The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-01-24
Tae Maine state prison =,

| For the first time since Mr.. Rice has been
Warden of the State Prison, his accounts show
that the current expenses have been greater
than the earnings of the institution The bal
ance against the Prison is $6,93t, and is fully
accounted for, as theninspecturs say, by the I'M
creased cares of the Warden in connection
with the enlargement of the Prison, the wan5
of room for the proper employment of the con-
viets, the prevalence of debilitating disorder,
the constant hope of the convicts that they
should escape, the advance in prices, an in
crease of salaries, and, finally, the general stag
nation of business. These reasons are salts
factory, and will leave Warden Rice with his
well-earned reputation of knowing how to
keep q State Prison" He owes it to himself
that the public have come TO expecta revenue
from the labors of aconyicts, for there was o
| great lack of precedents of that kind before his
administration. Massachusetts, is the ouly
State that this year derives a 1evenue from
prisons, while in New York and most of the
other States, the deficiency is much greater
than in Maine.hP1 estimated appropriation
for the Prison to be made by the present Leg
islature to cover the deficit already mentioned
and the deficit in last years appropriation for
the enlargement Of the building, to complete
the work begun and to increase the working
capital Of the institution, is in round numbers
S25,0OO. The enlargement of the Prison has
been pushed rapidly forward and now ap-
proaehes completion. l'' s''s"7
The following extract from the Warden's
report shows the number and condition of The
oonVicts on the 3Othday Of November, 1867:
o. The whole number of convicts 'oiie year ago
was l35, and Sc have been received since MAX
ing 191, of which y have been discharged by
expiration of sentence; 16 by pardon, of
whom were pardoned by Governor Cony 8 bv
Governor Chamberlain, and 2 by the, Presi-
dent; have died; 1 escaped, and % have been
removed to county jails, leaving 1913 IN Prison
to-day, During the winter and spring the
number varied from 80 to IA, and as we had
but 108 regular cells, we were obliged to fill up
the old hospital wing with the balance putting
from three to six into a cell, an experiment
one would not be very likely to repeat if it
could be- avoided The health and discipline
of the Prison, suffered in consequences, and of
course less labor and profit followed. 1t is,
think, impossible to confine convicfs two or
more in a room, and at the same time preserve
that wholesome discipline and cheerful obedi-
enee so necessary, indispensable even, in
Prison, in order to secure the best results f.
nancially and otherwise. 60, ,,tsiq noilsgpF.s
The Warden makes a most effective argu-
nherrt against the practice Of the courts in SEN
fencing prisoners for a term OF one year, show
ing that confinement in the State Prison for
that length of time only causes the convict
to suffer the disgrace and other disadvantages
attending his incarceration, without having an
opportunity olearn a trade or derive any 9TH
er benefit -in0d io0d9s .uuiin)Bb5 l9h
A table is appended to the report, from
which it appears that twelve of the prisoners
are under sentence of death, and four others
of Imprisonment for life. Among the former
are the unpleasantly notorious names of Law
renee Doyle, Clifton Harris and George
Knight Among them, too, we regret to say,
is one woman Ga years old named Mary E.
lot who was convicted of murder In washing
ton county in 1864. 0ne1of the capital cases
dates back as far as 18a3, and another to 1866.