Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/15/1881, p. 3

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE appointed by the Managers of the Lincoln Institution to investigate the charges of mismanagement and of cruelty on the part of the Superintendent:

To the Board of Managers of the Lincoln Institution: The committee invited by your boards to assist them in the investigation of complaints of cruelty against the superintendent. William M. Hugg, met at the institution on Tuesday evening, September 20, but adjourned for one week from that date in respect to the memory of the lamented President Garfield. On Tuesday, September 27, at 8 o'clock P.M., they met pursuant to adjournment commenced their investigation, and continued it from night to night until Friday, the 30th ult., when it was concluded.

METHOD OF EXAMINATION

The committee decided to examine the boys connected with the institution, and that it shoud be done without any manager or official being present. The managers assented, and that course was pursued, the boys whose statements had been published being first examined, where their presence could be obtained. The representatives of the public press were invited to attend, and, after the committee examined each witness, were requested to ask any question they might desire, and at the close of the testimony were also requested to make any suggestions of witnesses or information which, in their opinion, would aid the inquiry. Before concluding the testimony, and to make sure that no source of information had been overlooked, the committee visited the school rooms while in evening session, and having first caused the teachers in charge and all others but the members of the press top retire, urged the boys to disclose fully and freely any complaints they might have, which they did.

THE SUPERINTENDENT

The committee report that the charges of cruelty against William M. Hugg, the superintendent, are not sustained. Three cases of severe punishment have been brought to their attention in which there had been extreme b reaches of discipline. In one case there had been disorder in the bed rooms continued from night to night, and in the two others the boys were using language of an immoral character in their bed room in the presence of the other boys, and calculated to corrupt them. The punishment did not physically disable the boys or unfit them for work, and, although severe, was not cruel. The superintendent has been authorized by the managers to use corporal punishment, and its use by him has not generally been severe. The grievances prominent with the boys who made complaints to us were not the whippings they had received but certain supposed defects in their food, which will be hereafter referred to.

Mr. Hugg has been superintendent for five years. Three of the neighbors, one of whom lives next door, testified that they had never heard of cruelty by him. They thought the discipline under his administration, had observed that the boys kept good hours at night, were orderly in front of the building, and believed they were kindly treated. One of the witnesses in support of this said the boys come back cheerfully in the evening from their places of work, “as if,” to quote his words, “returning to a pleasant home.”

THE LOCK-UP

The lock-up is on the third floor of the back building. Its use has not been cruel. Regular meals have been given to the boys put there and some one has been within call in case of need. It is ventilated by an open space over the door, extending across the front of the room, and opening upon an entry, with a window opposite. We recommend, in addition to this, that a window be opened in the room itself communicating directly with the air and light and suitably protected from access outside.

THE FOOD

When questioned in the school room and requested to make known any complaints they might have, but a small proportion of the boys made complaints. These were chiefly as to their food and of a trivial character, vix: that they had salt mackerel for breakfast on Monday, and one other day of the week had a hash which they called “chewed”; meat. Otherwise they seemed satisfied with their food which consists of hot dishes every day for breakfast, dinner and supper, tea or coffee, sometimes eggs, and plenty of bread and butter.

The inmates all go to work at various places during the week: about thirty of them whose employment does not allow them to return home to dinner are given a lunch to take with them; the rest have a hot dinner at the institution every day, and on Sundays, when they all dine at the institution, they have for dinner roast beef, white and sweet potatoes, tomatoes and dessert, which they also have on Wednesdays.

CONCLUSION

The boys, as a rule, impressed us favorably. With few exceptions they seemed truthful and intelligent. It is natural that in so large a number some should be restless under the restraints of discipline and regularity of diet; but as a whole they evince a health and cheerfulness which showed they were well fed and kindly treated. Judged by its results the general administration of the Institution has been wise and humane. Four hundred and sixty boys have been under its care during the fifteen years which have elapsed since its foundation. Its graduates are engaged in honorable employments and a number occupy positions of responsibility in mercantile and financial establishments. Its inmates are provided with a home while engaged in the earlier stages of business, instructed at school in the evening, and prepared for the duties of mature life.

The State of Pennsylvania contributes to the support of twenty-for Soldiers’ Orphans now in the Institution, but the expenses of the other forty-two inmates are supplied by their own earnings and by private benevolence. The contributions to this object and to the permanent funds have been liberal. The contributors and the managers, who give in addition their time, skill and energy to the work, are entitled to gratitude for their philanthropic efforts and we are glad to report that during our investigation no complaint has been made against any manager, and that, notwithstanding the matters referred to in this report, the general feeling among inmates and graduates is one of satisfaction and pride in the Lincoln Institution.

William McMichael, Charles Carver, John J. Ridgway, Jr., Silas W. Pettit, Charles Hazlehurst, H. Laussat Geyelin, G.C. Purves, Committee Philadelphia, October 12, 1881

Document History

• Transcribed by HS 2024-08-28