The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-29
storage or brooms, mops and pals, it had bet

| storage or brooms, mops and pals, it had bet
ter be remanded to its first estate.
No. 10. The evidence will show that this
treatment, as inflicted under officer Freese,
| was simply an EXQUISITE torment. The COM
plant of the Governor leading to an official
investigation during the last spring, resulted
In the dismissal of the unworthy subordinate,
who, in addition to keeping boys standing for
undue length of time. was also guilty of severe
beating of the boys for very trivial offences.
The present officer seems TO be humane and
efficient.
No. IA. This last punishment is of such ex-
treme rigor that we can hardly conceive it pos
sibe that such practices can exist in 3 reform
school, When the authorities can so easily
remand boy to his alternate sentence, 1t
seems incredible that an iron weight can be
locked upon a boys leg and ankle which he
must wear day. and night for over three
months. This eleven pound weight, hanging
around boys ankle, takes US back century
in our conceptions Of humanity.
| At Il Is point we beg to state that the records
of the school and the testimany do not show
that efficient and comprehensive grasp of the
| needs of the school which Is to be expected
from board of trustees. They are at fault in
| not devising and insisting upon q method of
discipline more in accord width the enlighten-
| ed spirit of the age
Out of deep sympathy for the inmates, we
| cannot refrain from saying that the school will
not prosper if subordinates OF inefficient char
| acter or quick and harsh temper be permitted
| to discipline the boys We think the evidence
| shows plainly that the officer in charge of the
| first class chair-shop should be removed.
| In order to remedy some of the most objec-
| tionable features of the school, it is suggested
| to our honorable body that the blame should
| not rest wholly upon the present administra-
| ton, but that the principle underlying the
commitment of the boys is largely at fault. A
| distinction should be made in the law. and the
| fact should be clearly established, whether the
design Of the institution is reformatory or PEN
| al, or whether both ideas shall be combined
If the school is to be a prison, then public
criticism must not complain when the average
prison discipline is maintained. If on the
other hand we are to have a reform school,
then prison methods should not be employed;
and again, IL both ideas must be embraced,
then there should be an absolute separation of
the inmates according to crime and behavior;
a separation so distinct and SO absolute that
the methods to be employed in either case are
not to be used ia the other; and 30 exclusive
that no contamination can come from the low
or to the higher class.
AS the statute stands today the school has
an abnormal character and from the nature of
the case, the best results will not be apparent,
and hence the guardians of the school will be
placed in an unveniable light.
I We assume that the original design of the
school, viz: reformatory, is still the end to be
attained. Hence it follows that boys who are
convicted of the very highest crimes should
they must be received, they should be placed
by themselves in grade so exclusive that it
will cover every moment of the day and
night.
Inc present grading of the school Is defec-
tive, in that it herds at too many sessions and
in too many ways, lads of the most depraved
character with those who are simply unfortu-
nate by accident and by lack of kindly home
influences; and SO long as the state gives SO
small an appropriation to the school, the pres
emit system must be maintained, and as con-
sequence the best results will not be attained.
The history of the school reveals the fact
that with somewhat of regularity there is
raised in the state the cry that the Reform
School is being badly managed and that its
discipline is too harsh. A spasmodic effort is
made to remedy abuses by changed adj
ministration. Now although the officers in
charge must be held responsible for abuses or
neglect, the difficulty is not wholly at their
door. The trouble is inherent in the system
under which the school is worked. The law is
defective and so long as boys convicted of high
crimes are received and allowed to mingle
with those guilty of lighter crimes, bad results
will follow. The most depraved characters
have no place in reform school.
We wish to notice that practice of the school
which permits boy to remain a number of
years without being furnished with some trade
whereby he can earn an honest living when
discharged. The larger portion of the boys
are now employed in seating chairs. This
work answers well enough as means of
school discipline and sort Of schooi-room gov
eminent, but little is actually taught of any
use for after years as there is but slight de-
mand for this labor outside of State institu-
tions. When boy is set afloat from the
school, he is provided, if possible, with
chance to work; he is given suit of clothes
and if he deserves it a certificate of good
standing in reformatory. But neither the
new clothes nor the fact that he has been
convict is calculated to inspire confidence with
mechanics Indeed the eye of the world is apt
to be turned away from such credentials. Is
il not the duty of the State to educate Youth
ful criminal so that his manhood may be self
reliant by suitable trade whereby tempta-
lions may be averted from steps unused for
many years to the wiles of designing men?
The boys understand that the State recsives
but small profit from their present occupa-
tions, and they themselves as a rule, are not
much benefited thereby. Hence they get
restless and Indifferent, and we tlace much of |
the depravity manifested at the school to this |
source.
A large farm affords ample opportunity for
skilled farm labor to be illustrated and taught
A reasonable outlay for market garden con-
venences will bring in fair return, while the
city market insures ready sa1e for every
product.
The Introduction of workshop where the
use of tools of iron and wood work can be in
cucated, will be step in the right direction
Your commissioners would call attention to
the apartment used as dining room. Under
such ceiling and with such surrounding, but
little Roadway can be made in reformation.
Nor do we become enthusiastic over the fact
noted in the bill of fare, that the first class
grade has the benefit of extra doughnuts or
occasionally various food. The kind spirit
which prompts this bestowal is TO be commend
ed, but we would prefer the incentive to a no.
BILE life to come from some higher motive.
The absolute silence at the meal is painful in
a reformatory but perhaps necessary in pris
on. Would it be harmful to allow reasonable
conversation during part of the twenty min
utes? Why should not this life of the boy re-
semble that in well regulated and loving fam
lily?
While We do not propose to enter into any
controversies, it is suggested that the hospital
is not free from criticism. The room for sick
boy should be in another part of the building
where for instance, he can be under the con-
slant care of an officer and not of another boy,
and where he should be kept from the noise
of over hundred lads who are at play or at
work
Attention is called to the fact that sick boys
have been left alone in room with the doors
locked, and with no provision whereby they
could call for any help.
1t is worthy of consideration whether an en-
tirely new departure is not called for in our re-
formatory treatment. The policy of this State
is behind that Of many other States and far
from satisfactory. 1t has been demonstrated
that by placing boys In separate buildings
under the care of a man and wife, SO that the
houses surround one central principal build
ing, ana Dy pattlng Ine inmates upon Gnelf
honor and developing attachment to a
home, far better results are obtained This is
the most successful method as shown in the
schools of Europe. The facts are, that boys
seldom run away; they are truly reforme d;
they look back to the il abode in these homes
with real satisfaction. There is now on the
farm owned by the State one suitable build
ing where such an experiment can be tried
Another family building could be erected.
Your commissioner feels that such depart
II W0uld IaGSnn the tAn0pncV harsh
ishments and hasten the true reformation of
fully one half Of the present inmates.
A late report from Ohio states in substance
that there is no wall about the place used for
a reformstory, and that with 538 boys under
control, but two escaped during the past year.
1 have the honor to be
Your obedient servant,
WILLIAM EDWARD GOULD.