The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-01-20
Maine State Prison.

With the usual reports of the Warden, In
spectors, Physician, and Chaplain of the Maine
State Prison. we find this year the report of a
Committee of the Governors Council, appoint
ed to visit this and other State prisons in New
England. The Committee visited the prisons
of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New
Hampshire, containing respectively 40, ITO,
and 101 prisoners. All were found to be self
sustaining. To render the Maine State prison
remunerative TO the State, the Committee in
dictate two reforms: Il. The working machin-
cry of the prison must be brought up to the
times. 2. The principal labor. done in the
prison must be simple easily mastered by the
prisoners, and its product of ready SALE
Steam power is mentioned as desideratum in
the prison at Thomaston.
The Chaplain asks an appropriation for the
library which contains now less than 400 vol
umes.
The Physician recommends some employ
ment for those in solitary confinement, TO pre-
vent them from sinking into an abnormal state
of mind worse than death itself.
The inspectors estimate the expenses of the
prison for 1868, at s6925. This estimate is
said to be based upon presumption of the
continuance of the present characteristic man
agement." Ventilators have been placed in
the roof of the main prison within the year, at
an expense of about $500. They have long
been needed; but the Inspectors complain
that the cleanliness of the prisoners is still
neglected. They further assert, that the State
ought to realize $1,000 more from the labor of
its convicts; that $1,000 at least might have
been saved during the past year by judicious
purchases OF stock and provisions; and that
"the harmony and sympathy, which would be
conducive to the best interests of the prison,
do not exist between the Warden and the sub
ordinate officers" They complain that the
Chaplain is not a resident Of Thomaston and
confines his regular labors to Saturday and
Sunday little professionally, it would seem,
as if man should give all his energy and time
for paltry salary of s40o. An appropriation
of sl0,ss526, in addition to the sum required
for current expenses, is recommended,t to Jul
date the excess of Indebtedness TO the prison.
The Warden, on the other hand, tenders his
thanks to the Honorable Inspectors and his
subordinate officers, for their faithful efforts
and hearty cooperation in bringing up the
condition of labor in the Prison from its low
estate to its present advantageous and encour-
aging position" There may be some excuse
for the present state of things, and the income
from the labor of the prison s922321, more by
S2443 than ever before, shows some improve
ment; but ait may be thought, at the first
blush,' to use the words of the Warden him
self, "that TO have run the State in debt for
over $4,000 in the space of eighteen months
wds uery iRjudicious, and indicated bad man
agemen,." The accommodations for the sick
are styled by the Warden disgrace to the
State.
Whoever is to blame, one thing is toerably
clear. Although the officers of the Prison
may have used all the means in their power to
promote the efficiency and usefulness of the
institution committed to their charge, it drags
painfully behind the times, a dead weight up
on the State. 1t was in miserable condition
before the present Warden took charge of it,
and though more prosperous now it is far
enough from what it should be. An impera-
tive duty rests upon the Legislature, in view
of these facts. They must provide for the
payment of the debts Of the Prison, and they
must provide that it shall hereafter keep out
of debt. There is no reason why 112 prison.
ers in Maine should not pay for their safe
keeping as well as 10 in Connecticut, or 101
in New Hampshire. If a little additional ex-
pense is necessary in providing the improved
fittings of modern workshops, it will not be
i'll bestowed. Let us have no taking care OF
the cents and leaving the dollars to take care
of themselves. The proverb is well enough,
but must not be pushed too far.