Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-28
Mr.. Burgess presented figures and facts re.

neCtlcnt, showing the need OF sQcn an lpsll-
tuition, together with its cost, and that the
school should be under the guardianship OF the
State. The Connecticut School met at the
outset with the same opposition and the same
argument that IL now offered against our
Maine School, bat now its establishment is
generally approved.
These unfortunates, the Senator would give
US to understand, should be sent TO jails and
warehouses;. This should not be done. The
girl should be sent to q home. away from cor
rupting influences, where she can be re-
formed, and become an ornament to society.
Sixty per cent. OF all those girls who go in
to our reformatory Institutions become good
women and citizens.
These institutions for girls are accomplish
ing more good, than the Senator gives them
credit. The inmates of our Reform School
may come from cities, but trace them back,
and he, Mr.. Burgess, would venture to assert,
that they originally came from the various
counties of the State and are not to large
degree children of permanent residents.
The Senator from Oxford takes the ground
that this is an experiment. Take the facts as
they exist relating to such institutions in
other States, and they show their success. 1t
is duty that the States owes to such unfor-
Inmates to train them up and make them use
full citizens. If the moneyed argument of the
Senator should be accepted. we should not
have single retormatory institution in the
State. There is a niger motive that should
govern us. On the ground Of morality il
was our duty 10 save these unfortunates from
going to ruin. He, Mr.. Burgess, did not be-
lieye that such propositions should be meas
ured by the standard of dollars and cents.
There was something higher to which We
should defer. Who can estimate the value
in many of the lives and influences of those
wh ha IN irtu int a
under the fostering care Of such an institution
as this bill proposes:
Mr.. BuRGEss showed that the bill pre-
sented by the majority report, simply repeats
the law passed last winter. and vests the au.
thority and management of the school in the
hands of the State.
Mr.. EMERY Of Hancock, supported the
majority report, and opposed the amendment
offered by the Senator from Oxford. 1t is al
legged BY that gentleman that there is Il neet
of such an institution to be established by tho
State. He, Mr.. Emery, commended there was
and briefly gave his reasons. In support OF
his position he read testimony bearing on the
case in letters received by the commissioner
for criminal justices in Saco, Lewiston
Bucksport, Portland and Camdea, show ms
that their experience as magistrates convinced
them that such school was pecessary, anG
promising more for morals than reform
school for boys.
This testimony proves most coDclnsively
that in our large cities and smaller towns
these unfortunates are growing up in vice anC
shame. This evil should be corrected. No
body can compel the State to eradicate ,hi
evil; but is it not the duty of the State to pro
tect society from this and other evils?
We vote money to build new court houses
and jails, and we voteEmoncy extravagantly
for our State prison and to pay for salaries o
officials therein. Nobody complains. Now
to protect society, and to punish criminals, i
costs money. 1t cost s. 900 to try and t,
convict John Gordon, and perhaps to han.
him, and nobody regrets it,
1t is necessary that these unfortunate girl
should be trained up in habits of obedience
and industry. The State prison, county Jail
and our work houses, are no places for them
1t is our duty to have such a school establish
ed by the State. The Senator (Mr. Emery,
showed that such institutions in Foreign coun
tries, as well as in Massachusetts, Pennsylva
MIA and Connecticut, made better exhibit o
reformed inmates than any other institution
He also showed that the money argu
ment that had been offered in opposition, wa
without force. The cost of supporting sucl
a school whether it be 81, 900 or S20000 hs
contended is just SO much saved in another
direction in the way of taxes, which he cx.
planned. but he had no idea that such schoo
would cost as much as had been represented
by the Senator from Oxford
On motion of Mr.. BURGESS the yeas an(
nays were ordered, and taken, resulting q.
follows;
RI YEAs-Messrs. Carr, Coffin, loss, Foster Har
mon, Icthrop, Martin, Morrison, Shaw.
NAYs-Messrs. Abbot, Arnold, Burgess, Gran
don, Gross, Cutler, Dyer; Emery, Goold Hall, Han
Russell. Webb Webster, Whitmore--l9
So the amendment was rejected.
J The majority report Of the committee wa:
then accepted the bill and resolve each read
once, and assigned for tomorrow.
READ AND AssIGNED-Bill an act 70 incor.
porate the Rockland & Thomaston Water Co.
an act granting further time for the North
ern Aroostosk Railroad Co. to locate ant
complete its railroad; an act to provide fur.
Their protection to inmates of the insane hos
pital, and to guard against error in making
commitments thereto.
| PASSED TO BE ENGRossED-Resolv in ia
vor of Peter Salmore; an act to incorporate
f the Barnard State Company.
On motion of Mr.. RouNps, the Senate
Adjourned.
PETITIONS, BILLS. &C., Presented AND Re,
| FERRED
BY MIR. BURGEss-An act in relation tC
fees of clerks of courts. Referred to tho
Commute on the Judiciary.
BY Mr.. Capitalization Of George w
Smith and others of Mattawamkeag praying
for alteration of school laws; also of laws in
relation to paupers. Referred to Committee
! on Legal Affairs. (The petition asks for g
change Of the laws so that the money raised
for the support OF schools be assessed as
! tax on all the property in the State, liable tc
taxation for other purposes. Also to require
each county to make provision for the sup
! port Of all poor and INDECENT persons within
its own limits.)
!. By Mr.. EMERy-An act to incorporate the
Bowdoin Alumni Memorial Hall Association
Referred to Committee on Education. 9TH:
bill provides that Joseph Titcomb, John NJ
Brown, VIM. l.. Putnam, John L. Butler
f Lucilus A. Emery, VIM. w. Thomas, Jr.
John c. Talbot, Frank A. Wilson, James d.
Fessenden, James w. Bradbury, Jr., be the
corporators. The object of the Association il
to complete, take care Of, and to manage and
preserve Memorial Hall at Brunswick. Any
graduate of B0wdoin who has contributed to
wards the erection of said hall, and any other
graduate of said college who shall. pay 81
shall upon application become member OF
Al.