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Rules and Regulations, relating to Organization, and Duties of Members 8

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Report of THE SECRETARY:

Meetings of the Board and Attendance of Members..

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Appropriations, Receipts and Expenditures since 1869.... 54

STATISTICS OF THE WORKHOUSE AND HOUSE OF CORRECTION.
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REPORT OF THE CHAPLAIN OF THE STATE FARM.

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REPORT OF THE PHYSICIAN OF THE STATE FARM..

REPORT OF THE WARDEN OF THE STATE PRISON...
REPORT OF THE JAILER OF THE PROVIDENCE COUNTY JAIL..
CONVICTS IN THE STATE PRISON, JANUARY 1, 1878...
REPORT OF THE CHAPLAIN OF THE STATE PRISON.

REPORT OF THE PHYSICIAN OF THE STATE PRISON..

REPORT OF THE AGENT OF STATE CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS.. APPENDIX — Acts and Resolves of the General Assembly, passed at the January and May Sessions, 1877, relating to the Board of State Charities and Corrections, &c., &c.

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NINTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

Board of State Charities and Corrections.

To the Honorable General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island, etc., at its January Session, 1878:

The Board of State Charities and Corrections respectfully present their report for the year ending December 31, 1877, as required by the Public Laws, (Chap. 603, Sec. 13.)

At the January session, 1877, was passed "An act providing for the government and control of the State institutions in the town of Cranston." This act forms Chapter 603 of the Public Laws; and may be found in the schedule of the January session, pages 121-131, and in the appendix at the end of this report. It went into effect June 5, 1877.

By the provisions of the act the Board of State Charities and Corrections is re-constituted. The former members retain their positions for the terms for which they were appointed; and two members, namely, one from the county of Providence, and one from the State at large, are added to the Board; making the number, at present, nine.

The act also provides (Sec. 6,) that "the oversight, management and control of the State prison and Providence County jail, shall be vested in the Board of State Charities and Corrections," in addition to their former duties.

The title of Superintendent of State Charities and Corrections is changed to Agent of State Charities and Corrections; and that of Superintendent of the State Farm is changed to Superintendent of the State Institutions in Cranston, (Sec. 9.)

The other portions of the new law relate, mainly, to details of management.

At the May session, His Excellency Governor Van Zandt appointed Mr. Stephen R. Weeden, of Providence, the additional member from the county of Providence, for three years; and Mr. Alfred B. Chadsey, of Wickford, from the State at large, for six years.

Mr. Samuel W. Church, of Bristol, whose term expired June 1, positively declined a reappointment; and Mr. Allen C. Mathewson, of Barrington, was appointed by the Governor, in his place, for six years. At a meeting of the board, held June 1, the following resolutions, offered by the chairman, were unanimously adopted:

WHEREAS, Hon. Samuel W. Church, who has been a member of this board during the entire period of its existence, has signified his purpose of retiring from it; and, whereas, our earnest wishes, repeatedly expressed, have been insufficient to induce him to change that purpose, therefore,

Resolved, That, in leaving us, he carries with him our warm regards and our best wishes for his continued prosperity and happiness.

Resolved, That, while we shall miss his kindly and genial presence, his wise counsels, and his accustomed companionship in all our labors, it shall be our aim to emulate the example of fidelity and devotion to our common trust. which he has so constantly set before us.

Resolved, That it is our earnest hope that his interest in these institutions, for which he has so long and so efficiently labored, may remain unabated; and that he will find it convenient, hereafter, to be frequently with us, to encourage and cheer us in our work; sure, at all times, of a hearty welcome.

At a meeting held June 15, Prof. George I. Chace, Chairman of the Board under the former organization, after calling to order, spoke as follows:

"The Board of State Charities and Corrections enters to-day on a new era in its history; an era of greater responsibilities, of increased labor, of higher trusts. Another institution has been added to those heretofore under its charge. I hold in my hand a communication

from the Rev. Augustus Woodbury, Chairman of the Board of Inspectors of the State Prison, which, with your permission, I will read:

PROF. GEORGE I. CHACE,

PROVIDENCE, June 5, 1877.

Chairman of the Board of State Charities and Corrections:

DEAR SIR:-I am instructed by the Inspectors of the Rhode Island State Prison, and in their behalf, to transfer, through you, to the Board of State Charities and Corrections, the custody and charge of the State Prison and the Providence County Jail, with all the property appertaining thereto. * * * * * I am, dear sir, very respectfully and truly yours,

AUGUSTUS WOODBURY.

For the Inspectors of the R. I. State Prison.

"We are fortunate in receiving this added institution in so excellent condition from the hands of gentlemen, who have understood so well its needs, and have so carefully and faithfully attended to them. We are also fortunate in having, with this increased responsibility, a large accession of strength. One of our number, who has been in Europe during the past year, and upon whose clear judgment and sound practical sense we have been accustomed to rely with so great confidence, is to-day with us. Of the new members, now for the first time present, one brings to us the experience and wisdom, gathered from more than a decade of devoted and faithful service on the Board of Prison Inspectors. Others come, not only with large intelligence and ability in the management of affairs, but with special qualifications of a high order for particular departments of service. While we realize, therefore, the extent and magnitude of the work before us, -a work that will tax the best energies of every one of us, I think we may look forward with cheerfulness and hope to its successful performance.

Our first business, this morning, will be to organize under the new act; by choosing a chairman and secretary, appointing standing committees, and adopting rules and regulations for the guidance of the board in the transaction of business."

Prof. George I. Chace was then reëlected Chairman, and William W. Chapin, Secretary.

The following Rules and Regulations, relating to the organization of the Board and the duties of its members, were adopted:

The Board of State Charities and Corrections shall be organized as follows:

1. There shall be a Chairman, a Secretary and seven standing committees: namely, a Committee on the Farm; a Committee on Supplies; a Committee on Buildings and Repairs; a Committee on Labor and Discipline; a Committee on Finance and Accounts; a Committee on Hygiene; and a Committee on Schools and on Moral and Religious Instruction.

2. The Board shall meet at the State Farm, on the first Friday, and at the office in the city of Providence, on the third Friday, of each month; unless otherwise ordered by vote. Special meetings may be ordered by vote; or, in cases of emergency, by the Chairman; or by the Secretary in the absence of the Chairman. A majority of all the members shall constitute a quorum at any regular meeting.

3. The Chairman shall be elected by the Board, and shall preside at their meetings; but shall not vote except in case of a tie. He shall appoint the standing committees, of which he shall be ex-officio a member; and may be present at their meetings, and shall have a vote in the committees.

4. The Secretary, who shall be elected by the Board, shall keep the records of the meetings of the Board and of the meetings of committees, when so requested; and an account of all moneys received and expended. He shall keep such books of account, in such manner, and according to such system, as shall be directed by the Committee on Finance and Accounts. He shall collect all moneys due, giving receipts therefor, and shall pay such moneys into the State treasury, as required by law.

He shall, under the direction of the appropriate Committees, make all the purchases of supplies and material for the institutions and for the farm; but, by consent of the appropriate committee, may delegate the authority to a member or employé of the Board.

He shall, as soon as practicable, after the end of each quarter of the year, make to the Board a classified statement of the amounts of money received and expended, the amount of indebtedness, and the balance of resources available for the use of the Board.

He shall receive and report at each meeting all applications and communications to the Board; including reports of the Superintendent of the State Institutions, the Agent of State Charities and Corrections, and the Warden of the State Prison, and all other matters to be acted upon.

He shall prepare an annual report to the Board, and also the report of the Board to the General Assembly; and shall perform such other duties as may be required by the Board.

5. The Committee on the Farm shall have charge of all matters relating to the cultivation of the land and the raising of crops; the making of drains and the utilization of sewage; the planting of fruit and ornamental trees, and the purchase of live stock, teams and farm implements.

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