Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-02-08
yYrysyES or THE STATE.

the full understanding of the system adopted.
We have visited and inspected all the jas in
the State during the year. We do not, however,
propose to give detailed account of the condi-
ton of each, but such description of each and
such recommendations as we deem necessary TO
carry out the plan that has been adopted. This
plan is to establish workshops in connection with
five ijails so located in different parts of the
State, that all the prisoners from the other coun-
ties NAV, when they receive sentence, be sent to
them, and the iails with which no workshops are
connected NAV be used as places ofdetention. Tor
this purpose have divided the jalls into five dl-
visions each division containing one Jal with a
workshop and others without workshops
First DECISION. The Jail and workshop in Pe-
nobscot county, and the jails in Aroostook Wash
ington, Hancock and Piscataqus counties having
workshops.
The jail in Bangor is a substantial building ca
pahe OF acc Gmmodating one hundred prisoners,
and its affairs have been well managed. \ suita-
BILE workshop has been erected and provided with
machinery at an expense of about $4,000 1t is
a brick building, we'll arranged for the manufae-
ture Of mouldings, doors, sash and blinds Ia
yorable contract has been made for the labor
of the prisoners for the next three years. The
county commissioners ale deserving OF much
credit for the energy which they have shown IN
carrying forward this enterprise, and the Jallor
for his efficient management of the institution
This Jail and workshop connected with it are large
enough to accommodate all the prisoners who are
under sentence in the four other cosnties named
above. This plan viii relieve the other counties
of considerable expense which would otherwise be
necessary in building remodeling their lails
Piscataquis county has no Jail, and it will only be
necessary to provide suitable place TO detain per-
sons before trial. The jail ct Houlton is in bad
condition, but instead of building new one as
has been proposed it will only be necessary to re-
model the old one. The Jail in Hancock county,
located at Ellsworth, is in very poor condition,
and even for the purpose of holding persons
| awaiting trial ought to be repaired and made Sc
cure. The jail in W Arlington county, at Machlas,
is in a good condition and well managed. Thus
with little expense the jails in Aroostook, Wash
ington, Hancock, and suitable place in Piscata-
quis counties may be made sufficiently secure and
comfortable to hold the persons awaiting trial and
| those ON very short sentences, while all who re-
ceve sentences of any considerable length may be
sent to Bangor and set TO work and by their labor
| pay most of the expense of their board.
| Second Dirision. The jail in kennebec county
with workshops and the jails in Waldo and Som
erset counties without workshops.
| The jail at Augusta, kennebec county, is fine,
substantial. granite building, capable OF accom-
modating sixty persons. There has been an i'm
provement in the management of this institution
the past year. Workshops have been arranged
during the year and the prisoners will soon be set
at work. This Jail is sufficiently large TO accom-
modaie all the sentenced men from Somerset and
Waldo counties. This will obviatc the necessity
of building jail at Skowhegan, for the cells pro-
vided in the basement of the court house will
| ing and during trial. The jail at Belfast, Waldo
county, may be remodeled at moderate expense
and made suitable for the detention of prisoners
under arrest, while the sentenced men may be
sent to Augusta.
! Third GieiSioa. The jail in Lincoln county
with workshops, and the jails in Knox and Saga
dahoc counties without workshops.
| The jail in Lincoln county, located at Wiscas-
set, will accommodate 40 prisoners. A workshop
| has been fitted up and the prisoners have worked
Il . ,o Mi Ma ctttca apI
| the jailor deserving of much credit for the
promptness (they being the first to introduce labor
into their jail) and fidelity which they have mani
Tested in providing suitable place for workshops,
and the efforts put forth in keeping the men at
work. This jail is large enough to accommodate
the prisoners in Sagadahoe and Knox counties, SO
that there will be no necessity Of mourning the
pense Of erecting jails in these counties.
Fourth Dicision. The Jail in Androscoggin
county with workshops and the jails in Franklin
and Oxford counties without workshops.
| The jail at Auburn Androscoggin county, is in
good condition, and its affairs have been managed
to the entire satisfaction of the Inspectors Sixty
seven prisoners have been accommodated here st
one time. workshop in connection with the
jail was erected lass year and the prisoners have
| been kept at work since February, 1874. The
sentenced men from Franklin and Oxford coun-
ties may be sent here SO that but little attention
need be given to the Jails in those two counties.
The plan of establishing workshops in connection
with the jails, has been pushed forward with such
yigor in Androscoggin county, that we begin to
see some Of the results which we expected. al.
ready the earnings of the prisoners have amounted
to the sum of 81. Besides this, all the
wood used in the jail and court house has been
sawed, the washing and cleaning, the manufac-
ture of bedding and the mending of clothes has
been done by the prisoners; and the county Off
GERS in a published report Of the condition of the
Jail say, with our workshops in operation things
have changed. A proper classification is made IN
pairing of the prisoners for rooms at night, those
Of similar age and traits being put together. Dur
ing working hours being engaged in the shop at
labor their hands are not only kept from mischief,
but their lips from speaking guile. We think
the good that is being produced is about sufficient
TO cancel all expenditures that have been made,
leaving the financial question out entirely"
FIN Urision. The Jail in Cumberland county
with workshop and the Jail in York county with
out a workshop.
The Jail at Portland, Cumberland county, will
accommodate eighty persons and has been well
managed. 1t is proposed to construct a workshop
in the spring. This should have been done last
year. The prisoners under sentence in y ork coun-
ty may be sent here and provided with work as
soon suitable arrangements can be made. The
jail at Alfred, although nearly pew has not been
in satisfactory condition There has been a
general neglect in the administration of its affairs
Neither the commissioners nor the tailor have at
tended to their duties as they ought to have done
Such attention has not been given to the cleanli-
ness OF the Jail, and such arrangements for heat
ing it have not been made the health of the
prisoners demanded; and sufficient attention has
not been given TO the security Of the prisoners,
But we have assurances from the commissioners
that these causes of complaint shall be removed.
These brief remarks will indicate the purpose of
the Inspectors and the design Of the law creating
workshops in connection with the jals. 1t is pro-
posed when the plan is fully set in operation, to
classify the prisoners SO rs to separate the youth
full offenders from the more hardened criminals,
and thus render their reformation more probable.
The plan is also desirable on economical grounds,
for il will relieve some of the counties of the ne
cessity of building repairing at considerable cx
pense their jals, and give them the benefit Of the
labor Of the prisoners Indeed it seems quite alb.
surd 10 allow able-bodied men to remain idle in
jail one, two or three years, when they might be
set at work and do much towards their support.
The plan thus far has been successful, and we
decidedly OF the opinion that it ought to be fully
carried out, and all the prisoners under sentence
set at work at the earliest possible moment.
THE CIJIL RIGH7,S BiLL.
WAsnINGToN, Feb. 1.-The following is the
bill as passed, without the preamble -
SECT. That all persons within the jurisdc-
ton OF the United States shall be entitled to full