The Portland daily press., 1863-12-14
The Aims House.
To the Editor Of the Press;

To the Editor Of the Press;
As you have very gratuitously and withou,
occasion, as think, chosen to assail me, not up
on the truth or falsity of the statement in the
minority report upon the condition of the
Aims House, but by epethets, l beg you TO
publish the following report as an act OF
simple justice. 1 have lived long enough
in Portland, and have been often enough
participant in the affairs OF this NUM-
cipality, to care nothing for assaults that
come in the shape of those alluded to. 1t is
the truth that the people want The majority
report win be published in the Advertiser. /
do not desire to make any personal comments
but only that the report appear in the paper
whence these personal attacks have original
ed. JAMES II. HARMON.
Dec. IL, 1868.
The minority of the Committee TO whom
was referred the order of Nov. I'd, to inquire
into the management ofthe Aims House and
the condition of the inmates, have had the sub
ject under consideration, and ask leave to
report
The Committee visited the Institution aud
examined the condition of the house and that
OF the unfortunate inmates, on the 9th and
14th of November, and have endeavored to
obtain all accessible information in their power
that the time would allow.
While the minority cfyour Committee believe
that some OF the complaints of the inmates
are not well founded,-and are such as might
not be unexpected from the character of some
of the tenants Of the establishment, vet they
are constrained to believe the condition of the
inmates need attention and Improvement in
several particulars.
LIST. Their food, especially in the Hospital
much ofthe time has not been properly cooked
and prepared since the introduction of the
present Superintendent; IA change OF cooks may
have been partially or wholly the cause.
I'd. The sick have not been so careiclly at
tended as under the former Superintendent
they have been visited tby the statement Of
the better class ofiAmates) but rarely by the
Superintendent or his wife, much less fire.
qIently than by his predecessor.
Sd. Some of the inmates have suffered much
from the want ofproper food, the GOODNESS of
the apartments and from the want of suitable
clothing the women and children.
With regard TO warming the rooms, the ex-
pertinent was being tried TO heat the differ
ent apartments by furnaces, but the Oyerseers
are satisfied that the house cannot be warmed
from those sent in--they have therefore put
up stoves In the different rooms, and probably
no further complaint will be made.
4th. The minority of your Committee are of
the opinion that greater attention should be
paid to the cleanliness Of the house.
9Th. That the Hospital Department has been
at times in a bad condition-apparantly over
| looked-but your Committee think there
have been improvements in this respect
recently.
The minority of your Committee would
tender TO theChairInan of the Board of Over
seers, their thanks for the kind and courteous
attention paid 10 them on their visit to the
house-we received all the civilities we could
have wished.
| While the city Of Portland is always ready
and willing to furnish liberal and generous
supplies for their Aims House, the minority
of your Committee cannot but regret that the
unfortunate inmates should be left to suffer
from the ordinary comforts of their humble
| life and conditiOn-colnmon decency and hui
manity forbid it,
The minority of your Committee submit
herewith a summary Of the evidence and the
statements derived from the inmates OF the
Aims House--of their complaints and grevan.
ces as taken upon their visits TO the house.
All Of which is respectfully submitted.