Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-23

DR.. Charles V. Darlington, surgeon of
the penitentiary. has come forward with
q. recommendation to the general assem-
bly, looking to the sterilization of Grim
:nals and feeble-minded persons. He says
that such a thing is demanded for certain
classes Of criminals especially that class
which may be adjudged guilty of attempt
to assault women. Then, too, he incllnes
to the belief that men who are sent to
prison for long terms should be given
such an operation that would make them
more tractable while in prison. He also
declares that persons OF weak mlnd ana
those who are physically imperfect should
also receive such treatment as woula
prevent multiplication of persons IN
capable of being educated or able to earn
their own living. The suggestion has re-
ceived considerable favor from members
of the general assembly, and the statutes
NAV soon have such an act on their
pages.
Senator Floyd W. King of Allegheny,
one of the stanchest supporters OF the
pensioning of the public school teachers,
has offered bill to amend the law in all
its essentials. The law at this time re-
ouires all teachers to pay 1 per cent OF
their salaries to the school pension fund.
They are, when incapacitated or retired,
given one-half the pay they receive when
thew retire The state gives 5000 to the
fund. The aggregate receipts are anout
$50 900 a year Because OF the provisions
OF the law. making 1t easy for many
teachers to live comfortably on from So
to s75 a month some of the teachers have
retired when they were capable of doing
their best work
The changes proposed are to retire no
teachers unless they shall have taught for
twenty years and are to be retired be-
cause of illness or incapaclty. or those
who have taught as much as thirty years,
and who may seek retirement because of
old age. Male teachers must be hfty-efght
years old to retire, and women fifty. Then
| they are to be required to pay as much
as thirty annual payments of their annual
salaries. and In return they are to receive
one half the pay of the average teachers
| for the five years preceding their retire
ment Unless this is done. there will have
| to be a scaling of pensions or reduction
| of the number OF bene1ciaries. The fund
| at this time does not more than pay the
actual demands, leaving nothing for the
additional increase In the number of bene-
| fciaries that will come in few years
State College for Women.
Senator Strobe Of Amherst is the patron
| of a bill which has for its object the
| higher education for women of the state
| The bill which he has presented provides
for a school, the peer of the University
| of Virginia. to be located at or near the
1 university. to be under the control and
| mana cement of the present directors OF
| that institution, which shall give to
women the same opportunities That the
| state now gives to men OF the state, and
| at the same ,cost-free tuition and quar-
| tiers at the actual cost to the state. The
bill has the solid support of the Stats
| Federation of Women's Clubs representa-
| tives from which are to come here Thurs
day of next week and present their side
the consideration and report of the meas.
ure will have a public hearing in the Sen.
ate chamber at that time. That there
will be many speakers there is no ques-
ton. The bill does not contemplate that
| there shall be co-education. but insists
| that the need for experienced and trained
| educators for the schools and colleges OF
| the state is such that 1t is the duty OF
the state to provide for one college fol
| women when there are already three fol
| men.
| Judge Martin Williams, member of the
house from Giles county, is hot on the
| trail Of the school examiners which now
| exercise a sort of general supervision
J over the public schools. Judge Williams
| takes the ground that there Is not, and
| never was. any need for the examiners
holding that 1t Is the duty OF the super.
| intendent of public instruction to dis
| charge the duties which have been as.
| signed to the examiners. There are five
of these officers In the state. and their
| salaries and expenses reach about 16,0O(
| a year. Judge Williams takes the ground
that this money should be used for the
education Of the children, and not to pro-