The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-17

/ from twelve to eighteen years old.
/ physcially were mentally children
/ from five 10 ten years of age. This
/ was discovered after the institution
had been opened for the reception OF
/ inmates, and both the board OF char
I tiles and the directors of the home
united In the statement to the last
general assembly that the home could
not properly be conducted as private
institution and accordingly the board
| of directors agreed to turn the prop
erty over TO the State, and the board
Of charities recommended that all our
reformatories be made State fnstttu-
tons The statement OF the BOARD OF
charities is as follows:
During the year by order or the
governor the board made n thorough
investigation of the laurel Industrial
school and took occasion to state In
: the report that the management has
been faithful, careful and efficient
under adverse conditions. but we felt
: obliged 10 recon mend as great duty
and obligation on the part of the
! State that State ownership be effect
( ed as soon as possible. that the
= state of Virginia, In line with many
; other progressive States in the Union
J address itself to the duty and oppor-
! tunity of fostering, maintaining and
| developing this institution which Is OF
! the utmost value to the Common
G wealth." and to add that, in making
this latter recommendation. we have
2 the support OF the directors Of the
l school, as set forth In the last report
: of President Hutzler, made to the leg
. isature of Virginia" We now urgent
{ ~ make the same recommendation.
T not only as to this institution, but as
to n
- cause, after careful consideration, In
vestigation and experiment. we have
9 come to the conclusion that these
u schools can be conducted more ef-
ficiently and at less expense as state
:. institutions than as institutions owned
i and controlled by private corporations
0 and fostered by the State. for the fol-
= lowing reasons:
- Control by State
90 Our reformatories as at pres
n ent conducted, can only ameliorate
a conditions; they cannot strike at the
v root of the matter--they can not seek
the causes nor can they undertake the
lie prevention of delinquency.
y CD Their several boards and super
ir intendents never meet together; ther'
is no uniformity of administration. M
IT Joint discussion as to methods, no join
.e study of causes Of delinquency. where
t as the directors of our State hos
re pitfalls for the insane meet frequentl,
for consultation; there Is fntelliRen
X and constant study as to the hes
d methods of conducting institution
r and of the causes and prevention o
he insanity.
ID (s) The State. by appropriation, !
now contributing large sums of none
le for buildings and equipment OF insti
~ tutions over which Il has no lega
s control.
OF ca The per capita allowance by tn
- State tends to increase the population
Of reformatories in order to cover ex
- penses.
OF (5) The courts have not adequat
" means to know the individual need e
each child, and as n result, many chill
ne dren now sent to reformatories coul
III be kept at home or placed to bette
= advantage In selected homes undc
A., supervision.
lS In view of the above facts we yer
u earnestly recommend State OWNERSHIP
e. and control of all reformatortes. an
81 a wider use of the probation system
II The general assembly, because of
W. lack of funds. found 1t impossible
Nv adopt these recommendations at ths
10 time and the gentlemen in charge {
~ the Home for Girls consented to VI
n dertake to conduct the home for al
u. other two years, The whole matte
M will come up for consideration hefol
e the next general assembly and we b'
se licve at that time the institution wi
IA he taken over by the State. The ger
y tlemen who have generously Collecte
nc the money necessary to establish tn
~ institution and who have, in the spir
We OF self-sacrifie, devoted much time
ie IT'S management. stated frankly III;
-- they could not take the time fro
$500, their business necessary to proper
manage the affairs of the institute
r | and that the funds provided were n
sufficient to adequately equip an
| conduct IT. They deserve the thanl
Of the community for the good woi
they have done, for while they are n
able TO give to the work the caref1
| scrutiny It demands, they have pc
, formed great public service In estal
| fishing and conducting the 1nstitl
| ton.
The demonstration that girls of TIL
class cannot he properly cared for
an institution for delinquent childre
Is of great value. This whole que
ton of the cause and prevention
: | delinquency Is fundamental and u
i'feterit investigation wifi he or vail
in calling the attention of the Sta
- to the necessity of taking this impor
1880 ant matter up in earnest and in dealir
with 1t in a scientific manner.
Patience Needed.
Let the people have patience, Gre,
nd problems are not solved in a day. tt
tn directors Of the reformatories and II
M general assembly will work out a 81
A hutton of the most pressing problem
connected with the care and trainir
or pf delinquent children. These prol
lens are fundamental. The futui
physical, moral and mental strengt
r. Of the nation will depend upon wh'
- the present generation does Il
TTTT1dTen.
Our reformatories should be mat
state institutions in charge of boal
Of directors charged. not only with II
management of the institutions, bl
likewise with the study Of the caus'
4 and prevention of delinquency. An
II pie funds should be provided; eae
II institution should have at least tw
II departments. one for normal and II