Mr. BALDWIN. I propose new to state briefly the reasons for reporting this bill, to explain some of its provisions, and to ask for a vote upon the amendment proposed by the committee. The reasons for reporting the bill seem to us very conclusive and urgent. There is in the DistCol no suitable provision for the confinement of juvenile offen ers; nor is there any such provision for the confinement of older offenders as is demanded by our civilization. There is nowhere probably greater or more pressing need of such an institution than within this District. An act of Congress approved March 3, 1865, sought to make provision for juvenile offenders by authorizing the SecyInterior to contract with the managers of State institutions for their confinement and support. The Secretary sought diligently to carry out the purpose of that act, but after a faithful effort he failed to make the provision which the bill required. I believe he made one contract for the confinement of a few offenders, and that was all he was able to accomplish, the managers of State institutions being unwilling to make contracts, or findin something in their charters to for bid it. c then turned to the officers of the Guardian Society, and urged them to prepare such an institution on the tract of land known as the “ Government farm.” They proceeded to do it, and through his aid the SecyWar transferred to them and deposited on the Government farm for their use a large amount of lumber from abandoned hospitals. They proceeded with the work and expended about 5,000 dollars raised by private subscription to establish the institution required. They erected a large building capable of accommodatin some 50 or more inmates; but from lack of funds they could not complete their operations. The officers of the Guardian Society then petitioned Congress for an appropriation, and their etition was referrcd to the ComDistCol. They asked for means to enable them to carry out their object; and this was favored by the SecyInterior. A reference to this matter can be found in the report of the SecyInterior to the present Congress. On considering that petition, and consultin with these gentlemen and with the SecyInterior, it seemed to the committee wiser and better to take this property and proect out of the hands of private parties and eats. lish in the District a public reormatory institution in the usual way, with a board of trustees. It seemed the only sure way to have a suitable institution for juvenile offenders established h re without great expense. there being alread from 15 to 20,000 dollars wort of property that will all be transferred to the trustees to be appointed. This is in accordance with the wishes of the society, and it has the cordial approbation of the SecyInterior. By assuming an outstanding debt of about 1500 dollars the arrangement can be made, and the bill now reported to the House aims simply, in its provisions, to carry out this policy, to establish such an institution, which can be done at small cost to the Government and to the municipalities of the District; and there will be a saving of a great amount of dproperty which must go to ruin if this is not one. "here is nothing but this in the provisions of the hill. All that the bill proposes is to make provision for the establishment of this institution. It contains nothing else. I will now ask that the amendments to the bill reported by the ComDistCol be voted upon by the House; and I will say, as preliminary to that, that the proposed amendments aim principally to correct errors made by the printers or in transcribing the bill for the printers. mo