The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-02-27
WOMEN PRISONERS
SHOULD BE IN THE
CHARGE OF WOMAN

A. hearing was given today by theh ouse
judiciary committee on the act now pend
ing before the general assembly to pro-
vide for the appointment OF woman as
superintendent OF all institutions In which
women are confined save those to which
criminals are sentenced.
Amasa NJ Eaton was the FIRST to ad-
dress the committe. After speaking
briefly in favor OF the passage of the act
he introduced Miss Elizabeth G. Putnam
of Boston Miss Putnam served for sew
eral years superintendent OF the Massa-
chusetts reform school for boys at West
borough and OF the girls school at Lam
caster
She told of the large measure of sue
cess which had been attained through her
associa tion with the girls OF the latter
Institution Large benefits were derived
by the girls from the influence OF wom-
an superintendent and not only had they
been helped morally. but they had been
benefited In other ways.
ON most OF the Massachusetts, state
boards which had to do with the manage
ment OF prisoners she said she could
hardly tell what would be the result II
men and women were not associated to-
gether on these boards. She told of the
manner I'm which girls are received at the
Lancaster school. A woman al the head
of the institution. she said, had proved
than IL man were In similar position
because the girls would enjoy more conf
Dental relation with them and thus have
their needs better understood.
She also said benefit was derived from
the fact that woman superintendent
could render physical aid to the girls is
case OF sickness. The average number OF
girls at the westborough school, Miss
Putnam said, was 209.
la r.l
Leonard was appointed that women haa
been represented on the board.
Mrs. Frances A. Waterman. superin-
tendent OF the Massachusetts, reforma-
tory had been expected to be present, TO
tell something OF work among women
over 80 years of age. She was obliged to
be absent
Or. William White. Rev. A. y. Cristy,
Alfred Stone and several others had been
at the state house to appear before the
committee, but were obliged to 50 away
before IL convened Mr.. Eaton called on
Mrs. Haskins, who spoke before the COM
mlttee on the propriety of the appoint
ment OF a woman superintendent to have
charge of woman prisoners. She said the
correction of fallen woman was "a great
deal more delicate than the correction OF
girls I'm the family.
She said IL should be the object IN send
ing women TO state institutions not to
shut them up and turn them loose later
without any Improvement, but something
should be down toward their reformation
and uplifting
"The mills OF the gods grind slowly %
the speaker said. but they don't run on
the eight-hour plan and they do not take
vacations"
DR. Seth n Clifford superintendent of
the Moses Brown school said he wanted
10 speak briefly ON the educational side
OF the question.
I'VE have reason TO believe these in
stitutions are In a measure reformatory
institutions, but there is little hope of
any permanent reform, except along edu-
catiOnal lines.
"The only reform we can hope for is de-
veIoping IN the mind certain notions
which will control the will That can
only be accomplished by slow process
under proper conditions"