought tC
permit citizens of outside districts uG.
cepting such appointments Benefits ac'
Cruing to the institutions and the
Territory of such selection of out
s!ders" would be inestimahle. II would
widen the circle of interest and respOn-
sibility which now only finds express
sion during legislative periods and
then settles back into the same old in
different ruts for two, years more.
The utter nonsense and assurance OF
incompetence Of the present system
ought to appeal to our progressive law
makers. What business has 4 Boayd Of
Education with a Reform School, an III
stitutiOn for dealing with Youthful Of
tenders? Is 1t not enough for this
Board to look after the public schools
without dabblingAn youthful waywafd-
ness that has got beyond the school
teacher or the parent to control? VIVA,
business has the Board of Health with
the Insane Asylum when 1t already
has more on its hands than any Board
this side of,kingdom come Is supposed
to be able to properly look after. "
/ n it is progress that is wanted, spe'
iCali2e and divide the work and respon'
isbilty. The oligarchICal idea of cen
Trailing authority has proved a dis
nal failure The American plan II
none too good for an American Terri
tory.