The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-07-30
REPORT SAYS
SUPT. THOMAS
WILL NOT DO
Recommends More Competent
Person Be Given Charge of
Industrial School.
BOARD OF INQUIRY
REVIEWS TESTIMONY
AND URGES THAT STANDARD OF
INSTITUTION SHOULD BE
RAISED.

IN the report Of the special COMMITTEES
appointed by the governor TO investigate
conditions at the state Industrial school,
Superintendent H. Fl. Thomas, head OF
the Institution, is condemned with faint
praise. In a polite manner the commit
tee says that Mr.. Thomas is all right DuL
suggests firmly that he will not do.
The report Of the committee was sub
mitted TO the governor yesterday and was
Immediately taken under consideration by
the board of trustees of the school
At yesterdays meeting of the board II
went over the report, but took no action.
The governor suggested that the recon-
mendati0ns of the committee in so far as
u the power of the committee 20 DO so,
be adopted The board viii meet again
on Monday 10 take action Oh the report.
Ii is probable that the board viii ask for
the immediate resignation of Superinten-
dent Thomas.
The committee in its report briefly re-
views the charges and iu a general way
the evidence tending 60 sustain them.
The committee declares that Mr.. Thomas
was not Intentionally cruel to the iH-
mates, but that his treatment was severe
and extreme. 1T recommends that an
educator peculiarly fitted for the CorreC-
ton of the young be placed at the head
of the institution 1t suggests that care
ful preparation is necessary in order 20
fill properly such position Then It
COmmends Mr.. Thomas for some Of his
2
that he had done as well as any one not
having the proper training could do under
the circumstances
With reference to the charge Of incom-
/ potency the committee finds that Mr..
Thomas failed to carry out the iustTuc-
tons Of the board Of trustees in numer-
Gus instances and makes the statement
that IF the instructions had been care
/ fully followed the investigation would
I have been unnecessary.
f--- 3. c-T--s.-
The committee suggests that the sala-
ries Of al the employees be increased. with
a view 10 securing more efficient nelp. It
/ finds that the food is wholesome and sani-
! tary, notwithstanding charges TO the con-
trary. The buildings are IN good COndi-
| ton, but more buildings are needed. The
work OF the board OF trustees is praised I'm
high terms
The report in- full follows:
/ Hon. William Spry. Governor of the
/ State of Utah: Sir-We, your committee
/ appointed by your excenency to assist the
I board of trustees in investigating the gem
/ eraI conduct Of the state industrial school,
/ and especially 20 Investigate certain
[ charges filed with you, and preferred
[ against Superintendent II. H Thomas by
Z a citizens committee Of ogden, beg leave
TO submit the following:
/ After giving careful consideration to the
evidence presented In the case we do not
[ feel it necessary to submit an extended
/ report nor to elaborate upon the different
I phases Of the testimony. Through our de-
I liberatiOns, which have been quite eX-
/ tended, we are agreed that the following
will be sufficient 10 meet the requirements
I indicated in the official notice of our ap-
pOintment by you to perform the work as
signed US. In making this report the
Z members Of the board Of trustees have
/ taken no part, as they expressed desire
I to leave this work with the other mem
/ beTs Of your committee.
| With this report we also submit "A
fro ga coll
The Investigation was conducted accord
ing to your Instructions at the state in
dustrial school, and covered a period or
/ two weeks, beginning June Il, 1909, and
J terminating June ~. 1909 on which date
Z arguments and brief were submitted by
/ counsel for both sides. The citizens COM
mittee preferriug the charges against SUI
/ perintendent II. H. Thomas were repre-
/ scented by Attorneys v Gideon and A. W.
Agee- and Superintendent Thomas was
! represented by Attorney r.. d. Johnson.
The Specific Charges.
{ The following are the specific charges:
I Hon H. s. Joseph, Chairman of the
| Governors Investigating Committee. Sir
We. the undersigned citizens Of Utah, at
the request Of your commission, and un-
/ der the statement on the part Of your
I committee that you would not hear evil
/ denCe against II. II. Thomas. superinten-
/ dent of the state industrial school. unless
I such charges were reduced 20 writing, and
Z
I which the com plants are asked to take
/ testimony hereby charge II. r. Thomas
( superintendent of the school, with incom-
/ potency, and as being unfit 90 hold such
! a position. on the following grounds:
"That I'm his dealings with the inmates
OF. the institution he has at various times
I been cruel and has treated the inmates I'm
a cruel and inhumau manner by COnfiue-
ment I'm a solitary cell, by unnecessarily
and without sufficient reason cOufiuing
tine male inmates in what is known as
''the CELL and the condition Of the build
] ings in which the food is kept has az
various times been uusanitary and not
properly cared for.
THAT he has in uis dealings with girls
I confined I'm the iustitutiOu been guilty OF
prOpOUnding unnecessary and indecent
questions and that the questions pro-
pounded required, IF they had been com
piled with By the inmates, acts which no
gentleman would have required Of such
inmates.
I'VE further charge that Mr. Thomas.
I by temperament, which has been album
dainty demonstrated by his management.
Is an unfit person 10 have charge OF
such an institution and that his man
Continued on Page 5.