The Elk Mountain pilot., 1903-03-24
State Institutions Report.

The first evening session of the
House was held March 10Th and the
appropriation bills were the special
order. Before going into committee of
the whole the report of the committee
on state institutions was received.
This report in part was as follows.
In nearly every instance the state
institutions are now at the limit of
their capacity and steps should be
taken at this time to. provide. as far
as possible. for increasing demands in
the future. 1t is the opinion of your
committee that the state is maintain
ing one too many penal institutions,
and thai consolidation in this re-
spect would be beneficial and q meas
ure of economy
The inmates of the reformatory
and other institutions of that class are
both under and over the age limit pre-
scribed. This is a serious mistake
and should be stopped and the atten-
ton of judges throughout the state is
asked to the age requirements of these
different institutions"
In regard to the employment of con-
vict labor the report says:
1T has been suggested that the state
coal lands be worked and the state in
stitutions supplied therefrom. This
would undoubtedly prove beneficial to
the penitentiary and great saving
generally to the state, but it does not
dispose of the question in its entirety.
Your committee recommends a
system of auditing the books of all
state institutions at least once every
three months. and the governor should
be empowered to employ competent
accountant to perform this duty.
mi ctr ytyly
Gates the misuse of the mileage allow
ance to some members of the boards
of control to and from state institu-
tions. and to prevent misuse iii the
! future recommend that all such mile
age allowance be discontinued"
In speaking of the various state in
| stitutions, the State Home for Depend
ent and Neglected Children in Denver
is given first place as the most needy.
The committee recommends that
100000 be appropriated for improve
ments at the State School of Mines at
| Golden. and that $4,000 be granted
the University of Colorado for build
| ings and management. The granting
of an additional mill tax for this insti-
tuition is also favored. HU. fl
The Agricultural College at Fort
| Collins is said to be in good condition
and an appropriation of $4,000 for adj
ditional buildings is recommended.
| The committee says that the state re-
tormatory at Buena Vista is crowded
to it's capacity. and contains a major
ity of buildings that are primitive in
character and unsuited to their use.
New buildings and stone stockades are
| necessary.
"As an institution supposed to be a
reformatory, it is not fulfilling the
! nf
the fact that the opportunity for teach
exist"
| For the state penitentiary. the COM
mittee recommends a new cell house
| and other repairs and improvements
consistent with what is actually re
| qllired. and with the amount available
for appropriation for the same. New
buildings are also recommended for
the state insane asylum at Pueblo, and
an appropriation of 100000 is fav-
ored The enlargement of the School
! for the Deaf. Dumb and Blind at Colo
RADIO Springs is favored, and the COM
mittee urges an appropriation of $685.
600 for the purchase of adjacent prop
erty.
In conclusion the committee reports
favoring an appropriation of $4,000
for the Soldiers and Sailors Home at
Monte Vista
The House then went into a commit
tee of the whole, with Garcia of Cone
jos in the chair, and the following
bills were agreed to: lT 81
FL B. 20, by Dolph, to appropriate
s59,5OO for the use of the Colorado
School for the Deaf and Blind at Colo
RADIO Springs. -sr-T