The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-09

said all members of the committee
were in favor of a reformatory, and
the question was as to what provis-
ions should be agreed upon by the
committee. He had drawn his bill
carefully, and said the State Consti-
tuition provides for houses of refuge,
and he tried to connect his bill with
that. He explained the various sec
tons of his bill. He believed that
sites could be gotten by gift for the
reformatory. There was sentiment
he said, that only one school be es
tablished now, for the whites. and an
other for the blacks later. He OBJ
jected to the use of the word reform
atory. as it had become disreputable.
He defined Il delinquent youth as an
infant under II years of age. He did
not want Il child'S prison, as that
would be no place for such. and this
would not accomplish the purposes of
the bill
Mr.. Glenn, author of the two House
bills next spoke His bill provided
only for a reformatory for White iuye>
nile defendants. He said a number of
Superior Court judges, and others in
tereSted had recommended his bill
as owing to the financial condition OF
the State at this time, it would not
be practical to build more than one
reformatory now, and that for the
race more easily reformed.
Lee Person, colored, spoke in oppo
sition to the three bills, and asked
to submit one he himself had framed.
and was given consent to submit it.
Mr. Gillian said the session was far
advanced. and if action were not taken
the movement would fail altogether.
Mr.. Graham, of Granville. said he
was not prepared to vote on the bill.
as there were other remedies for
penitentaries, and that a great class
of offenders would be better punished
and corrected by the re-esta blishment
of the whipping post. If the examples
Of some of the judges in the State
were emulated by others, the laws
would be more effectively enforced. He
said he had seen no ARGUMENT aG
vanced by anyone that would justify
the expenditure of $4,000 for the es-
tablishment of a reformatory. He de-
clared that there was a small num-
Der of criminal youth in North Caro-
lima, and said the trouble of the whole
matter was that the advocates of the
bills want the State to assume the
place of the parents of these children.
If some measure could be devised to
compel parents to do their duty. then
there would be not even the small
number of delinquent youth in the
State.
Mr.. Empire said he thought there
would be no opposition to this meas
IRE, and that there was q crying need
for ii throughout all North Carolina,
and at every term of criminal court
in the Eastern section of the state.
there are a number of Juvenile GRIM
mails on the docket He urged that
reformation should be established,
that ithout it this State is behind
every State in the union, and that it
has proved successful III every State
in the union that had one. IT is
backed by the moral forces and best
elements of the State, and guarded
and protected by the prayers Of the
women of North Carolina and such
an institution could not fail.
Mr.. Scales in reply to Judge Ora
perintendent of the penitentiary and
to the reports of wardens of jails in
regard to the number. of youthful
criminals.
Judge Graham moved that joint
meeting of the committee be held neX-
week when q vote would be taken on
the bill.
Mr.. Eller thought that one of the
bills should be voted on immediately.
Mr.. Aaron moved that vote be taken
so as to decide whether the commit
tee would have a reformatory or not.
\ quorum not being present, definite
action could not be taken, and it was
finally decided that each committee
should hold a separate meeting. and
thus expedite the business.
The Senate Committee will meet to-
day and the House committee before
Saturday. and the bill which is to be
passed upon by the legislature will be
in final and definite from before the
lapse of another week.