The Washington times., 1904-12-05
CONTROL Of REFORM
SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Attorney General Opposes
Commissioners.
DENIES THEIR AUTHORITY
Urges Adoption of Legislation That
Will Remove All Doubt
About 1t.

The board Of trustees under the di-
rection Of the Attorney General. and not
the Commissioners Of the District OF Co
lumbia or the Board of Charities. are
charged with the responsibility for the
management and control OF this school
tthe Reform School for Girls), as / un-
derstand the law. It seems that some
claim OF Jurisdiction in the District
Commissioners and the Board OF Chari-
ties has been advanced l recommend
that such legislation be enacted as will
remove All doubt as to the exclusive au-
thoriIy OF tha Attorney General over
TINS school and similar Institutions
under the Department of Justice"
These pertinent sentences in the re-
port or Attorney General Moody 10 the
President are IN direct opposition to the
claim or tie District Commissioners thar
they and the Board OF Charities have
the right 10 investigate the affairs and
administration OF the Reform School for
Girls.
Ihat the recommendation OF Mr..
Moody on the subject will nave great
weight with the President and Con-
gress is an indisputable fact. II as
reared by some District officials. Con-
eress should carry into effect by legis-
lation these recommendation. the ae-
tioh would be great blow to the
system the Commissioners and the
0oaFu or CHARITIES have been champion
s, whereby the board shall have super
VISION over all charitable and correc-
uonal Institutions in the District. sup
ported IN whole or in part by District
revenues.
The claim OF the board of authority
over the Girls Reform School has baeD
given publicity OF late by the appoiut-
ment Of a special committee 10 in
quire into. and report TO the District
commissioner on. certain alleged acts
or insubordinatiOn there on the part OF
the girls within the past few months.
The Commissioners have indicated that
lhey VIII forward the report 10 Con-
sFess. and such action might lead 70
congress taking up the question OF who
really has the disputed authority over
the institution.
Ihat part or the Attorney Generals
report referring 10 the reform schools
Tor boys and girls is as follows:
The report OF the board Of trustees
OF the Reform School of the District OF
Columbia shows that at the beginning
or the fiscal year there were in the
school 20 boys. There We're received
during the year 223. making a total of
49,, as against ~ for the previous year
mere were discharged during the year
~. leaving in the school June 80. 1904
Il agree with what the trustees say
as To the method OF appropriating Tor
The salaries Of the school employees. and
the appropriation OF q lump sum instead
or dividing all the salaries individually
ana specifically.
Reform School for Girls.
The report Of the board OF trustees
OF the Reform School for Girls. Dis
trict OF Columbia. shows that a larger
number OF inmates have been confined
IN the school during the year ending
June 81. 1904. than during any other
year since its institution; that the
highest number OF inmates was reached
during the month Of June. 1904, at which
time there We're So, being an increase
OF l6 inmates over the number confined
during the month OF June 1909
1t appears from the report OF the
board or trustees that on account OF
the increasing number or inmates Il Is
necessary 70 have additional Industrial
leAchefs, ana In accordance with their
report / recommend that two additional
Industrial teachers be provided II q
salary oT $3.50 per anuum
II also appears by the report OF the
boafd OF trustees that last years ap-|
preparation for supplies was insufficient
although strict economy had been OBJ
served IN the purchase OF supplies and
that owing 10 the increased 1unbar OF
inmates an additional appropriation VIII
Dc necessary Tor the coming year.
therefore recommend that s. 90 addi-
uOnal be provided FOR supplies over and
above the amount provided for last
year.
Board of Charities.
In the opinion Of the board Of trus-
tees the act OF Congress Of June &. 1900
Or. 3, vol 81, .. G64J. creating the Board
Of Charities OF the District OF Columbia.
does not apply 70 this or similar institu-
lions under the direction OF the Depart-
ment OF Justice. Cogent reasons are
given by them why the provisions Of this
act were not intended 10 apply 70 this or
similar Institutions under this depart
ment
4 think II iuadvsable that the man.
agcment OF any public institution should
he divided. The board or trustees under
me direction Of the Attorney General.
ana not the Commissioners OF the Dis
trlct or Columbia or the Board of Chart
Jles are charged with the responsibility
IoL the management and control or this
school. as j understand the law In
seems that some claim OF Jurisdiction IA
The District Commissioners and the
board or Charities has been advanced
"iAAtAANl4A AAlaL AHGn legislation be I
enacted as VIII remove all doubt as 10
the exclusive authority OF the ATTORNEY
Ntnefal over this school and similar In
sltgtlons under the Department OF Jus
The District Jail.
In regard 10 the United States fail IN |
the District or Columbia the report /
says:
i repeat what was said In the Last /
years report, that the jaiI Is old win !
out modern improvements and OF in
surncient capacity for the present needs
and that something should be done al /
once toward remedying the present de- /
rects IN construction, Increasing its ca
pacity and providing d suitable dining
hall 50 that the present system OF feed /
ing the prisoners can be done away /
with
These conditions make il dificult for
the jail Ofiicials 10 care for the prIs-
Oners according 10 modern ideas but
he institution has been conducted dur
Ing the past year with the same regard /
for economy and the interests OF the
Government as heretofore" " j
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
MIfI hTTEHn nHIfN n