The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-09
ACT SEPARATELY
ON REF0RMAT0RY
Joint Committee Could
Not Get a Quorum.
NO FAv0RITE BILL
Several Visitors Spoke Fayoring the
Measure, and a Letter Was Read
From Supt. Mann, of the State
Prison, Opposing Taking
From Prisons Surplus.

The Senate and House Committees
ON Penal Institutes held another joint
meeting yesterday to consider the
various reformatory bills. 1t was
strongly emphasized that if any action
at all is when by this Legislature.
the committees must make more haste
and some definite move made. To
this end it was decided that, as the
joint committee had serious difficulty
in securing a quorum, each committee
should take separate action, and the
Senate Committee will meet again to-
day Another meeting may he held
next week.
Several interesting addresses We're
made, and a letter from Superintend-
ent Mann, of the Penitentiary was
read, in which he did not force the
recommendation ofthe directors of the
directors of the States Prison, that
$4,000 of the 100000 surplus, be
given for the establishment of re-
formatory
Rev. Mr.. Du Boise, of ST. Mary's
School, was the first to speak, and APP
peared upon special invitation.
Mr.. Du Bose said the citizenry
makes the State. and to have good
State there would be good and Virtu-
Gus citizens but in North Carolina
tfiSs tDlluTbH lleeu more care. lncft
are two ways of dealing With man.
One is when he is bad or dangerous
for the good of the community, he is
locked up. The community is saved
but little is done for the man, except
his character of badness is formed
The second way and the better is to
prevent the formation of the habit of
evil, and thus save both citizen and
State. We talk of everyone free and
equal; it is partly true and largely
false. | can have no liberty that en-
croacheS upon others rights, and if
any is a menace or likely to be a
menace to society, we may do with
him the law permits for his good
and for ours. and so if We can stop
crime before it begins, we save the
man and bless the State. Jails and
chain gangs are necessary parts of
cur legal system but they should
not be schools of criminology. They
do well enough for the hardened,
adult criminal, but are not places for
the young boys in their first offenses.
lie spoke of boys on chain-gangS and
convict camps. and referred to the in
cident in Ashevile, where a gentle
man saved the State $500 by going on
the bond of boy. stop criminals
and the greatest tax onthe State is
relieved. He spoll of the merits of
the three bills before the committee
the first bill of Mr.. Glenn. The State
has surplus of 100000, and $780,
600 of this amount had been offered
for this purpose. 1t is q business
proposition as well as one of morals.
II the State has the right to tax and
educate it's children, because ignor-
ance is the highway to vagrancy and
bill. much more has it the duty to
save its children from becoming
criminals. Every dollar is wisely
spent, that is spent in the prevention
Of crime, for instead of having a citi-
zen the State must catch, convict and
imprison. it has a moral law-abiding
self-supporting man.
MIR. Gillian read q communication
from Mr.. j. :. Mann. superintendent
OF the State Prison.
Mr.. Mann said while appreciating
the need of such an institution he
cannot agree with the directors that
Sc large a sum should be taken from
the Prison. The prison ha been for
tunate during the past four years in
accommodating more than 500. 900
above the Prisons immediate needs.
but this is the first instance in tho
history OF the institution when it has
been self-supporting. But he feared
that because of market depression
and the decrease in the population OF
the Prison. in consequence Of county
road work, diminishes the earning
capacity of the prison, and that with
the very best management the prison
could more than maintain itself with
the earnings the next four years.
But the $4,000 might be given for
the reformatory without. immediate
embarrassment. In giving informa
ton about criminals, he said that
during the past two years no white
female of the age of twenty years or
under has been committed to the
Penitentiary; that during 1903 eleven
white males were committed, two of
which were seventeen. three Is, three
.. and three 20 years of age. and
that none under I years of age were
committed. During 1904 no white
females were committed. but nine
white males, viz: Three of II. three
Of Is and three of 20 and none under
II years of age. With the letter was
Included a statement of the number
of prisoners committed and their
age during the past few years
MIR. Gillian stated that he himself
hoped that the state should make 81
start toward the proper direction this
year, and establish reformatory.
Col. Walker Taylor, Of Whining
ton spoke in favor of the reforma-
tory. and recited a number of per-
sonal experiences and observations
He said this is as opportunc time for
this institution as there viii ever he,
and there are convenient needs for it,
He said he had had nine
years of experience With boys
The only place in the state
to send criminal youth is
to the penitentiary. and thenceforth
forever his character is destroyed. and
a tax paying citizen IS gone. But il
YOU provide for them with the reform
atory. there is hope for their correc-
ton and cure, and the State thereby
gives him a bright future. 1T is a
matter of human impossibilitN 10 re-
form youth who has served a SELL
tcnce i'll the penitentiary. This method
would practically exclude from the
penitentiary all youth in the State
under II years OF age
Col. w. r. Robinson. of Wilmington.
said that az Castle HAYNES prison near
Wilmington there are always from
three To ten boys under is years Of
age. He explained their necessary
treatment, and urged that the reforul-
atory be established.