The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-30

pressing obligations. had not the GER
tIemen named pursued the course
that has been pursued by them. The
thing 70 be chiefly regretted is that
the State has given the institution
such inadequate support that such an
antQuated system OF administration
has been rendered necessary.
Fourth. That the public statement
OF MIR. George Il. Davis. published IN
the Richmond Evening Journal under
date of February 81. 1911. vas made
the subject OF an exhaustive examina-
lion Mr.. Davis In his testimony. dis
a,awed any reflection whatever upon
NessrS HutZler, Catlin and Poindex-
ter. lie stated emphatically that he
had implicit faith in the integrity
Of these gentlemen and that his sole
object In making said statement In
the public press was to iuaugurate a
more modern and effective system Of
administration at the school. Many
men or the highest standing testi-
fed that. 50 far from being "nur-
sery for vice and crime" as charged
by Mr.. Davis. the institution is doing
great and good work II was shown
hy und:sputcd testimony that Mr.
Davis himself had. throughout his en-
tire incumbency of the Office Of super
trtendcnt. repeatedly made reports to
the directors that the institution wa
in prosperous and satisfactory con-
dition.
Moreover. 1t should be added that,
IN the examinations OF the Laurel In
dustrial School made from time to
time by the State Board Of Charities
and Corrections. we We're invaria bly,
informed by Superintendent Davis
ana his assistant that the institution
was IL excellent shape. and that II
was doing good work. Our board,
however has more than once sug-
gested TO these gentlemen that the
number Of families be increased,
and assurance Was given us that this
would be done as soon as praCticAble
We also recommended that the dircc-
tors consider the inauguration Of the
cottage plan
9TH. That we are satisfied from the
evidence produced that MIR. Davis was
not successful as superintendent. ex-
ceptfng in 80 far as his exemplary
character as a man reflected itself
upon the life Of the school In fact.
We have been unable TO resist the CON
clusion that his public letter was
written under an impulse OF excite
ment and disappointment.
The evidence produced in this in
vestigation has strongly impressed us
with the fact that the responsibility
in the executive management of the
school has been too largely Il divid11
responsibilities. Friction is apt to be
I the child of an excessive division of
, administrative power and RESPONSE
/ bility. X would seem. therefore. a
matter Of very great Importance that
the dtreC tors shall select as superin-
1 tendent man Of recognized admin
istrative ability and experience, and
that he shall be given larger admin
istratNo powers which should be
clearly defined in the bylaws.
9Th That the State Board of Char
tiles ana Corrections is clearly Of the
opinion that the Laurel Industrial
School Is in sore need of larger sup
port from the State to the end that
the modern policy of segregation and
ciasslacatlon shall be rendered practi-
cable in connection with the work
Of tha1 Institution We recognize thai
the State may hesitate to undertake
larger responsibilities so long az pri-
vate ownership and management OBJ
tam. We, therefore, strongly recomS
mend. as q great duty and obligation
on part of the State. that state own
ersh'p shall be effected as soon as
possible, and that the state of Vir-
gina III line with many other pro-
gressiVe States OF the Union. shall
address itself to the duty and the op-
porturitY of fostering, maintaining
and developing this Institution, which
Is of the utmost value to the Com
monwealth. We add that, in making
this latter recommendation, we have
the support of the directors of the
school as set forth in the last report
of President ffutzler made to the
Legislature of Virginia.
(Signed)
GEORGE II. DENNY,
Chairman.
JAS. ASTON CABEII.,
SAML. c. HATCHER
PAULUS A. IRVING,
j. p. STEARNES.
J. +. MASTIN. Secretary.