Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-29


Following We print very fall abstract o
Hon. W. W. Bolster's report on the Reform
school to the Executive Council. Mr.. Bolste
being member Of the visiting committee o
the Council to the school. It will be founs
very interesting reading and gives an excel
lent report of the condition of things At thu
Reform School:
10 me Governor and Council of Maine:
section IL OF chapter l42 of the revised
statutes, approved March Is. 1888, reads a
follows:
~ committee OF the Council, consisting of three
with whom shall be associated one woman shail =
aPpointed by the Governor annusliy who shall yisi
tne otate Reform School from time to time and ex
oltien and progress. They shall maintain in the
scnooi oox for the receipt of letters, to which the
q Al times shall have free access deposit
leuefs Without the knowledge scrutiny OF the
omcefs Of the school, They shall hear complaints Of
nttreatmenf from the inmates, and shall make such
s1sgesnone to the superintendent and trustees a
they think the good of the school requires and
yearly, severay, report to the Governor and Council
concerning the school. its conditions and needs"
A. one Of the committee appointed May Is,
1888, by virtue of the foregoing section, the
undersigned submits the following report
The committee, with the exception of Mrs.
Geo. >. Hunt, who was disabled on account
OF An injury received bv being thrown from a
Carriage, entered upon the discharge of their
duties soon after their appointment On June
2, 1883, they reported to the Governor and
Council rules for the establishment and use
OF the box for the receipt of letters, which
were adopted, and the box in conformity
Herewith was located as soon as time would
allow. The rules have been carefully and
faithfully observed, except in the omission of
the monthly visit of the committee in Noven-
Der.
TREATMENT, CONDITION AND PROGRESS.
The committee since their appointment
have made six official visits, the first on the
second Tuesday of June. The officers have
given the committee every facility to examine
into the treatment, condition and progress of
the inmates. The average number is about
100, and are committed for the various crimes
from truancy to manslaughter, but largely
for truancy and simple larceny. Household
work, making of their own clothing, chair
seating. farming and attending school are
their enployments. The apartments of the
boys are neatly kept; clothing suitable their
beds clean and comfortable. The health of
the boys is good. The progress in their
studies and department. very satisfactory.
They are kindly treated and their punish
and are designed to be commensurate with
the offense committed, and strictly in accord
ance with the law of the State.
FooD AND DINING Room.
The food Of the boys is fair in variety, suf-
fcient in quantity and good in quality. All
the boys receive the same quality of food and
in quantities to satisfy the appetite of each
Punishment by Withholding or short allow
pf fnn1 10 prohihifad Tho Iiniu ~
room and its surroundings are to be condemn
ed as well as the manner of eating. The
room needs repairs.
LETTER Box.
The committee have received from the
boys through the letter box ia letters. In
composition and penmanship they compare
very favorably with scholars of like ages in
our public schools. Thenty- lone Of these let
tiers contain complaints of i'll treatment, such
as standing on the line, for dement's of guilt
less violation of the rules of the work shop
and at the table for whispering; some of the
quality of ths ir food; some because they
were required to work on Sunday doing the
necessary and usual sweeping of the yard
some that they were ignorant of the bylaws
and did not know their rights. Eighteen of
the letters were asking and claiming the
privilege Of being discharged from the school
anu serve OUT LnelT dUtTUdtt seuteHCts III jail,
which are from 80 to 60 days. This class of let
tiers was from the bows of the third class, or
the lowest class of department. Seventy
FIVE of the letters were expressive of their
good usage and kind treatmest by the off,
GERS, their health, success and progress in
their various studies. The following
are quotations from some of these
letters which are fair index of
the substance of the others, viz: 81
am getting along WE'LL" "Am we'll, get
enough to eat;" Getting along nicely, and so
do the other boys" "Get along all right with
the officers, and so do the other boys when
they behave;" "The officers are very kind
to the boys, when the boys do any ways near
right" "Write you to let you know | am
we'll and getting along very well;" 81 am
getting along well, getting up in my grade; =
"All the education l have learned since
have been here, am in the third reader; ex-
pect to be in the fourth reader when school
commences. Am in the fifth class in Arth-
metic, and in the second class in spelling,
have been here two years and eleven days.
l work on the farm the most Of the time;'
81 am getting along first rate. L am learning
to read and write. l am learning Arithme-
tic get enough to eat every meal, and get
used we'll enough" my general treatment
10 good. always get along all right when
OonaVe MYSELF nv COuplhluts are unuc III
any of the letters of misusage By the superin-
tendent or his assistant. The complaints are
confined to the attendants in the chair shop
and the dining room and are such as have al
ready be n referred to. Upon a careful inves-
tigation of them by the Committee and
such others as have been made to
them at their various visits, they have in no
case been sustained or such as call for any
suggestions to the superintendent and trus-
tees, or as required for the good of the
school.
SUBoRDINATES.
In this connection it is suggested that for the
safe and proper discipline of the boys. subor-
dinates should be selected with due regard
to age, experience, temper and efficiency, re-
CARELESS of the wages paid-at least this
should be secondary.
The CELLS.
The cells for the confinement of the boys
are now suitably lighted, warmed, ventilated
and furnished with a bed and other articles
for their cleanliness and health.
ALTERNATE SENTENCE.
Az our statute now is, q boy when SEN
fenced, is given an alternative sentence, that
il 4 term in prison or fine, if he is not re-
ceived or retained at the school. The crimes