The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-03-28
GEORGE G. STACY, Secretary of State.
Abolition of the Bummer's Retreat.

A leading event in rather uneventful year
in Maine is the success of the industrial es-
tablishment that has recently been connected
with the Jail at Auburn. A leading event we
say, because, though it has made no noise
and has hardly been heard of by nine-tenths
of the citizens of Maine, it portends COM
plete revolution in our methods of dealing
with crime and criminals. 1t is not unrea-
sonable to suppose that, in hundred or per-
haps fifty years from this time, it will be held
incredible that there should have existed in
Maine, in the year 1874, such places as our
county jails now are-places which are chief
ly used for the accommodation Of minor
criminals, who repair thither for thirty or
sixty days as often as their mschievous i'm
pulses, or desire for a respite from toll or
for winter haven, secure them permit from
courts of justice to become guests of the
county. Being so much more comfortable
and desirable places of residence than most
of the local "poor FARMS and almshouses, a
sentence to the jails is, not unfrequently, de-
lIberately incurred by the vicious and idle.
When there, they mingle Unfortunately
with persons accused of grave offences who
await their trial, with poor debtors and with
youthful offenders. Portland Jail has, we
believe, an exceptionally good reputa-
ton, but nothing can be worse than the
moral influences which surround the
inmates of most of the county institutions.
There is no attempt at classification. The
most hardened offenders mingle freely with
those who have as yet hardly vestige OF
moral contagion. The inmates mutually cor
rupt each other. Those who, on their first
commitment, are perhaps only technically
criminal, profit by the instruction they re-
ceive in Jail and grow continually worse. 1t
is school established by State authority for
instruction in crime and for the general diffu-
sion Of criminal knowledge. No agencies
whatever are employed to counterfeit the evil
influences which are at work. No intellectu
al and but little moral instruction are afford
ed. Worst of all no employment is furnished.
Here is a crowd of idlers whose strength all
runs to waste, while the industrious and vir-
tuous laborers out of doors are paying for
their board and keeping. Could anything be
more irrational-more unphilosophicai? The
State is not protected, the criminal is not i'm
proved, constant supply of criminals is en-
sured, vice is encouraged and the industrious
part of the community foots the bills!
In 1873, the Legislature passed an act,
which has for its object an entire change in
this uncivilzed system. 1t provides methods
by which the county jails are expected to be
made in part self sustaining, and at the same
time, agencies for the reform instead of the
Manufacture of criminals. 1t authorizes the
county commissioners in each county to erect
workshops ormake other suitable provision
for the employment of the prisoners. Men
tai and moral instruction are also provided
for. 1t being anticipates that this merely
pemuissive law would not be Carried into i'm
mediate effect in all the counties, tho Judges
are authorized to sentence criminals brought
before them in any county to jails where the
workshops and schools contemplated by the
act are maintained. 1t is confidently expect
ed that judges will now remove one of the
chief obstacles to the new system, namely,
the short terms for which most of the in
mates ofjails are sentenced, by prolouging as
much as the law permits, the stay of habitua
criminals in an asylum where there is reason
M believing their character may be greatly
ing of 6atth Erough instruction and the form
For many moi Hfe1stry'
taken in any county TO c sse. ao'lon was
feet. Androscoggin county, S "a" in'o e'-
die of reform and home of new ideasNRRfssso ,a.
honor of taking the first practical steps. The
Auburn shoe shop has now been in success.
Jul operation for several months. The an.
thorities of Cumberland county, assisted h,
our sagacious, progressive and intelligent
board OF Prison Commissioners, who ere
wisely made, by the law of 1873. Jail COM
commissioners also, are now making rrelim-
mary inv estigations with view 70 Utilizing
and rendering selfsupporting the lage num-
Der OF men with strong arms, who lave hith-
erto eaten the bread OF idleness at the public
cost. 1t seems as if there were peculiarly
good prospects of success in this county.
since the working force is larger and more
constant here than elsewhere. We trust and
believe that our Commissioners will find If
more advantageous for the county to carry
on It's own workshop, than to incur the
trouble and possible expense of the mainte-
nance OF many of its criminals in Androscoe-
GIN county at Auburn, whittier they may now
be transported if the court so direct.