The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-03-17
SOME INSIDE HISTORY OF
STATE REFORM SCHOOL

tory Of that much-needed institution:
Editor Times-Courier: Your local
In last weeks paper relative to the
Florida state reform school merits a
reply. II is true that there has been
no person regularly employed as a
teacher to educate the prisoners cen
fined in the school.
The reason why no teacher has been
provided is that the legislature has
never provided money to pay teach.
er. The first appropriation made by
the legislature for this school was in
adequate for its construction and not
sufficient for its maintenance. How
ever, the board OF managers thought
that the succeeding legislature wOulA
make sufficient appropriation. This
was not done and eacn succeeding leg
islature has failed TO provide sufficient
funds for its support anu maintenance
as a reform school. If it had not been
for the willingness of some Of the
managers TO provide money to sup
port the school temporarily the child
rem therein could not have been fed
and clothed.
For the actual cost of feeding and
clothing the prisoners, and for neccs-
sary stock and buildings, there is now
a debt of about $4,000. These neces-
sites could not have been furnished
the school unless some of the mana
gers became responsible. AS the funds
appropriated by the legislature have
never been sufficient for the proper
maintenance of the school, there has
been no effort made 10 educate the
inmates except that the superintend-
end and occasionally his assistants
have given such instruction as their
many other duties could permit. Many
of the inmates can read and write,
and some books have been provided.
The principal religious instructions
have been given in a Sunday school
organized by two of the citizens OF
Mariana. There being no funds to
pay teachers, the efforts, except as
above stated have been to teach the
prisoners habits of industry, obedi-
ence, morals ana manners. Inmates
with long terms of Imprisonment have
made decided improvements in their
habits, character and behavior The
funds provided by the state have not
only been insufficient to support the
prisoners, but have been insufficient
to warrant the employment of enough
guards TO prevent escape. The corps
of guards being so small ii has been
necessary to schackle many of The
prisoners while they are at work to
prevent escape and to prevent the
overpowering of the guards. The
Stacking of the prisoners is the foun-
cation for the prejudice entertained
by some people against the school and
its management. This. however, was
deemed best by the officials who best
knew the conditions and the charac-
tiers of the prisoners but was never
done in a cruel manner.
For some months, however. no
shackles have been used except occa-
sionally, when absolutely necessary.
The act establishing the school is
very defective in many particulars, 50
much so that some attorneys and one
or more judges, of limited jurisdic-
ton. have declared the law unconsti-
tutional. No legislature has remedied
these defects. though some of them
have been submitted for correction.
HampeTed by defective law and in
sufficient funds, the board of mana
gers have found it impossible to carry
into effect the intention of the law
ana the instruction needed in the re-
form school. For these reasons there
have been few meetings of the board
of managers. The cost of these meet
ings was needed to feed the children.
The managers may not have done all
that a person not familiar with the
conditions thinks should have been
done; but they have done all that
could be done with the means providL
ed: and more than the funds provided
by the state would pay for. How ever,
the question of whether the managers
have done their full duty or not, is
matter Of opinion, and each person is
entitled to his own opinion. None Of
the managers are DESTROYS of holding
their positions and will gladly yield
for better men.
But the fact remains that this
school is not what it should be With |
proper amendments to the law, and |
proper appropriations for its support, |
it would be a pride to the state and
an honor to the town and county. |
Since its establishment at Mariana |
there has been conflict of opinion as |
to whether it was wanted or not; |
therefore, our representatives in the
legislature have never taken an active |
interest in the school, have never
tried to secure proper amendments to
the law or endeavored to secure sufi-
Gent appropriations for its mainten-
ance. Some of them have even Oppos- |
ed it to such an extent that it was
very difficult to secure any .Rppropria- |
ton for it. l have been heretofore ac- !
tive in efforts to keep the school here
and In securing appropriations for il; |
but | do not feel disposed to continue !
my efforts If the people of the town /
and county do not want it. No Chris /
tian man can question the desirability (
of a reform school. They are man
tanned by other states and some cities
very successfully; and | know Of no
reason why We should not maintain
one.
The prisoners sent to this school
demonstrate the fact that one is
needed.
From a business standpoint, | do
not believe that there is any town,
county or community in the state but
what would be glad to have state
institution. Business men usually vel
az