Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-25

AUGUSTA, Dec. "a, 1884.
To HIS Ezeeilensy Cos. Robe, and Rzeextiss
Council:
The undersigned member Of the visiting
committee Of the executive council on the
Reform School, appointed by the Governor,
under the provision of chap. l42, sec. IL, OF
the rsvieed statutes submits his second an
nual.
The committee has visited the institution
each month during the year, and | take
pleaures 10 bang able 70 state that the year
Just closed has been one of progress and i'm
prOvemenG in the right direction. Good
order and discipline have been maintained
The schools are nnder the care and super
vision Of competent teachers, and the boys
have made gratifying progress in their studies,
and a. a rule. are as contented and happy as
could be exp cted under that restraint which
it 10 necessary 10 impose upon boys sent to a
reformat1ry institution for the violation of
law. The affairs OF the institution have
been. in my judgment, economically and
juficioasly managed by the trustees and
officers in charge. The superintendent and
his assistant have done everything in their
poser 70 promote. the best interest OF the
inmates of thu school-to give them a pleas
ant home, and ~ make them feel that they
are not there 70 be treated as criminals de-
serving punishment tor past offences, but. as
boys requiring that wholesome restraint and
watchful care necessary TO aid them in their
efforts TO prepare themselves for future use
falness and to become respected and honored
members of society.
The letters deposited in the letter box by
the boys to be read by the committee were,
As a rule. written in plain hand and well
expressed. They contained but few COM
plants Of i'll treatment, or of insufhciency OF
food. In nearly every letter its writer al
luded to the kindly treatment received by
him at the hands of the officers. All COM
plants of severe punishment were promptly
and in nearly every instsnce the
facts justified the slight correction admins
tered for violations of the rules of school.
In those few cases of q more serious charac-
ter, prompt steps were taken 20 prevent their
repetition.
At the meeting of the committee, Dec. 9th,
more complaints of the food, than usual, were
made. The boys complaining were called
before the committee, and from their state
ments it appeared that the objections made
were to the quality of the food, and perhaps
not wholly without cause, the quantity being
sufficient and satisfactory, but not sufficiently
nutrltiOus 10 stenklHen the DOyB IoT tHeH
work upon the farm and in the shops The
committee have the matter under advisement
and will confer with the trustees in regard to
the same.
The annual appropriation for the running
expenses of the institution should be increased
to enable the trustees to be more liberal in
expenditures, which, have no doubt would
be for the interest of the institution and es
pecially for the benefit of the inmates of the
school. Fifteen thousand dollars should be
the annual appropriation for running expens-
es instead of the sum heretofore usually sp-
When we reflect that boys, sent to the
Reform School by the courts for violation of
law, have not, at home, probably, been taught
and impressed with the necessity of obed-
fence to wholesome regulations, especially
such as are required to preserve the order and
discipline which are indispensable for the
government Of n reformstory institution, and
also when we consider the large number of
inmates in the school Q67) we shall not be
surprised that some transgressions of the
rules occur, but shall rejoice that such offenc-
es have been so few, and these comparatively
unmnortant