The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-21
BON AIR HOME IS
COMMENDED BY
CHARITIES BOARD
Continued From First Page.)


opinion that the feeling which called
Tor complaints to Your Excellency had
Its origin in the employment on tho
farm In the capacity OF general assist
ant OF negro named Beverly Banks.
AS number of witnesses testified. they
mad no criticism OF the home to make
except that they thought 1t wrong in
principle and In policy to employ a
control or white girls. Evidence
showed that Banks was In the main
under the supervision of the matron,
Mrs. NJ. M. Light, but there was also
abundant proof that he had virtual con-
troll OF these unfortunate girls during
the Time they were employed In field la
Dor The officers OF the home, the ma
tron and the inmates expressed the ut
most confidence in the integrity of this
negro and strenuously upheld his repu-
tation. Nothing was forthcoming to
show that he had violated the trust i'm
posed In him, or had taken the slight
est advantage Of the girls under his
charge. Yet we feel that proper race
sentiment would have forbidden the
employment OF Il negro In such ca
pacity. and we are convinced that in
80 doing the board made mistake.
AS to the finances of the home. ii APP
pears that these have been directed
from Richmond by unpaid officers and
members OF the board, and that the
matron has had practically nothing TO
do with these matters. Evidence was
adduced tc show that during con-
siderable period In the history Of the
home the accounts for expenses were
forwarded by the matron to one mem
Der OF tho board s. p. Waddil, by
whom they were approved and sent TO
the treasurer. The latter gave his
check Tor the aggregate amount of the
q ia. To-, 49,
deposited the funds in bank and drew
his personal check therefor. Our cx-
animation disclosed the fact that on
the checks issued for individual itoms
there was nothing to Indicate tho rea-
non for the check or the special &C.
count of the home on which 1t was
Issued. With considerable difficulty we
checked back some OF these accounts
from the figures which the Inatron kept
for her own protection. and In SO doing
we lad the services OF the State Ac-
countant, delegated for the task by
your ENcollcncy. The result was dis
tressing. We have found these &C
counts confused and the system I'M
satisfactory by comparison with those
in use elsewhere for the disbursement
OF public funds, and we have found
that despite the recommendations Of
this board uaGe y. its visitation report
OF September %. 1910. proper books
were not kept for many months. we
should add. in justice 10 all concerned,
that since the treasurer has discon-
tinued the custom of paying to mem
Der OF the board a sum for using the
latter in settling the bills OF the home,
there has been no just reason for COM
plant against the finances OF the in
stitution.
The Mntron I'm Charge.
We were very favorably impressed
with the ability and general character
OF tie present matron, Mrs, NJ NJ Light
IT was brought out in evidence that
Lefore this woman took charge OF the
home discipline for some weeks at least
had been very lax. All the evidence
showed that when Mrs. Light brought
TO the home the results OF her long
experience in rescue work, she had a
most difficult task to perform. There
is also abundant evidence TO show that
discipline has greatly improved since
her coming. and that the matron has at
once the respect and the good Will of
the young girls in her charge. Moth
ing GeTogatOry of her efficiency, char
acter or discipline was brought In evil
dence, while much that was favora bie
to her was presented We are of opin-
ion that she is heartily TO he COM
mcndcd for faithful and successful
performance OF most cXacting duties.
II was apparent. from her evidence and
from that OF ;. T. Waddill. that during
she had been somewhat handicapped by
being compelled to confer with the
members OF the board regarding mat
tiers which were essentially trivial. She
has nov, however, authority ample for
the proper control OF the matters en-
trusted TO her 1t also appeared that
in u few cases the judgment of the
matron had not been followed in re-
spect to paroles. We are OF opinion
that she should also be given the veto
on paroles. and that no girl should
be sent from the home unless the
matron approved. We do not think 1t
necessary that the board should In
every instance parole the girls she
recommends. but we think the main
tenancc of discipline by her will depend
on her being upheld by the board In
declining the parole Of girls whom she
deems unworthy. Speaking generally,
we believe that the matron's control
over the girls should be limited s little
as possible, and that the functions of