The Lamar register., 1903-09-23
Girls Industrial School.

the State Industrial School Tor GirlA
by the Denver Grand Jury led Gov.
ernor Peabody to request the State
Board OF Charities and Correction TO
make an Immediate investigation OF
the institution. The report Of the board
which is regarded as a vindication Of
the management, is as follows:
Denver. Colo. Sept, 10, 1908.
ITO his Excellency, James II. Peabody,
Governor of Colorado:
"Sir-At your requst. the State Board
of Charities and Correction has this
day visited the State Industrial School
for Girls. the visit having been made
by the entire membership OF the board.
The recent report made by the commit
tee of the membership of the grand
jury and comments thereon made by
the daily newspapers OF the state have
made 1t seem desirable that the full
est possible investigation should be
made of this institution.
"First-We do not agree with the
grand jury that discipline is utterly
lacking. 1t is obvious that no one. af-
ter a hasty and superficial examination
extending over the short period of one
hour. can fairly draw such a sweeping
conclusion. That the discipline Is not
perfect Is perhaps true as 1t is like
wise true Of all penal institutions. but
an earnest effort is being made to i'm
prove 1t, aand the report Of the grand
Jury is manifestly unfair and calcu-
lated to prejudice the people against
the institution.
Second-In our judgment the report
made by the committee Of the grand
Jury was not based upon thorough
knowledge and careful study OF the
situation. We cannot agree with the
members of the committee In recon-
mending that the same rules and reg
ulations should apply to the girls
school as to the boys. 1t must be re-
membered that the sex Of the inmates
and the fact that many OF them are
young adults. prevents the use of the
same modes of punishment and the
same kind of discipline that can be
used to great advantage In the school
for boys
"Third-As to the recommendation OF
the committee of the grand jury that
man be placed at the head Of the insti-
tuition, we respectfully dissent. That
woman should always be at the head
of the home is required by the very
nature OF the inmates, and should heed
no other argument than the statement
of the proposition.
''Fourth-Anxious to learn the exact
facts in regard to the punishment re-
ported by the grand jury. we sent for
the girls who had been interviewed by
the members of the grand jury, and
very particularly asked them concern
ing the punishment they had been sub
jected to by the imprisonment in the
cells and by shackles. The girls were
examined by us without any person
connected with the institution being
present, and assured that 1t was our
desire to obtain the actual facts, and
that they might speak to us freely
without fear of punishment being Wis
tied upon them by anyone.
"The girl who evidently had the most
to say to the committee OF the grand
jury told us that she was, at the time
of the visit of the grand jury, under
going punishment which she now be-
lieves she well deserved that at that
time she was in violent temper. and
that her statement TO the grand jury
she now believed to have been unfair;
that her punishment was not cruel and
that she did not believe 1t was greater
than should have been inflicted upon
her. The other girls who had fur
nished the grand jury with their ex-
periences testified in similar manner
and all agreed that they had not been
subjected to harsh treatment. to beat
ings. deprivation of food or any other
punishment calculated to infict upon
them any serious injury.
THE statement that some Of the
girls have been found in chains orig
mated from the fact that shackles had
been used for the purpose OF prevent
ing the girls from running away; this
punishment having been applied only
to girls who had made previous at
tempts at escape Special inquiry was
made as to whether the use OF the
shackles was attended with any other
inconvenience than limiting their
movements. The girls all testified that
there was no pain or severity In their
use. The board is OF the opinion that
1t would be a very desirable condi-
ton II all punishment could be abol-
ished in this and all other institutions
but they are at loss to see how dis
cipline could be maintained unless
some method of punishment were
used.
'Fifth-This institution has devel-
oped from a very chaotic condition to
the present comparatively good one.
In the Judgment of the State Board of
Charities and Correction. who have
carefully watched its progress. the in
stitution has shown great improve
ment IN the last two years At pres
ent the institution seems to be in a
clean and sanitary condition. the girls
were neatly dressed and tidy in ap-
pearance. the dormitories and sleeping
rooms were specially clean and well
kept. The condition of the grounds
was improved. though lacking much of
the beauty that should surround sucl,
n home. this being. as we are advised
owing to the lack of funds at the dis
posal of the board of control.
In conclusion, we think 1t well to
call the attention of the people of the
state to the fact that those who are
engaged in managing the school.
teaching the inmates and endeavoring
to lead them to a higher and nobler
life, are engaged in the most arduous
and thankless work to be found In any
of the institutions of our state. If pub
lie sentiment were awakened to SYM
pathize with the self-sacrificing. earn
est work of those in charge of the
State Industrial School for Girls. great
benefit will accrue to the unfortunate
inmates and permanent improvement
will be evident.
Respectfully submitted:
tSigned)