The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-02-07
CRITICISM OF REFORMATORY.
Institution at Lexington Not Doing
Proper Work, Says Committee.

1nSItuuOn aC Lexington NOG DOlnS
Proper Work, Says Committee.
That the State refornatory is not do.
ing the work that it should, that the
institution is "a mere adjunct to the
State penitentiary, is the charge thai
is made in the annual report of the
committee on penal and charitable in
stitutions.
In the report it is stated that in 1900
an act was passed authorizing and re-
quiring the board of directors and
superintendent of the penitentiar to
set apart SO much of the State farm in
Lexington as might be necessary for
a State reformatory for criminals un-
der the age of 16 years. This was for
white ais we'll as NEGRO convicts, the
act providing that they should be kept
and employed separately. Since the
establishment of the South Carolina
Industrial School only negro convicts
have been kept at the Lexington re-
formatory.
t'Both the spirit and intent of the
law which actuated the establishment
of this refor1natory,' says the report,
sfwas to improve the morals of the in
mates and inspire them ito become bet
ter citizens. The act declares, that
the superintendent shall provide for
the instruction of the inmates in NOR
ais as well as useful labor In other
words that it be a reforrnatory in fact.
ttIn this regard" the report con-
tinues, "the institution lis not doing the
work it was designed to do, it being a
mere adjunct to the penitentiaTy,
where farm labor is performed and not
enough training is paid to the moral
training Of the inmates, nor are they
taught any useful trade"
The committee comes to the con-
clusion that reformation of character
is the 1audable object in view and ito
the attainment of this end we think
and so recommend, that the institution
have an instructor of its own to mo
culate the principles Of right living
and give his attention to the spiritual
and moral uplift of the inmates. The
committee thinks that the inmates
should also have some training in use
full trades. It is also stated that
general Improvement of the sanitary
condition could be made
That there has been much improve
ment in conditions at the State hospi-
tai or the insane is tine statement
made in the annual report of the joint
committee on penal and charitable in
stitutions which has been sent to the
general assembly. The report covers
all institutions of the above nature and
makes q number of recommendations
as tc each.
Eve have made a careful Inspector
of all the buildings of this institution
and found that they we're, especially
the interior; in much better condition
than when we last visited them This
statement is made in the report on
the asylum.
The committee says that it was not
impressed with the fact that build
ing wAE being erected as a place OF
recreation for the negroes as the
negroes are soon. ITO be moved to the
new hospital, which will be erected
eight miles north of Columbia
eve would not unreasonably cur
tail the expenses and inproveme ,"
says the report, Ito care for the un-
fortunate insane, and yet it strikes us
it is a good business proposition to
go slow in erecting new buildings
until the changes contemplated and
provided by law are efectuated, when
it cam be better ascertained what i'm
provernents are needed ON the present
site.''