The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-07-30

| report OF the special committee ap.
i pointed by the governor TO invcsti-
gate charges against him means any
thing II is construed To be decided
! ly unlnyorable TO Mi Thomas.
The report, drafted by the four out
side members OF the investigating
! committee, was considered in detail
by the board of trustees at a meeting
In the governors Office. Thursday af-
ternoon and Officially given 10 the
public for the first time The board
deferred action, however until another
meeting can be held, which Will prob.
ably be Monday. and while Governor
Spry would make no statement Thurs
day II Is understood that he win ask
the board TO concur in the report and
carry out its recommendations, as far
as finances win permit
The report, among other things,
says that the committee is agreed that
from time 10 time during Mr.. Thomas
superintendency punishment metcd
out to unruG inmates has been severe
and extreme, but it cyades fixing def
nitely the responsibility for this, other
than for the episode of July, 1908.
and then goes on TO lay part of the
blame upon Assistant Superintendent
KncaSS, While the punishment In this
case was extreme. it was neither wan
ton nor Intentionally cruel. the re
port continues. but corporal punish
ment must be, and can be effectively
administered only by one skilled in the
knowledge of human nature "lndis-
criminate use of corporal punishment
is criminal" declares the report. 1t
then proceeds 70 say:
Superintendent Thomas has been
honest and conscientious i'm the dis
charge OF his duties as he has seen
them and through his efforts much
work Of a very cOmmendable nature
has been accomplished We believe
he has done all that any person with
out adequate preparation could do TO
promote the efficiency of the lnstitu.
tion"
AS 10 the charges of incOmpetency,
the committee says that the minutes
OF the board Of trustees show that nu-
meruus resolutions directed to Mr..
Thomas looking to the Improvement
Of conditions have not been carried
out, "A strict adherence 10 the I'M
structiOns would have made this in
vesugation unnecessary" says the re-
port
The committee recommends better
salaries for the superintendent and
his assistant, with a separate cottage
for each, and the utmost care In Sc
lectIng employees for the school
The question now is. who Will be
the next superintendent of The State
Industrial school The persons most
tu1lnI Df Ia, nj
and Of the juvenile court of Salt Lake.
and Prof s, II. Goodwin of Provo.
Both are very excellent men and II
either OF them was 10 be selected II
is very likely that the school would not
suffer Mn the future.
Following is the report submitted
by the committee to the governor:
Hon. VIM. Spry Governor of the
State OF Utah:
We your committee, appointed by
your cXcellency at the request of the
board of trustees of the State Indus,
trial school, 10 assist In investigating
certain charges filed by citizens
committee against H. II. Thomas, SUI
peTintendent, and the conduct of the
Industrial school. I'm general, beg
leave TO submit the following report
With the report we also submit a
transcript of the evidence. given in
full.
The Investigation was conducted at
the State Industrial school and COW
cred a period of two weeks, beginning
June IL, 1909. and terminated June
% 1909. ON which date arguments
and brief were submitted by counsel
for both sides The citizens commit
tee preferring the charges against
Supt III II Thomas were represent
ed by Attorney V. Gideon and ~ w.
AGee. and Mr.. Thomas was repre-
sented by Attorney r. d, Johnson
The following are the specific
charges, to-wit:
But from the transcript it Will be
shown that the investigation took a
much wider scope. 1t was desired to
give the fullest latitude TO the inyes
tigation, 10 enable your committee to
become fully coeniZant Of conditions
as they are and as they should be.
Tho committee is agreed In report
ing that from time TO time during Mr.
Thomas superiutendency, punish
ment meted ont TO unruly inmates was
extreme. The infraction of the rules
and the nature of the offenses perpc,
trated may have occasioned such eX
treme punishment As adduced by the
testimony and other information III
the specific charges of excessive cru
city I'm the episode of July, 1908, the
punishment of the boys for their un
mentionable crime against nature,
was sanctioned by the superintendent
and the governor OF the state. In this
connection It must be stated that the
superintendent could not be held
wholly responsible for an overt act
committed, when the boys were in
charge of the assistant superintendent.
AT no time however no matter what
the nature of the oGense might be.
and which necessitates corporal pun
ishment. should the limit of humane
ness be transcended. The Superin-
tendenl evidenced a seeming lack Of
knowledge as to the best method Of
handling extreme cases. The cXtTcm-
ity Of punishment was neither wan
ton nor intentional Ali viii have
10 agree that the superintendent WAS
actuated by motives which would lead
to the performance of duties as he
felt they we're TO be performed. The
responsible position of the head OF
such an institution as the State Indus
trial school requires a man who lis a
comDetent expert OF human nature
The need Is manifest for one imbued
with such knowledge. The growth and
! dcveloument of the institution inYesti.