The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-09
A QUESTION HUMANE.
SOLICITOR GENERAL OSBORNE
FAVORS REFoRSIAToRY.
NOT A QUESTION OF POLITICS.
HIS TALK AT SECOND DISTRICT
CITIZENS CLUB MEETING.

Reformntory Not n Party Measure,
but One of Humanity, He Said.
Believes n Reformatory Could BE
Established at n Small Cost, and
Could Be Made Almost Self Sus-
tnining-COst to Be Figured on at
COnference-AIderm CoIding Al
so Endorsed RefOrmatOry Scheme.
A reformatory for Juvenile criminals
was urged last night by Solicitor Cen
eraI W. W. Osborne in a speech at
Citizens Club headquarters. This is
not fractional matter, said Mr.. Os-
borne. but one of humanity, and must
be considered from a humane and not
from a party standpoint
The solicitor general said he consid-
cred it his duty as prosecuting attorney
to say something on a question that
will be put before the people at a
special election on April 10. For five
years, he said, he has been prosecuting
criminals and during that time be-
tween $50 and 300 children have been
convicted Of crime. Many of these
were white, although the large ma
jority were negroes. The number of
white Juveniles on the changing, he
said, is very small, for the reason that
quite a number of those convicted have
been sent to reformatories in the
North.
There are in the neighborhood of
go minors on the County Farm nom,"
said Mr.. Osborne. 1T does not look
right to send children to the chain
gang; whether they are white or black.
1t is not right either to saddle upon
the county any very heavy expense,
and l have never thought so. 1 be-
lieve that reformatory can be estab-
liShed without very much outlay of
money. 1 have always favored this
means of caring for viciously inclined
minors and do so now.
Some time ago 1 suggested to a
member of the Board of County Com
missioners that it would be wise and
proper to provide a separate place for
the minors where they could learn
trades. A suitable building could he
erected at a small cost and the refor-
matory could be made almost self sup
porting. The inmates could be taught
to farm, make shoes, mend the clothes
of the convicts and do many other
things that would make it self sustain
ing. AS a preventive of crime know
of no greater opportunity for the peo-
pie of Chatham County than that now
offered. AS a question of humanity we
owe it to the children, whether they be
black or white.
II recall one set of white boys who
were guilty of some ten or twelve bur-
glaries We were finally compelled to
hold them in Jail in order to protect
the merchants of the city. The little
negroes who loaf around the street
know only how to steal. If you can
teach them a trade, to read and write,
and to farm, the expense will hardly
be any greater than that OF guarding
them as at present There are some
who differ with me on the question of
cost, and a conference will be held this
week to determine this question of eX-
pense.
Il consider the establishing of a re-
formatory a good thing for the coun-
ty. In my opinion it can be done at
an additional expense of between $40
and 500 month and the county
would be greatly benefited The law
could easily be modified. The question
is not party matter but think 1t
proper as the prosecution officer to
place the facts before you as l have
found them. This is an act of hui
mainly that we owe to these infants.
Not a Friday goes by without some
OF Inen oSlnB sent up IHey nave dP-
peared in court as young as years,
and, too, for the third offense. In
cases where they are under 10 years
they cannot be convicted of any Of
Tense and must be turned loose on the
community and be permitted to steal
until they attain the punishable age"
Alderman Robert L. Colding also
favored the reformatory. An expense
of thousands of dollars Is not at all
necessary, besides at any rate the
minors should be separated from the
hardened and confirmed criminals. Mr..
Colding said that an inexpensive build
ing can be easily erected on county
land, and that the reformatory can be