The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-03


ate and the house spent Saturday at
| Hutchinson viewing with amazemeht
the wonderful Accomplishments OF lne
young men at the industrial reIornle1-
tory-and the possibilities u iAih
ment there.
They saw youngsters playing nn-
steal instruments, constructing IolIei
top desks, making shoes, cutting sIone'
setting type, tailoring clothes, PANT
ing signs handling machine work ana
farming These fellows came into the
reformatory with uncontrollaple tenn,
pers, sulky dispositions and stopped
shoulders. In ten months they learn
a trade that will after they leave the
walls start them in life with a Prac-
teal knowledge of means or making
living.
To give these young men additional
advantages, to provide for them
augmented opportunities, ana TO pet,
ter their working, living ana soclaI
conditiOns-thiS is the deter1nlndlloH
of the legislators.
Build Trades Schools.
The first Recommendation oefore the
senate will be the proposition TO re-
build the trades school that was purn-
ed recently. This will, cost in the nelgh-
borhood of $4,000. 1t will be neces-
sary soon to build roof over the new
cell house that has been practically
enclosed. This will cost $4,000
One feature that was considered serl-
ously on the inspection trip was the
OstIind, of Mcpherson, suggested this
through bill introduced recently
through the lower house of the legisla-
ture. The senate committee beIleVes
the bill has merit and when the trades
school is built the state will begin It's
attack on the coffin trust.
1t is argued that a casket good
enough for any average Kansan could
be manufactured for $40 at the in
dustrial reformatory. Collins that sell
on the market for 500 and more can
be made at this price is the conten-
ton of NJ. F. Amrine, superintendent
of the reformatory. Sell these caskets
to the people for only a slight profit
and the output would be taxed the
year around, is the belief of the legis-
lative committee.
without a doubt Kansas will prepare
this year to reduce the cost Of dying.
The coffin manufacture bill has been
declared legal and similar to the peni-
Tertiary Irvine plant bill by the attor-
ney general, John Dawson. In fact
Attorney General Dawson aided Rep
resentative Ostlind In drawing up the
measure.
Amrine's Good Work.
NJ. F. Amrine has made the state an
efficient and successful reformatory
superintendent He has in his two
years and a half at the Hutchinson
school performed miracles both inside
and outside the barred windows. He
has made a record that will be marked
high on the scale and will draw the
constant attention of j. w. Howe,
senator from Dickinson county, who
soon will be appointed to the reforma-
tory SUPPLEMENTARY.
When Senator Howe takes charge,
Superintendent Ar1nine will step hack
from public life into the front door of
his well known newspaper Office in
a ~ oni1
the attention of Republicans in Kan
sas.
Just to show what Amrine in his
short term has done-when he came he |
found the school yard piled high with
spaWl rock and pulverized stone. Sand
hills and unsightly holes filled the en- |
closure. Today the slope to the walls |
is as regular as pavement. The i'm
mense mountains of rock and stone |
have been converted into a rock road |
five blocks long in front of the insti-
tuition grounds.
Inc boiler room, pump room and |
blacksmith shop were cluttered with |
out mechanical ARRANGEMENT. This
was remedied. The room was brought |
to grade avoiding floods resulting from !
heavy rains. The heating system was
poor and caused discomfort in cold
This line has been rebuilt /
Wells were situated near sewers the
fire hazards We're alarming on account |
Of poor wiring-a hundred such pro-
blems stared the newcomer in the face |
But he has economically and eff
GENTLY renovated these plant necessi-
ties.
In all nearly s25, 900 in improvements
have been handled by superintendent |
Amrine without special appropriations |
st am we'll pleased with the con-
dition in which I find the plant under
the Amrine management" remarked |
-
penal institution committee after the
And the other members
Band Made a Hit.
Twenty-Five young men seated in
semi-circle in the main corridor play
ing difficult, Spanish and classical Sc
lectiOnS greeted the senate and house
to the reformatory Saturday morning.
These inmates under the leadership of
5. u. Herb, once a member of lines
band and of several well known opera
furnished music for the
committee during their stay in the
building. Not one member of the or
ganization has played band instru-
ment more than eighteen months-andt
they are able to give an evenings con-
cert without rehearsal. Professor Herb
has a wonderful influence with the
boys-they will take long trips through
out the western part of the state-and
no guards are needed to watch them.
Movies for the Boys.
Superintendent Amrine is planning
new in the work of indus
trial reformatories. He plans to take
his institution band to the Hutchln-
son auditorium soon and give an even
ings concert. The proceeds from this
will be spent for a moving
picture machine. Films. instructive,
humorous and of geo
graphical value will be purchased.
Each week the school will show these
movies to the inmates.