The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-01
INSTITUTION IS
 SADLY CRIPPLED Boys Industrial School Needs
 State Aid A VERY GLOOMY OUTLOOK Judge Feaein Has to Release Little Criminals Because They Cannot Be Sent to the Industrial School.
 A Statement.
A VERY GLOOMY OUTLOOK

Because Governor Jelks was constrain- ed to veto the bill appropriating money for the Boys Industrial school at East Lake, Judge Feagin, of the police court was yesterday compelled to release two small white boys, who were before him on charges of stealing. There Is not room for them in the school at present, and Judge Feagin refuses to send the boys to jail, where he claims they will be- come hardened criminals and make much worse men than if they are not lmpris- oned
 Bad Outlook.
 In this connection Mrs. R. D. Johnston, who is president of the board, which con- trols the industrial school, stated last night that unless the governor will sign the appropriation in September she sees nothing but failure for the school; that she has reached the ropes end In plan ming to run the school without money and provisions. She says that for four years at least, the school will be practi- cally dead, and that in all probability it will loose the persons who are in charge now and are trained in the work She states they are invaluable to the school. and that she would not be able to replace them If she had mint of money.
 Besides the two boys released by Judge Feagin yesterday, Mrs. Johnston was forced to refuse entrance to seven other boys from different parts of the state, as the school is over taxed at present, and short of funds. The boys released by Judge Feagin were Will Cooper, aged F years, and Dan Mclaughlin, aged l3 years. The former has been before Judge Feagin twice for stealing, and the lat ter has been there three times. Judge Feagin feels that the last chance to save them is to get them in the school. and that if he fails he sits by and sees them doomed to inevitable ruin.
 Mrs. Johnston's Statement.
 Said Mrs. Johnston:
 When l appeared before the legislature l offered them farm worth $1o.OOO, a house worth SlOOOO. and both unincum- bered. In the past the state has aided US very little giving only $50O0 to pay off a debt and $5O0O year to run the school. The school is now without debts the boys without clothing and the entire charity is practically at q standstill until the state aids us.
 T was in Montgomery at the leglsla- ture and every man in the house favored the bill with one exception and in the senate it was almost as strong. The bill only called for s15,OOO to erect a new house and increase equipment, s50OO for four trades to be started and maintained for four years, and a per capita appro- priation of $11O year. Out of the last the boys are to be fed, clothed, schooled and the running expenses of the school paid.
 Hands Tied.
 Our hands will be tied Tor rour years if the state will not help us. I have ap- peaIed to the counties to support the boys from each of them. but they all re- fuse except Jefferson county, which con tributes $25O0 annually. For four years the matron, superintendent and assistant superintendent have received practically nothing for their work, and I am afraid we are going to loose them. They are of great value to the school and it would be almost impossible to replace them. They are Mir and Mrs. C. D. Griffin and Mir. Embree.
 ''Is 1t true economy to sacrifice the chill dren of the state? think 1t Is a strange way to begin to economize The governor claims there are no revenues. but I think they should give us our full appropria- ton and scale every other appropria- tion, from the highest to the lowest. They have no right to offer up the helpless children on the altar of retrenchment A number of salaries have been raised in the state house recently"