The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-03
Financial Condition: Sur
plus $132,867.75.
REFORMATORY URGED
In His Biennial Report Superintend-
ent Mann Emphasizes the Need of
State Institution For Youth
full Criminals and Sug-
qests a Plan.

The biennial report of the States
Prison, including the report of the
superintendent, j. S. Mann, the War
den John M. Fleming and the ply
sician, DR.. James r. Rogers, has been
submitted to Governor Aycock by the
Directors of the State Prison. con-
sisting of Chairman B. f. Aycock w
P. Kerr.
RefOrmatOry Resolutions.
In their letter submitting the re-
ports, the Directors recommend for
favorable consideration the recon-
mendations of Superintendent Mann
concerning the establishment of a
reformatory and the separating from
the State Prison of the department
of the Criminal Insane and in
reference to reformatory include in
their letter a resolution passed yes
terday as follows:
Resolved. That this Board recom-
mend to the Legislature about to as
semble the establishment of a state
reformatory for young criminals of
the white race, and suggest that fifty
thousand dollars ($50,000) of the
100000 Of four per cent State bonds,
now held by the States Prison be
o'N~o III NAlC lAOSltoll OA SoftU lG-
formatory.
Resolved, further, That it is the
sense of this Board that a reforma-
tory, if established, should be in
charge of Board of Directors of its
own, and kept entirely separate and
distinct from the States Prison.
Resolved. further, That we recon-
mend that, if reformatory is es-
tablished and the funds from the sur
plus of this institution be used as
suggested. the States Prison should,
in that event, be relieved from the
payment of the interest on the bonds
known as Estate Prison" bonds. as
now provided by law
n Large Surplus.
Excluding all articles Of farm pro-
duce which will not be converted into
cash and making conservative price
estimates of money crops yet on hand
and not sold, cotton, for instance at
6 IL cents per pound and corn a
SO cents per bushel the prison ends
the year with a surplus on hand in
cash, State bonds, solvent credits,
cash items and surplus farm products,
the sum of $132.867.75.
This balance remains after the pay
ment of every species of Indebtedness
due by the prison, including the IN
terest on bonds which is chargeabie
to it, and the payment of December
bills.
The report points out that the pres
predecessors in 1899 the net sum OF
21.53S.65, which being deducted
from the amount on hand leaves as
the net earnings for four years of the
present management the sum OF
Sill. .329.10.
The report shows the purchase in
April Of last year of S5S, 10000 of the
State per cent prison debt bond
issue of $4,000, which was made
necessary in 1899 by the four years of
mismanagement of the institution
under the fusion regime. BY pro-
vision of law the prison was made re-
sponsibe for the interest arising from
the issue by the same Legislature of
1899 Of the farm bonds of 100000,
With the purchase by the manage
ment of S1,500 of these farm bonds in
December last. the State Prison came
into possession of State securities sufii-
cient to exactly enable it to pay the
which it is chargeable. The price
paid for the $5S,500 prison debt
bonds was SCI, ,425. and for the $1,500
of farm bonds $1,567.50.
Prison Conditions.
The prison and its various
branches are reported in good condi-
ton, and there have been during the
year no serious disturbances or riots.
| The discipline has been strict, but
there has been special effort for
kind and consderate treatment to-
wards deserving convicts.
Two departments have been added
to the hospital for tuberculous pa
tients one for white and one for col
ored prisoners, who are kept entirely
isolated from other inmates of the
prison.
The State farm has yielded anoth-
er abundant harvest and the condi-
ly improved the building being put
in good repair and a new and better
house built for the physician, his
residence having been destroyed by
fire last spring.
A portion of superintendent Mann's
report is as follows
'tOn January 1st, 1901, the popula-
tjon of the prison was $50; at this
date. January /, 1905, ii is 65S show
ing a decrease within four years Of 202.
The county chain gang system. un-
doubtedly, is responsible for this de-
crease in population If the present
policy of the State is continued. the
population OF the prison, within a
very short time, will consist mainly
of two classes, the larger being he
feeble or producing class. the
other long term desperate criminals,
With constantly diminishing NUNS
Der of wage earners the problem OF
self-support is yearly becoming moro
difficult The public expectation Is
Continued from Page Fiye.)