The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-01
FOR A REF0RMATORY
PROMINENT MEN EXPRESS VIEWS
THAT SHOW IT'S NEED.
A HOME FOR THE POOR.
is ALSO AGREED As ONE OF CHAT
HAM COUNTY'S NEEDS.

Mayor Myers, Alderman Dixon and
Mr.. j. p. Williams Discuss These
Neutrality-suspicious. Says County
should Issue Bonds and Establish
RcfOrmatOry for Youthful Offend
ers and IA Home for Indigent-PeO-
pie Want These Institutions, and,
if an Election Were Held, Would
Vote for Them-AIderman Dixon
Says Home for Poor Would Mean
Help for Beggars-Mr. williams
Thinks Chances for RefOrmntiOns
should Not Be Thrown Away.
THAT was a wise recommendation
the grand jury made when it advised
the establishment of a reformatory in
Chatham county for youthful offend
ers," said Mayor Myers yesterday.
The county needs a reformatory
sadly-a reformatory and a home for
the INDECENT and the old who may not
be able to support themselves. Chat
ham county, considering its import
ance, is worse off in these two partic>
ulars than any county within my
knowledge.
The county should issue bonds and
establish these institutions. For $780,
900, at the most, suitable homes for
young offenders and for deserving poor
could be established. The county has
plenty of land that could be utilized.
and there would be no cost entailed
on this score.
Such institutions could be made self
sustaining, 1 have no doubt. The in
mates could be taught to work the
farms that might be attached to the
institutions, and the products should
be sufficient for the use of the reforna-
tory and the home for the poor.
This need is pressing Any one who
takes any note of his surroundings
may perceive 1t. Something should be
done. l believe the city would take up
the matter, if it were not now so heav-
lily bonded. The county should do it. I
believe the people want these inst:tu-
tions-a reformatory and a home tor
the poor. believe that, if it We're left
to an election, they would vote for
them"
Alderman Dixon was asked his
opinion upon the question of reform
atory, and he said that he quite agreed
with the recommendation of the grand
jury. He also fully approved the May
or's suggestion that there be a nome
for the poor established.
THE convict farm conducted by tie
county is called the poor farm" said
the alderman, but that is a misnomer.
1t is not a poor farm, but a convict
farm. A poor farm, or an institution
where the poor may be cared for-that
&c bn no 70
become the beneficiaries of the county,
would be a valuable addition to the
charitable establishments of the city
and county. 1t would be the means of
relieving the city of the many beggars
that are row to be found here. 1t would
take them from the streets, there
by doing them q service and relieving
the people from the many demands
that are made for charity by poor or
afflicted persons who could best be
cared for in a home"
Mr.. j. P. Williams is another who
thinks it desirable that a reformatory
be established. In fact, this seems to
be the general view, and 1t is mat
ter of surprise, in view of the practical
unanimity that exists, that Chatham
county has not long since established
one.
Juvenile Offenders" said Mr.. Will
ndnS, SnOulQ certainty NOT De I'M
priSoned with hardened criminals,
thereby subjecting them to influences
that have such pernicious effect as to
take away all chance of the reforma-
ton of those who have so early begun
a career of crime. Reformations, 1
admit, are rather rare, but they are
possible. and the chance of effecting
them should be siezed, not thrown
away. / think Chatham county should
have a reformatory by all means.
"Some may claim that such an in
stitution would be principally for the
use of negroes, as 1t is from the col
ored population that the ranks of the
criminals are principally recruited.
Admitting that, do not see that it is
any less imperative that the county
have reformatory. The very fact
that the colored race does furnish
many of the criminals that infest So
ciety renders it all the more necessary
that some steps be taken to correct
this state. BY the exertion of proper
influences upon those who have COM
mitted their first offenses it might be
that they. would be moved to a course
of right conduct, and betterment of
the race would follow"