Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-03-02
BOARD INDIGNANT,
Held Meeting Isl ogden Today to
Consider Published Charges.
(speclal % the "NeWs.')

ogden, March 2.-The board Of trus-
tees Of the Industrial school met this
morning for the purpose of consider
ing the charges made against the IN
stituton In the morning papers Mem
beers Of the board are very indignant
over the affair and consider that a
great injustice has been done them.
one OF the trustees said These re-
ports would lead the public to believe
the State Industrial school is den of
cruelty and crime, and that the officers
instead OF trying to elevate the tone
Of the place We're doing all they could
to degrade the inmates and destroy the
reputation Of the institution II was
also asserted that this Is only one OF
the periodical assaults on the school
by people who are prejudiced and de-
sire to see II abolished or made branch
Of the state prison, and that these as
sauts always occur at the time the
state Legislature Is in session. salt
Lake parties are usually at the bot
tom of them
The board also states that 1t meets
at least twice month to hear and con-
slider an complaints OF the inmates with
regard TO their treatment, and while
there are occasionally grievances pre-
scented by the inmates. when inyesti-
gated, as they always are, they are us
ually found Ia be without foundation,
or based on the most trivial excuses.
As an Illustration Of the character Of
the complaints made, the following IN
cident was related While Mr. Richard
Hume, a member OF the board Of trus-
tees Of the Industrial school, was en-
gagged IN conversation with some meme
bers OF the Legislature who were visit
ing the Institution. one Of the boys Of
the school entered the room and hold
ing up @ large mans shoe, fun Of holes
and very much the worse for wear
said This is the kind OF shoes / am
compelled 10 wear at this place. What
DO you think Of thatw Mr. Hume took
the shoe from the boy and said he would
investigate the matter, and remarked.
] don't see why you should be wear.
ing such o shoe as that for the school
las a shoe shop which is supposed to
Keep your shoes In good repair"
II happened that one Of the guards
stood by and heard Che complaint OF
the boy. and the officer Immediately
took the young ster to task for decelviug
the gentlemen present, when the haN
admtted that be had only had the shoe
on about 80 minutes while his oRn
shoes were IN the hands OF the
shoemaker being mended. Some Of the
inmates Of the Institution are very
hardened IN crime though young. ana
the above incident IS but "a specimen
Of the tricks they are up 10 almost
daily The board also says that cor
poral punishment has been almost en-
tirely eliminated from the school. that
n Is rcsorted 10 only IN the most ex-
tiemc cases ana then only under the
direction u the superintendent. tho,
the members Of the Legislature WHO
visited the institution were of the opin,
ion that the salaries Of the officers
should be Increased and more money
appropriated for the support OF the
school, that the governor IN his last
message spoke In the highest terms u
the Institution and says It had materi
ally improved In the last two years
that the Industrial school had been
greatly injured by the taking away
from II Of the large building which
vas given 20 the deaf and blind school.
In conclusion the board claims that
With the material on hand and the
character OF Us charges, the Industrial
school is being conducted just as well
as IL possible