The Portland daily press., 1883-12-28
The Reform School.

of the long New England winter.
The Reform School.
In another place we give the report of one
OF the three members of the board OF yisi-
tors to the State Reform School which the
last session of the Legislature required to
be appointed. Although the visitors were re-
quired to make separate reports we supposed
these would be made at the same time and
given to the public together but Councillor
Hatch appears to have anticipated his asso-
ciates, or rather his associate, and got his
report before the public first.
What Councillor Hatch has to saw abont
the Reform School is interesting, and a por-
tion OF 1t will have, or at least ought to have,
the serious attention of the public. For ex-
ample the fact stated that one of the wells.
the water of which is used for drinking pur-
poses, is so near a vault as to be affected by
drainage from the latter. This is stated as
II II were matter that ought to be RENE
died sometime. We should think sol Some
body is responsible for allowing the children
to drink that water Who is it? Mr.. Hatch
does not say, and he does not even say that
anybody has recommended discontinuance
OF the use of that well. The GOODNESS with
whichthe visitor refers to this matter Is start
ling. What have our physicians to say to this
revelation. Suppose as is not unlikely an ep-
idemic of typhoid fever should break out at
the Reform School, we are inclined to be-
lieve, if this VISITORS statement is correct
that great blame would rightly attach TO
somebody. II is seandalous state of
things, deserving instant reprobation and
change.
Ihece are other matters in this report re-
lating to the school to which we NAV at an
other time call attention; but TODAY we de.
sire to refer to certain remarkable feature
of it which does not relate to the condj.;on
OIL things Mr.. Hatch was amounted To exam
inc. We aIlude now to what appears to be
wholly uncalled for expression of opinion
concerning the constitution of the board of
visitors. And there are some facts bearing
upon this matter which, in view of the wild
circulation this report is likely to have and
the discussion it is likely to provoke, it is
necessary to make known In justice TO one
who is placed by Mr.. Hatch in an extremely
embarrassing position.
The acto the Legislature establishing the
board of visitors provided that 1t should con-
sist of two members of the Governors conn
Gil with one lady. This was in accordance
with the unanimous recommendation of the
special investigating committee which
spent several weeks in examining the insti
tuition. AS matter of fact there has been
no lady member of the board the past wear.
Mr.. Hatch says near the beginning of his re-
port, speaking of the visit in June, "Mrs.
Hunt OF Portland, the lady associated with
the committee has been unable the past year
to join the committee in their official visit TO
the institution" We are informed that
Mrs. Hunt does not consider herself men,
Der OF the board. When asked if she would
accept the place she declined to do so for
the reason that, owing to serious accident
she knew she would be unable to perform
the duties OF visitor and she felt that the
duty was important, and ought to be under
taken by some one who could attend ito IT.
1t has been stated that she was appointed
nevertheless; but she has never received
any official notification of such appointment
and consequently has had no opportuni-
ty TO formally accept or decline. Mrs.
Hunt believes that woman's inspec-
ton OF such an institution would be of great
service, and she was anxious that the exper-
iment should have fair trial. For that rea-
son she would not consent to accept the Of |
fee as an honorary one, has not done so. |
ana has no knowledge except that of cur |
rent report that she has been appointed.
Therefore the experiment which the very |
competent investigating committee recon-
mended, and the legislature authorized. has
had no trial, and yet member of the board
OF visitors, who perhaps has not made a more
thorough investigation than the special
evnImituce, takes II upon himself to racom- /
mend that the lady member of the board |
This associate" as he elsewhere refers to
her, be legislated out of offcel We do |
not know Mr.. Hatch aud have no preiudices
for or against him; but we cannot forbear
saying under the circumstances, that such
recommendation being voluntary and not
within the purView of his duties as a visitor
10 the reform school, has no legitimate
place in his report There may be times and
places where, as member of the Governors
Council, it would be proper for him to air
lis individual notions upon the wisdom of
Employing women to inspect a reform
chool, but this was not the proper time or
,lace.
But aside from the question of propriety
nd courtesy, the reasonableness of the
rounds upon which he bases his Judgment
re entitled to some attention. He favors
eduction of the committee on the ground
u economy, and he would have the lady
member cut off on the ground that il is
fashionable whether there is any practical
dvantage in having lady inspect school
which is also home) for boys who have
iolated the laws. He thinks woman might
isit girls Reform School, and do some
God, but not boys school. On that point
re take issue with him, believing that the
lspectioD of capable lady visitor is quite
S necessary and useful for the well being of
boys reformatory as for a girls. A woman
i'll discover faults of management and of
ondition which man would not, and her
sits may be expected to have quite as good
q influence on the youth. This notion that {
ZEN alone should have lookout over the r
elfare of the boys in State institution is g
'ntrary to the natural order of things. In q
miles mothers do not watch over the s
rls alone and 1t would be unfortunate for d
70 boys if they were committed to the care 1