Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-31

came evident that the removal to Concord
was a costly failure. In addition to the draw
backs enumerated, the water and drainage
system of the institution proved 10 be a
failure: while some of the contractors for
prison labor found that they could not
employ the convicts 50 proftably at Concord
as al Chariestown To add to the general
decentralization, Warden Chamberlain was
shown 10 be an unfit man to hold the reins of
power He was convicted of cruelties 20 the
prisoners, which belonged TO the dark ages,
and was remOy ed from office. His successor
was less brutal, but weak. It was not until
Gen. Butler came into power. and Warden
Usher, who had formerly been United States
Marshal in this district, assumed the manage
ment Of the prison, that any Improvement
vas 10 be noted. Gen. Buffers bitterest
enemies give him the credit Of exercising
good judgment in making this appointment.
Usher was the right man in the right place.
There has been marked advancement in the
discipline ard management of the prison
since he took charge of it When Gov. Rob-
insnn came into power, politicians set mp a
cry for Ushers head. With characteristic
self reliance Gov. Robinson himself inspected
the prison and decided that Usher should
stay, and everybody except the party hacks
and office seekers are satisfied. Still our
prison system is far from satisfactory. The
management and discipline are improved,
but the system IL at fault, and the thought
and ingenuity Of some Of the ablest minds in
the State have been taxed to devise means
and methods looking to its improvement
II has long been the argument of some of
the ablest prison ref0rmers IN the State, that
the first step toward the Improvement OF
criminals held ia confinement, was the separ-
alton Of the hardened prisoners from those
who gave some promise Of reformation. In
other words, il was held that State prison
should be reformatory in its character, at
least that portion of it susceptible to teach
ings of morality and honesty. The result OF
all the agitation is that Massachusetts has
entered upon an experiment in prison reform,
the outcome of which is anxiously awaited,
not only throughout the State but in
many sections of the country, where
there is talk of adopting the same
system. In accordance with an act passed
by the legislature, Gov. Robinson has just
established the Concord prison as the Mass
achusetts Reformatory," and has placed Col.
Gardner Tufts 10 charge, while the old bas-
tile At CharlestOwn has been repaired and
put in order for the reception of the hardened
criminals who will still be under the control
of Warden Usher, This movement started
as far back as the reform school for boys,
which outlived its unselfshness in this d.
rection The younger boys sent there were
corrupted by the older, and reformatory
measures necessarily gave way to the lock
and key and the straight jacket. A law was
passed, the results of which were recently
made apparent, which does not allow of the
sentence to the State prison of person who
has received less than three years sentence
or who is less than II years of age. The
effect of this law was to oyerstock the houses
of correction and industry throughout the
State, and at the same time in almost like
ratio, to keep the number of inmates down
IN tue State prison TO make this statement
more explicit, the records of the old Charles
town prison for 20 years, show that the aver
age number of prisoners received was l56
annually, and of this number the average
number of three year sentences was So annu-
ally, so that had this law been operative dur
ing that period the average receipt of pris
Oners would have been cut down 100. A law
is also in force which makes the age of boys
not to exceed l6 years in the matter of sem
tenCe tn the reform school. With these two
laws in operation it was estimated that in two
wears time the number at the Concord prison
would be reduced from $50 to from 800 to
$50 inmates; but, at the same time, to admit
minors Of II years and over and to relieve
the houses of correction, it has been thought
best to utilize the old State prison at Charles
town, by the transfer to it of the life and long
sentenced criminals Concord, conducted as
reformatory. would then have ample scope
in which to work, with capacity to receive as a
maximum 500 prisoners.
Il have the utmost confidence" said a
gentleman to-day, who has labored long and
earnestly to bring about this reform measure,
THAT the new retormatory will be sue
cesstul from the start. 1t certainly begins I'M
der happy auspices. OF course. mach care,
tact and good Judgment mnst be exercised
in separating the prisoners and selecting the
subjects for the reformatory. As the law
stands the largest discretion is left with the
courts in designating those who are fit sub
jects for reformation. When the measure
was first suggested some advocates of it pro-
posed that only those convicted for the first
time should be sentenced to the reformatory,
while Others favored restricting the subjects
to those under thirty years of age. Happily,
think, neither of these restrictions was
adopted, for experience has shown that men
are fit objects for reformation at all stages of
their life and criminal career. The minimum
sentence is fixed bv law at one year. Ii a
prisoner is sentenced for short period he
invariably fixes his mind upon the date of his
release rather than his reformation. Now
the officials will have authority to release
upon probation when reformation is thought
to have been secured, so the strongest appeal
is made directly to the prisoner. He knows
that his future is largely in his own hands
and that he can earn his liberty by good be-
havior and by becoming skilled in labor
There will be separate apartment for men
convicted of drunkenness, and they will be
in the main kept by themselves. This reform
is one which has long been demanded. There
is no reason why the prison stigma should be
affixed to men who are victims of their ap-
petites. BY separating them from the dis
tinctively criminal classes, we help to give
the victims of strong drink courage to form
and keep resolutions TO lead better lives They
will be required TO work, aud their labor will
be adapted to their tastes, ability and physi-
cal conditions. Under the Law a man may
be sent to the reformatory for year if he is
convicted of drunkenness for third time in
twelve months"
Time. patience and money are requisite to
give the new system thorough trial. Ii is
a practical, common sense measure and every
Law abiding man in this State awaits its re-
suits with the highest expectations. F.
Captain Mitchell, of the bark Antoine Sala,
New Isrk and Havana tr ide, came home in
May, entirely helpless with rheumatism. He
went TO the mountains. but receiving no
benefit, at his wite's request began to take
Ca l.. -. -.