The Portland daily press., 1884-12-27
TAE KEFVRM SCNOOL.
Report of Councillor Hatch of Bangor

The Hon. Silas G. Hatch, a member Of the
committee on Reform School in his report Just
submitted to the council says the committee
think the annual appropriation should be in
creased to enable the Trustees to be more lib
eral in expenditures which would be for the
interest of the institution. $4,000 should be
the annual appr opriation for running expenses
instead of the sum heretofore appropriated
($13,OOO)
The mechanical department established by
act of 1883 has proved success.
The present supply of water besides being
inadequate to the wants OF the school, is so
poor as to be unfit for drinking without boiling
and in case of fire would be of little value.
The committee strongly urge the Trustees to
have the Sebago water introduced into the
building, feeling confident that the Legisla-
ture would make an appropr iation to meet the
Indebtedness thus incurred, but the Trustees
did not think 1t advisable to undertake SO i'm
portant and expensive improvements until an
appropriation should be made for this pur-
pose.
The rooms in the building are not sufficient.
ly ventilated and some better system is recon-
mended.
The seam heating al paratus Of the building
IS not sufhcient TO keep 1t warm, or even COM
Portable. in very cold weather;l only part OF
the rooms can be warmed at the same time,
Another boiler of about 20 horsepower is
needed. An appropriation of $4,000 is also
needed.
The committee are of the opinion that It
would be for the best interest of the inmates
OF the school to divide them into classes of
families. Boys between the age of eight and
thirteen years committed for truancy or for
slight offences against law ought not to be as
sociated with those older or more confirmed in
criminal ways, for they are dangerous compa-
ny for the young and less hardened ones.
MANY OF the boys are sentenced by the courts
to the Reform School for offences which If
committed few years later in life would be
punished by imprisonment in the State Prison,
and boys of that character exert a pernicious
influence over those younger in years, and less
hardened in sin and vice, when brought into
that intimate association with them which is
unavoidable uDder the present system. 1t is
generally conceded that the "iamily" or scot
tage plan" is among the best yet devised for
bringing the inmates more directly under the
constant care and intimate relations of the Off
GERS IN charge. and thus enable them to be-
come personally interested in each member of
the family" and adopt such measures for this
reform as will be best adapted to the peculiar
needs OF each individual. Hon. w. W. Bol-
ster, member OF this committee, has given
this subject much thought and attention, and
has personally examined like institutions in
other States, and his report will give valuable
information on this subject, An appropria-
tion of $4,000 or $40, 900 would be required for
the erection and furnishing of suitable build
ings, il the "iamily plan" be adopted.
During the year 1888 quite number of the
boys were anxious to be remsnded to Jail to
serve out their alternative sentence rather than
remain in the Reform School during their
minority. The past year few such requests
have been made. The boys seemed more am
bilious to earn their freedom by good conduct
and strict compliance with the rules of the
school. than TO aCC9nt their alfarnativa
t57ce OF two or three months in the county
Jail. A recommendation is made that the law
relating to the sentence of juvenile offenders,
be changed in such way as would ens-
BILE the court to increase the severity of the al
Tentative sentence, or take frem the court the
power % impose one,