Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-02-27
REFORM SCHOOL IS FOUND INADEQUATE Probation Officers Make Survey of State Institu-
 tion and Report. NOT ENOUGH MONEY. Appropriation Has Been Cut Material Iy Since 1905-Inudstrial Features
 Needed Are Found Lacking.
NOT ENOUGH MONEY.


 made to the state reform school eight miles from Little Rock, by Miss Earle Chambers, probation officer of that city, Miss Julia Houston, probation officer for Pine Bluff, and Mrs. Min nie U. Ruth erford, of Boonyille, held to be much needed reforms of the refrem school will be asked of Governor George w. Hays and the next Legislature.
 From an appropriation of s15,OO0 a y ear in 1905 when the school was established for both sexes, whites and blacks, the appropriation has dwindled until there is now an ap- propriation of but $10,2OO for the institution. This is one of the prih- cipal faults which has been found with the institution. It is held that there is not an ad equate industrial feature, not enough ground is in cultivation, there is no provision for delinquent girls and has not been, while those who are in charge are doing what they can, the m cans at hand are inadequate, and finally, that the institution should be taken out of the hands of the Board of Prison Commissioners, who have charge of it, and that the stat e associated charities should have control.
 Speaking of the conditions found after survey, Miss Houston declar- ed that it is not in reality a reform school at all, that in instances boys of nine or ten years have to associ- ate with harden ed, grown men. It is contended that such association makes them anything save better and it is contended there should be a reform industrial school for the boys and girls who are simply incor rigible, distinct and $ operate from one that is conducted as a reforma- tory for criminals who have been able to elude prison.
 Lacks Good Feature.
 wv. N. Deaton, who is in charge of the reform school, conducts the school, and the examination shows he is doing good work in that respect although fault is found because of the lack of an industrial feature. It is held that boys and girls should be learned practical things which will enable them to earn livlihood after they have left the school.
 According to the report, there is also lack of means tending to the| physical development of the inmates. In the summertime the boys work thirty acres of land, out of 200 acres under fence, but which is for the most part classed as poor land. The fresh vegetables are consumed in the summer and no provision is made for canning and preserving fruits and vegetables for use in the winter. This | forces the purchase of goods during the colder months. No profit is made from the farm.
 In the school library there are barely one hundr ed books, held to be insufficient for the need of the in mates.
 As to the appropriation of $10,20O, it must go toward the pay of six of ficials, current expenses and general upkeep of the institution.
 Among recommendations, are tha !: there be a training school for gif-s and that there be medical inspec- ton department. From observation, where tri ed, it has been found that proper treatment will serve to change the habits of delinquent boysl and girls and that it is impossible to reform them until this course has been taken.
 While nothing can be done with respect to the appropriation until next year, it. is thought that there can be some means for larger pro duction on the farm and that there can be some changes for the better. As to the institution be removed from the supervision of the prison board, the reason advanced for this is that the three men on the board have their hands full looking after the state prison, state farm and rock crusher and have little time to devote the reform school.